Philosophy 1. Quiz No. 1. January 5, 2005. Name: ________________________________
1. Paley discusses
an example in which a very complex watch is constructed so as to produce other
watches. In such a case, one might explain the complexity of the ‘child’
watches by appealing to the complexity of the ‘parent’ watch. How
does Paley argue against this conclusion to the effect that we still need to
appeal to an intelligent designer?
[ ] A. He points out that someone still needs to be there to wind the watch,
or otherwise provide the power of movement for it to construct other watches,
and this must be God.
[ ] B. He explains how it would be impossible for a watch to be so complex that
it could construct another watch unless it was designed by God.
[x] C. He distinguishes two senses in which one thing can be the cause
of the complexity of another thing, and claims that though the parent watch
is the cause in one sense, it is not the cause in another sense.
[ ] D. Both A and B.
2. Which of the
following is NOT mentioned by Paley:
[ ] A. Corn (“We might possibly say, but with great latitude of expression,
that a stream of water ground corn...”)
[x] B. Looms (“Machines capable of complex productions have been
made by men, such as looms that weave cloth more quickly than human hands are
able.”)
[ ] C. Oval frames (“Does one man in a million know how oval frames are
turned?”)
[ ] D. Metallic nature (“And not less surprised to be informed, that the
watch in his hand was nothing more than the result of the laws of metallic nature.”)
3. Aquinas uses
the following analogy in order to describe how an intelligent agent is responsible
for the goal-directedness of natural bodies. Bodies have their behavior guided
by an intelligent agent:
[ ] A. ... as the watch is designed by the watchmaker.
[x] B. ... as the arrow is shot to its mark by the archer.
[ ] C. ... as the child is guided by his father.
[ ] D. ... as the student is instructed by his teacher.
4. Which of the
Aquinas’ Five Ways involves an argument for an intelligent designer from
the operation of natural bodies:
[ ] A. The First Way.
[ ] B. The Fourth Way.
[ ] C. The First and Second Ways.
[x] D. The Fifth Way.
5. Paley provides
two kinds of arguments for an intelligent designer. They are:
[ ] A. An Argument from Analogy and an Argument from First Causes.
[ ] B. An Argument from First Causes and an Argument Ad Absurdum
[ ] C. An Argument Ad Absurdum, and a ‘what other explanation is there?’
argument.
[x] D. An Argument from Analogy, and a ‘what other explanation
is there?’ argument.