TELEOLOGICAL ARG (AQA)
Question bundle (5,12,25)
, Exam questions:
1. What does spatial order refer to? (3)
a. Spatial order is the arrangement of objects physically in space, for example a watch,
the human eye, and the arrangement of books in a library, all exhibit spatial order
(Hume uses spatial order in his argument)
2. What does temporal order refer to? (3)
a. Temporal order is the pattern of the way objects behave in time, a billiard ball
moving when it is hit, or a stone falling to the ground, or a friend arriving at your
house when you invite them over. Temporal order cannot be explained by science
and needs a rational agent who is complete, powerful (Doesn’t explicitly say God)
3. What is an argument from analogy?
a. An argument from analogy is a posteriori (based on sense experience) and inductive
(if the premises are true, it means the conclusion is probable not certain). It is
founded on the concept that similar effects have similar causes. Nature and human
design have similar effects; hence they have similar causes he concludes that the
cause of human design (an intelligent mind) is the same cause for the natural world,
a God. Hume’s argument from design states that we can draw an analogy with
human design. So, Hume’s version of the argument is an argument from analogy
P1: In the fitting of means to ends, nature resembles the products of human design
P2: Similar effects have similar causes
P3: The cause of the products of human design is an intelligent mind that intended the
design
C1: Therefore, the cause of nature is an intelligent mind that intended the design
4. How does a scientific explanation differ from a personal explanation (3)
a. A personal explanation explains an object or event in terms of a person (a rational,
free agent) and their purpose. For example, I’m writing things I intent to write. ‘A
scientific explanation city the relevant laws and initial conditions which are said to
have produced some effects. For example, science explains why water boils when
you heat it by laws governing the effect of heat on the properties of molecules.
5. Explain one of Hume’s objections to the design argument analogy
a. Hume claims the design argument analogy fails because it is an argument from a
unique case. Hume asserts it is only reasonable to infer X is caused by Y when we
have repeat experience of Y followed by X. This is the concept of constant
conjunction. Our concept of cause and effect is simply the repeated experience of
two events occurring one after the other.
b. The design argument from analogy claims that the order, regularity and purpose in
the universe leads us to infer that it is designed. However, this inference enquires
relevant and multiple experiences of other universes being designed. E.g. when we
observe a house coming into being in our world, we learn that they require a
designer. If we had never had an experience of manufacture, engineering or design,
then we would never infer that the house could have been designed
Question bundle (5,12,25)
, Exam questions:
1. What does spatial order refer to? (3)
a. Spatial order is the arrangement of objects physically in space, for example a watch,
the human eye, and the arrangement of books in a library, all exhibit spatial order
(Hume uses spatial order in his argument)
2. What does temporal order refer to? (3)
a. Temporal order is the pattern of the way objects behave in time, a billiard ball
moving when it is hit, or a stone falling to the ground, or a friend arriving at your
house when you invite them over. Temporal order cannot be explained by science
and needs a rational agent who is complete, powerful (Doesn’t explicitly say God)
3. What is an argument from analogy?
a. An argument from analogy is a posteriori (based on sense experience) and inductive
(if the premises are true, it means the conclusion is probable not certain). It is
founded on the concept that similar effects have similar causes. Nature and human
design have similar effects; hence they have similar causes he concludes that the
cause of human design (an intelligent mind) is the same cause for the natural world,
a God. Hume’s argument from design states that we can draw an analogy with
human design. So, Hume’s version of the argument is an argument from analogy
P1: In the fitting of means to ends, nature resembles the products of human design
P2: Similar effects have similar causes
P3: The cause of the products of human design is an intelligent mind that intended the
design
C1: Therefore, the cause of nature is an intelligent mind that intended the design
4. How does a scientific explanation differ from a personal explanation (3)
a. A personal explanation explains an object or event in terms of a person (a rational,
free agent) and their purpose. For example, I’m writing things I intent to write. ‘A
scientific explanation city the relevant laws and initial conditions which are said to
have produced some effects. For example, science explains why water boils when
you heat it by laws governing the effect of heat on the properties of molecules.
5. Explain one of Hume’s objections to the design argument analogy
a. Hume claims the design argument analogy fails because it is an argument from a
unique case. Hume asserts it is only reasonable to infer X is caused by Y when we
have repeat experience of Y followed by X. This is the concept of constant
conjunction. Our concept of cause and effect is simply the repeated experience of
two events occurring one after the other.
b. The design argument from analogy claims that the order, regularity and purpose in
the universe leads us to infer that it is designed. However, this inference enquires
relevant and multiple experiences of other universes being designed. E.g. when we
observe a house coming into being in our world, we learn that they require a
designer. If we had never had an experience of manufacture, engineering or design,
then we would never infer that the house could have been designed
