In This Famous Dialogue Philo (Who Reflects Hume's Views on the Subject)

question 1

True/False

In this famous dialogue Philo (who reflects Hume's views on the subject) gives us the classic critique of the argument from design. In the parts reproduced here, Cleanthes (the natural theologian) states the argument and asserts, "By this argument a posteriori, and by this argument alone, do we prove at once the existence of a Deity and his similarity to human mind and intelligence." Philo replies that the argument rests on an extremely weak analogy from which we can derive no more than a guess about a deity. The dissimilarities between the universe and a human-crafted machine are too great to draw the conclusion that Cleanthes seeks. We cannot, for example, draw a conclusion about the origin of the vast universe as a whole from a fact about the origin of a tiny part of the universe (a house or a ship, for instance). Furthermore, if we try to infer the nature of a Designer from facts about the natural world and human designers, we would have to conclude that the Designer may not be infinite (because the world is finite), may not be perfect (because nature is full of imperfections), and may not be single (because it is possible that the world was made by many deities).
-According to Philo, because the universe is perfectly ordered, the existence of a deity is likely.

---

Definitions:

Market Rate

The prevailing interest rate available in the marketplace for investments or loans, which fluctuates based on demand, supply, and economic conditions.

Issue Price

The price at which a new set of securities is offered to the public for the first time.

Compound Interest GIC

A guaranteed investment certificate where the interest is calculated on both the initial principal and the accumulated interest from previous periods.

Maturity Value

The sum paid to an investor at the conclusion of a predetermined investment period, encompassing both the original amount invested and the interest earned.