Philosophy of Religion Philosophy section in folder. 1/3 2 hour exam papers (33.3% of total A Level)

Philosophy of Religion Existence of God: Arguments based on observation. Philosophy of Religion

Arguments based on observation.

Principle of Sufficient Reason A posteriori arguments Key terminology ? Teleological Cosmological Natural Theology Contingent Principle of Sufficient Reason Sceptic A posteriori arguments Necessary existence A priori arguments Logical fallacy

Teleological – looking to the end results (telos) in order to draw a conclusion about what is right and wrong. Cosmological – to do with the universe. Natural Theology – drawing conclusions about the nature and activity of God by using reason and observing the world. Contingent – depending on other things. Principle of Sufficient Reason – the principle that everything must have a reason to explain it. Sceptic – someone who will not accept what others say without questioning or challenging. A posteriori arguments – arguments which draw conclusions based on observation through experience. Necessary existence – existence which does not depend on anything else. A priori arguments – arguments which draw conclusions through the use of reason. Logical fallacy – reasoning that has a flaw in its structure.

Does God exist? How might someone respond to your argument? What is your argument based on? How might someone respond to your argument?

How many arguments can you think of? Does God exist? YES NO How many arguments can you think of?

Does God exist? Does the tooth fairy exist? What are these questions different? Why might we arrive at an answer more quickly for question 2?

Does God exist? Does the tooth fairy exist? Read the information on page 57 and answer the questions in your own words… Does God exist? Does the tooth fairy exist? What are these questions different? Why might we arrive at an answer more quickly for question 2?

Issue: we don’t really know what God is/ is like… We cannot use the same methods we would use to prove whether the tooth fairy/ unicorns/ the loch ness monster are real… It is a very unique question…

Which arguments are a posteriori and which are a priori? Does God exist? YES NO A posteriori arguments – arguments which draw conclusions based on observation through experience. A priori arguments – arguments which draw conclusions through the use of reason. Which arguments are a posteriori and which are a priori?

Does the natural world provide evidence for the existence of God? Can the existence of God be demonstrated through drawing conclusions from our observations? Does the natural world provide evidence for the existence of God?

Homework… Who was Aquinas? Find one fact that tells us about who he was/ what he was like/ what he believed about the existence of God.