Philosophy of the Modern Mind Exam 2

3 major characters of Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion

Cleanthes, Demea, Philo

Cleanthes

creates the teleological argument

Demea

believes God’s nature to be beyond human reason; rejects the teleological argument

Philo

believes human reason is too weak and limited to make any reliable claims; rejects both other arguments

teleological argument

the idea that you can look at the design and order of the universe and logically deduce the infinite goodness, wisdom, and power of God

First set of objections to teleological argument

1. Bad analogy -

2. Matter could be the explanation for the order in the universe

3. Improper inference from part to whole -

Second set of objections to teleological argument

1. Does not prove existence of an infinite God

2. Does not prove existence of a perfect God

3. Does not prove existence of one God

4. Does not prove existence of Anthropomorphism.

Bad analogy

nature is fundamentally different from machines, so a comparison between their creation is inaccurate

Matter could be the explanation for the order in the universe

does not rule out possibility of internal generation, growth, and reproduction being the cause of the complexity of the universe

Improper inference from part to whole

Inferences about the entire cosmos based on a tiny, localized part of it commit the fallacy of composition

Does not prove existence of an infinite God

If an orderly, complex mind requires an explanation (a designer), then the designer's mind also requires a designer, triggering an endless regress of causes

Does not prove existence of a perfect God

The presence of vast suffering, pain, and disorder in the world suggests a deity that is either morally indifferent, finite, or incompetent rather than infinitely good, omnipotent, and wise

Does not prove existence of one God

Human artifacts of great scale (like a ship or city) are usually built by teams of multiple artisans. By parity of reasoning, the universe might be the product of a committee of minor deities, an apprentice god, or a failed/discarded experiment

Does not prove existence of Anthropomorphism

If the creator is like a human artisan, the designer must possess a corporeal body, human-like thoughts, limitations, and a gender or form

Demea’s existence of God argument

1. Everything that exists has a cause

2. Nothing is its own cause

3. Either there is an infinite regress or there is a first cause that necessarily exists

4. An infinite regress is absurd

5. A first cause must necessarily exist (ie, God)

Cleanthes’ 4 objections to Demea’s existence of God argument

1. You cannot prove a fact of reality a priori

2. Why can’t the universe itself be the necessarily existing being

3. Whether or not the universe exists necessarily, why can’t it be eternal?

4. The fallacy of composition

Problem of Evil

Philo argues that looking at the mixture of pain and suffering in the world gives us zero empirical proof of a benevolent designer. At best, the evidence suggests the original cause of the universe is morally neutral—showing no more regard for good than for ill, or for heat than for cold

Demea’s response to the problem of Evil

does not feel the need to empirically prove that good outweighs evil in this world. His faith rests on an a priori conviction that an infinite, perfect deity orchestrates everything behind the scenes, and human eyes will eventually see how all general laws connect in the afterlife

Cleanthes’ response to the problem of Evil

downplay the amount of real evil in the world, claiming that health, pleasure, and good vastly outnumber sickness, pain, and malice (a "thousand good things" for every evil)

Philo responses to Cleanthes’ response to the Problem of Evil

Argues that nature operates via blind, indifferent laws rather than benevolent design. He outlines four structural flaws in creation that cause suffering:

1. The capacity for pain: Animal survival requires pain for self-preservation, but the sheer intensity and durability of pain often exceed what is necessary just to keep a creature alive.

2. The conducting of the world by general laws: God governs through rigid laws of nature (e.g., gravity, weather) rather than intervening with miracles. A sudden storm destroys a harvest or kills an innocent person, showing no moral discretion.

3. The frugality of animal powers: Living creatures are given just barely enough strength, intelligence, and resources to survive. There is no "buffer" or surplus of happiness.

4. The inaccurate workmanship of nature: The components of nature are precariously balanced. A little too much rain causes a catastrophic flood; a little too little causes a drought.

Philo response to Demea’s response to the Problem of Evil

Agrees with Demea that God’s nature is entirely beyond human comprehension—but points out that this completely destroys Demea’s theology. If God is completely mysterious and his goodness is nothing like human goodness, then we cannot claim to know that God is good, just, or loving at all. Demea’s "mysticism" inadvertently collapses into a form of atheism or agnosticism where the word "God" becomes meaningless

Copernican revolution

Shift in view that the Earth was at the center of the universe to the Sun being at the center of the universe

Noumenal Realm

things in themselves

phenomenal realm

things as they appear to us

Problem of metaphysics

trying to use human reason to understand noumenal realm

Rational faith

a commitment or belief held in the absence of complete, exhaustive evidence where deciding to act is still supported by initial reasons, risk evaluation, or practical necessity

Watchmaker Analogy

Paley asks the reader to imagine walking across a heath and kicking a stone. You might assume the stone has always been there without needing a special explanation. However, if you found a watch on the ground and inspected its complex gears, springs, and coordinated function, you would immediately infer that it had a maker who designed it for a specific purpose. Because the watch displays intricate parts working together to tell time, it cannot be the product of blind chance; it requires an intelligent watchmaker

Paley’s view of Astronomy

not as the primary tool to prove the existence of God, but as the supreme showcase of God's magnificent power once that existence had already been established

Darwin’s theory of Evolution

all species of organisms develop through the natural selection of small, inherited variations that improve an individual's ability to compete, survive, and reproduce

Darwin’s theory of Evolution as an objection to the teleological argument

offering a non-purposive, mechanical explanation for the apparent order, complexity, and adaptation in nature, removing the necessity of an intelligent designer