Untitled Flashcards Set

Types of Arguments for God's Existence

• Ontological Arguments:

  • Arguments for God's existence based on the concept or definition of God.

  • Key feature: Starts with the premise that God is a being than which none greater can be conceived.

• Cosmological Arguments:

  • Arguments based on the existence and origin of the universe.

  • Key feature: Contend that there must be a First Cause or an uncaused cause that explains the universe's existence.

• Teleological Arguments:

  • Arguments based on the perceived design or order in the universe.

  • Key feature: Claim that the universe’s complexity and purpose suggest a designer.

• God’s Characteristics:

  • Omniscience (all-knowing)

  • Omnipotence (all-powerful)

  • Omni-benevolence (all-good)

  • Personal (capable of relationships)

  • Creator of the universe

Anselm’s Ontological Argument

• Anselm's Reconstruction (Short Version):

  • Premise 1: God is "that than which nothing greater can be conceived."

  • Premise 2: It is greater to exist in reality than merely in the mind.

  • Conclusion: Therefore, God must exist in reality, because if He only existed in the mind, a greater being could be conceived (one that exists in reality).

• Gaunilo’s Criticism:

  • Argument: Just because we can conceive of the greatest possible island doesn't mean it exists.

  • Purpose of the Criticism: Challenges Anselm’s reasoning by showing that conceptualization doesn't guarantee real existence.

• Anselm’s Response:

  • Anselm claimed that the argument only works for God, because God is a necessary being (His existence is required) whereas an island is a contingent being (it does not have to exist).

• Other Criticisms:

  • Kant's Criticism: Existence is not a predicate; you cannot define something into existence.

  • Response to Kant: Some argue that Anselm’s concept of God doesn't just define existence but demonstrates that God must exist logically.

Descartes’ Version of the Ontological Argument (Meditation 5)

• Descartes' Argument:

  • Descartes argues that the idea of a perfect God necessarily includes existence, because perfection entails existence.

• Key Difference from Anselm:

  • Descartes emphasizes that existence is part of the concept of God, while Anselm argues that the greatest possible being must exist.

• Problem Raised by Kant:

  • Kant argues that existence is not a predicate and thus can't be used to prove anything about the existence of God.

• Reply to Kant:

  • Some argue that Kant’s objection doesn't fully undermine the argument, since the concept of a necessary being (God) must logically entail existence.

Thomas Aquinas’ Cosmological Argument

• Common Features of Aquinas’ Cosmological Arguments:

  • Based on empirical observations of motion, causality, and contingency.

  • Key point: There cannot be an infinite regress of causes or movers; therefore, there must be a first cause (God).

• Five Empirical Propositions:

  • Things move.

  • Things are caused.

  • Things are contingent.

  • Things are ordered.

  • Things undergo change.

• Aquinas’ Second or Third Argument:

  • Second Argument: The Argument from Efficient Causality – There must be a first uncaused cause.

  • Third Argument: The Argument from Contingency – There must be a necessary being that causes contingent beings.

• Infinite Regress:

  • Aquinas argues that an infinite regress is impossible, so there must be a first cause that is itself uncaused.

• Criticism and Replies:

  • Criticism: The necessity of a first cause is not universally agreed upon.

  • Reply: Supporters argue that the need for a first cause follows logically from the impossibility of an infinite regress.

Rowe’s Argument and Principle of Sufficient Reason

• Principle of Sufficient Reason:

  • Everything must have a reason or cause for its existence.

• Rowe’s Argument:

  • Rowe applies the Principle of Sufficient Reason to argue that the universe must have a first cause or explanation, which points to God.

Teleological Argument

• Teleological Argument:

  • Claims that the universe’s complexity and order point to a designer (God).

• Thomas’ Teleological Argument:

  • God designed the universe with purpose, and this purpose is visible in nature’s order and complexity.

• Argument by Analogy:

  • The universe is like a watch: a watch has a designer, so the universe must have a designer as well.

• Argument to the Best Explanation:

  • Argues that the best explanation for the fine-tuning and complexity of the universe is the existence of a designer (God).

• Manson’s Critique (Evolutionary Theory):

  • Evolution challenges the analogical version of the teleological argument by providing a natural explanation for complexity.

• Bayes' Theorem:

  • Manson uses Bayes' formula to show that the probability of God’s existence is not supported by the teleological argument in light of evolutionary theory.

• Irreducible Complexity & Fine Tuning:
  
  

  • Irreducible Complexity: Systems that cannot function unless all their parts are present (suggesting design).

  • Fine-Tuning: The universe is precisely tuned to support life, suggesting it was designed.

Problem of Evil

• Mackie’s Logical Problem of Evil:

  • Mackie argues that the existence of evil is logically incompatible with an omnipotent, omnibenevolent God.

  • Quasi-logical rules: These are the rules that lead to the contradiction, like the idea that an omnipotent God would prevent all evil.

• Mackie’s Fallacious Solutions:

  • Some solutions (like the free will defense) are inadequate because they don’t fully explain the existence of evil.

• Mackie’s Adequate Solution:

  • Mackie believes no adequate solution exists, because any response leads to contradictions in the concept of God.

Swinburne’s Theodicy

• Theodicy vs. Defense:

  • Theodicy: An attempt to justify the existence of evil within God's plan.

  • Defense: A defense seeks to show that the existence of evil doesn’t disprove God’s existence, even if we don’t understand it fully.

• Central Theme of Swinburne’s Theodicy:

  • Swinburne argues that God allows evil for the greater good, such as for the development of virtues like courage and compassion.

• Evidential vs. Logical Problem of Evil:

  • Logical Problem: The existence of evil is logically incompatible with God’s existence.

  • Evidential Problem: The existence and amount of evil provide evidence against God’s existence.

Clifford’s Dictum and Religious Belief

• Clifford’s Dictum:

  • One should not believe anything without sufficient evidence.

• Application and Issues:

  • Issues include whether we can live by this dictum, as many of our beliefs are formed without direct evidence.

• Implications for the Rationality of Religious Belief:

  • Clifford’s dictum challenges the rationality of religious belief because religious belief often lacks empirical evidence.

James’ Critique of Clifford’s Dictum

• Features of a Belief According to James:

  • Some beliefs are forced, momentous, and live (important in how we choose to act).

• Rationality of Religious Belief:

  • James argues that religious belief can be rational even without direct evidence, especially when the belief influences personal choice and experience.

Clark’s Critique of Clifford

• Clark’s Key Point:

  • Clark criticizes Clifford’s dictum, arguing that belief in God can be rational even without direct evidence, as belief can be based on personal experience and faith.

• Implications for Belief in God:

  • Clark suggests that believing in God without evidence is not inherently irrational because faith is often based on personal experiences rather than empirical proof.

Mackie’s Proposed Solutions (This man said this is going to be on the exam sooooooooooo fun)

• What Will Work:

• Mackie suggests that denying one of the three divine attributes (omniscience, omnipotence, or omnibenevolence) would resolve the logical problem of evil.

• Critique of Fallacious Solutions: Mackie denies that any of the following solutions work:

• Evil is Necessary for Good:

  • The claim that evil is needed for the existence of good.

  • Mackie argues this doesn't resolve the contradiction, as an omnipotent God could create good without evil.

• Evil is Necessary as a Means to Good:

  • The idea that evil is required to bring about greater goods ( courage, compassion).

  • Mackie rejects this, as an omnipotent God could create goods without the need for evil.

• The World is Better with Some Evil:

  • The argument that a world with some evil is better than a world with no evil at all (for moral development).

  • Mackie argues this doesn't resolve the problem, as an all-good God could create a world without unnecessary evil.

• Free Will Necessitates Evil:

  • The claim that evil exists because of human free will.

  • Mackie critiques this, stating that an omnipotent God could create free will without the possibility of evil.