As Paley explains, just as the function and complexity of a watch implies a watchmaker, so likewise the function and complexity of the universe implies the existence of a universe-maker. I will examine the argument presented by William Paley, in which he offers an argument from design that claims to show a clear reason why one should believe in God, due to the natural features of the world. I disagree with Paley in that there are many flaws to his argument. In my opinion Paley's argument is a deductive argument, in the sense that he first establishes a belief and uses it in order to reach his final conclusion, hence a deductive argument in which Paley’s premises might be somewhat true but his conclusion is false. .
Picard defends Data well by breaking down Dualism into physical and mental properties and then showing the court how these properties were as present in Data as they would be in any sentient being. Picard also demonstrates this by asking Maddox the definition of a sentient being, and after establishing the definition Picard asks Data what he is doing currently and what is at stake. When Data replies we see that he uses the words “I am” and “My”. With this Picard concludes that Data must be self-aware because he referred to himself in his statement. Self-awareness is a mental property which links to Dualism.
To make his case for independence effectively, Jefferson begins by using moral reasoning and deductive logic, then shifts to inductive logic to lead up to the conclusion. As a moralist, Jefferson’s basic principles are: human beings are born equal; Creator gives them certain rights, such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. As a logician, Jefferson’s premises are: government are built up to protect these rights; when government fails to do so, the people have the right to change it. From these principles and premises, Jefferson judges what are good or bad behaviors of government. In the first two paragraph, Jefferson says that the British government has usurped the rights of the
You would not assume that it was made due to random changes in nature; you would think that the watch had a designer. Because it has a purpose (to tell the time) it must have a designer. As the universe also has signs of complexity and intelligence, it too must have a designer? The watch is an unintelligent being in the case, with the designer being the intelligence. If we use analogy to compare the watch to the universe then there must be some intelligent being which directs all unintelligent beings towards their end.
Design qua purpose states that the world must have been designed as it has components within it that fit together for such a purpose. Design qua regularity states that the world must have had a designer, as it follows predictable rules, for example the cycle of the seasons, or the sun rise. St Thomas Aquinas, a philosopher of the 13th century put forward 5 ways in his book Summa Theologica to argue for the existence of God. His 5th way was a version of the design argument. He said in his 5th way that our knowledge of God did not come from God’s revelation – revealed theology, but from our observation of God’s creation – natural theology.
Most psychologists today agree that the concept of mind and body have merit. But, more important is to provide empirical evidence to confirm the relationship between mind and body (The History of Psychology, 2006). The Beginnings of Modern Psychology Rene Descartes (1596-1650), a French mathematician and philosopher, took up the viewpoint that introspection and reflection are investigatory methods superior to observation. Descartes revived the Platonic ideas of mind-body dualism and innate (versus acquired) knowledge. He said that what separates humans from animals is that humans have a non-material, spiritual mind and a material body.
Hence why, natural laws such as gravity and motion assist in forming the basis for the cause and effect that fills the discussion of hard determinism. However, James Lovelock argued that according to GAIA theory the world changes, adapts and amends itself in order to survive and the human race is of little significance. Humans do not control nature, nature is in control. Philosophical determinism, like all forms of hard determinism, is based on the theory of Universal Causation. This is the belief that everything in the universe including all human actions and choices has a cause.
1. Aquinas' Argument from Design begins with the empirical observation of the design and order of the universe. Hence, this argument is an à posteriori argument, and the conclusion is not claimed to follow with absolute certainty. This argument is also termed, "The Teleological Argument." Teleology is the study of purpose, ends, and goals in natural processes.
In simple terms , a law describes what nature does under certain conditions, and will predict what will happen as long as those conditions are met. Can not be changed. Theories have a few similarities to a scientific law, but is the opposite when it comes to the rest. Theories are a body of knowledge and explanatory concepts that seek to increase our understanding a major phenomena in nature (Moore, 1984). A scientifically accepted general principle supported by a substantial body of evidence offered to provide an explanation of observed facts and as a basis for future discussion or investigation (Lincoln et al.,1990).
Examine the ways in which the ontological argument attempts to prove to the atheist God exists. The ontological argument is an a priori argument which means that the argument is based around logic as oppose to experience. This means that the argument attempts to prove to atheists that God exists through deductive reasoning which means that if you accept the premises of the argument to be true then it is logical to accept the conclusion they reach. The argument is therefore analytic as it is based upon a definition and does not need to refer to empirical evidence to solve it. Aristotle uses the analogy of “All men are mortal, Socrates is a man, and therefore Socrates is mortal”, if you accept that premises of the statement “Socrates is a man” to be true, then the conclusion is necessarily true.