Swinburne's Cumulative Inductive Argument
Richard Swinburne's approach to theistic arguments treating multiple lines of evidence (design, cosmology, religious experience, morality) as individually weak but cumulatively strong support for God's existence. Rather than seeking a single deductive proof, Swinburne employs Bayesian probabilistic reasoning to show that God's existence becomes increasingly probable when considering multiple factors together.
Real World
A detective solving a cold case doesn't rely on one fingerprint alone — they combine DNA, witness testimony, CCTV, and motive to build a compelling case. Swinburne treats evidence for God the same way, arguing that design, causation, and religious experience together make theism more probable than any single argument could.
Exam Focus
Always distinguish 'cumulative' from 'deductive' — examiners reward candidates who explain why probabilistic reasoning differs from logical proof.
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