Philosophy: Arguments of Experience

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the Design Argument, Cosmological Argument, Ontological Argument, and Kantian vs. Utilitarian ethics based on the lecture transcript.

Inductive Arguments

Arguments made purely through observation, often used for identifying patterns and trends.

Deductive Arguments

Arguments made purely from logic and thinking, useful for accurate premises and conclusions that stretch far from assumption.

Design Argument

A theory implying there is an intelligent designer behind the creation of the world (God) due to the complexity and careful design of nature.

Charles Darwin

A scholar who believed in a scientific theory that all living organisms naturally evolve over MILLIONS of years.

Origin of Species

Darwin's thesis that is described as more suitable for Deductive Thinkers.

Plato

One of the earliest proponents of the Design Argument, basing ideas around the order of "A Priori" and Structure in the World.

Aristotle

Claimed all natural objects have purpose for their existence and believed the universe was constantly changing and moving.

Telos

The term for an object's purpose or Final Cause according to Aristotle.

Cicero

Argued belief in God is drawn from the Motion and Revelation from Heaven, noting that its beauty and variety cannot purely be by chance.

Thomas Aquinas

An Italian Philosopher famously known for his book Summa Theologica who lived when Aristiotle’s works were rediscovered.

Aquinas’ Five Ways

Arguments for the Design Argument intended to show doubters that there is clearly a creator of the world.

Design Qua Regularity

Applying Natural Laws to entities that work in particular orders.

Design Qua Purpose

When objects appeared to fit an ideal purpose.

Bow & Arrow analogy

Aquinas' example where an Arrow (non-living) cannot move towards an end unless directed by a Being with Knowledge (God).

William Paley

A modern scholar who argues the 'Marks of Design itself are too strong to be got over in first glance.'

A Posteriori

Arguments driven from empirical evidence & experience.

Watch Analogy

Paley's idea that a watch with parts put together for a purpose must have been made meticulously by a designer.

David Hume

A philosopher skeptical of the Design Argument who supported empirical thinking originating from experience and senses.

Cause and Effect Relationships

The idea that events in the past directly lead to others in the future; if we observe chaotic Effects, we assume their Causes are the same.

Richard Dawkins

Author who labels Paley's argument the 'Blind Watchmaker' and claims Natural Selection is an unconscious automatic process.

Selfish Gene

Dawkins' analogy stating humans inherently act so their genes can survive, having evolved solely to meet Available Conditions.

Wilberforce AND Huxley

Scholars who held an informal 'debate' at the Oxford Museum regarding Darwin's "Origin of Species."

Swinburne

A modern-day Philosopher who believed every entity in the universe works together in an orderly, simplistic pattern indicating a Cosmic Designer.

Ockham’s Razor

The principle that the Simplest Explanation of the unvierse correlating to a creator is often the best.

Card Shuffling Analogy

Swinburne's illustration where precise Laws of the Universe are compared to a machine drawing 10 Aces of Hearts, suggesting a Rigged Function over random choice.

Cosmological Argument

A philosophical argument implying the universe has a 1st cause for its existence, often referred to as God.

Potential Infinite

Something which isn’t infinite now, but WILL achieve it in the future.

Actual Infinite

Something which is infinite now, and Nothing can OR will be added onto it!!

Kalam Cosmological Argument

William Lane Craig's argument concerning how the universe existed through the creation of a Prime Mover that transcended the world into being.

Aquinas’ Motion Law

The premise that a change in motion must be caused by a First Mover; no infinite movements mean there must be a God who started it.

Aquinas’ Efficient Cause Law

The premise that causes must be caused by a chain, and since chains aren't infinite, there must be a first cause.

Aquinas’ Contingency Necessity Law

The premise that since contingent things cannot exist, there must be a being determining their existence.

Burtrand Russell

A philosopher who challenged the idea that Religious Belief is acceptable by default just because it cannot be proven wrong.

Ontological Argument

A philosophical term explaining how entities can be defined based on whether they exist in Some, None or ALL possible universes.

Contingent

Refers to an object that exists depending on something else.

Necessary

Refers to an object meaning it must exist.

Logical Absurdity

Where something doesn't exist, but its appearance is Recognizable!

Maximally Great Being

A Being with Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Omnibenevolence.

Categorical Imperative

An absolute principle in Kantian Ethics requiring individuals to act according to Maxims.

Maxims

Motivations that can be made into universal laws of good.

Principle of Utility

Bentham's idea that actions are morally right if they maximize the happiness of a majority and reduce suffering.

Maxim of Universalizability

The idea that one's actions should become universal to all.

Good Shopkeeper Method

Kant's example of fairness in price as a duty of honesty used to show the difference between genuine duty and using it for granted.

Maxim of Autonomy

The idea that humans must act in a way that motivates them to use reason rather than relying on revealed sources like the Bible.

Three Postulates

Conditions provided by Kant to prove morality's existence: that humans have freewill, they are immortal, and that God exists.

Hedonic Calculus

Bentham's method used to minimize suffering for all by prioritizing outcomes that pleasure the most people.

Tyranny of the Majority

A risk in Bentham's utilitarianism where individual fundamental rights are sacrificed for the pleasure of the masses.