1. Challenges against Inductive arguments
By the end of the lesson you will have:
Re-capped your previous knowledge of criticisms against inductive arguments
Learnt the two basic arguments against inductive arguments
Applied our knowledge to an AO2 essay structure

2. Re-Cap What is an inductive argument?
What is the cosmological argument?
What is the teleological argument?

3. Recap starter- pick at least 4 words from the selection below & explain them! Blue = 1 point each (ALL) Red = 2 points each (MOST) Black = 3 points each (SOME)
Hume’s fork
Dawkin’s ‘flawed design’
Hume’s ‘weak analogies’
Darwin’s theory of evolution
Hume’s chaos theory
Hume’s absent designer
Hume’s many builders
Mill’s evil and suffering
Kant’s restricted experience

4. David Hume’s ‘God of Gaps’
Think, Pair, Share
What ‘gap’ in inductive arguments do you think Hume is referring to?
Why is the ‘gap’ in an inductive argument essentially problematic?
What sort of knowledge doesn’t have ‘gaps’?
TASK: Try and write in your own words what you think the ‘god of gaps’ criticism might be

5. Anthony Flew’s ‘Leaky Bucket’
Many proponents of inductive arguments use their ‘cumulative’ nature as a key strength
Cumulative = increasing or increased in quantity, degree
The Cosmological, and particularly the Teleological, arguments are cumulative because the more we learn about the world, the more evidence we see of both cause and design
Swinburne argued that the arguments, particularly when placed together, accumulate to show that God’s existence is likely

6. Anthony Flew’s ‘Leaky Bucket’
Think of a bucket holding lots of water
You may have 1, 2, 3 or even 100 buckets with lots of water
However, if the buckets leak or have holes in them, you will never be able to have a complete bucket of water

7. Evaluation for T.A
‘The T.A is a convincing argument for the existence of God’. Assess this view
Use page 105 of your blue workbook and choose 3 strengths and 3 weaknesses to evaluate. Do you think these are good or strong points?
Could any of the strengths or weaknesses be used for both the C.A and the T.A?

8. Strengths/Weaknesses Cosmological
It satisfies the question ‘why is there something rather than nothing’
Can we not just say that the universe is there and that is the end of it? Russell states ‘there is a universe and that is all’
Ex-Nihlio, nihlio fit – out of nothing comes nothing. There MUST be a cause.
J.S Mill said It is contradictory to say that the universe can’t be infinite but God can be.
The Kalam argument is compatible with science – both agree the world has a beginning

9. Essay Planning
In groups, use page ?? of your essay planning booklet to try and plan at least 3 paragraphs for the question:
‘Inductive arguments are convincing arguments for the existence of God’. Assess this view

10. Topic re-cap
Create A3 mind maps OR revision cards to re-cap what we have learnt so far
Cosmological Arguments for the existence of God
Teleological Arguments for the existence of God
Challenges against inductive arguments