(1) Arguments for God - Teleological Argument.

Question 1

What is the design argument also known as?

Answer 1

The teleological argument.

Question 2

Which design argument are we looking at?

(The person who wrote it)

Answer 2

William Paley’s

(there are many design arguments, this is the only one we study)

Question 3

When was William Paley born?

Answer 3

1743

Question 4

When did Paley die?

Answer 4

1805

Question 5

Who was Paley?

Answer 5

He graduated in maths, he was a well liked lecturer, ordained as a priest in the church of England, he finally became the Archdealon of Carlisle.

Question 6

What was Paley’s argument?

Answer 6

Natural theology, by looking and observing nature will lead us to understand God.

Question 7

What type of argument is the design argument?

Answer 7

A Posteriori ad inductive

Question 8

What were Paley’s observations of the world?

Answer 8

It’s complex
It’s purpose
It’s regularity

Question 9

Based on these observations, How did Paley form his inductive Teleological argument?

Answer 9

Some objects are too complex to have appeared by chance, there must therefore be a creator.
If an object has a creator the there must be a purpose for the object.
The regularity of the object shows how it hasn’t just me around by chance as we are surrounded with this object.
All observations of the world we live in must have been caused by God.

Question 10

What does Paley’s analogy of the watch mean?

Answer 10

From the existence of the watch and it’s properties (It’s complexity) you would infer the existence of a watchmaker, if the watch has been made there must be a purpose and the watch works due to the regularity of the mechanics. If we supplement the watch for the universe, then the universe must have a creator. This universe creator must be greater than everything else to create something so complex and purposeful. therefore the universe designer is god.

Question 11

What are the objections Paley anticipates?

Answer 11

1. What if the watch was broken/defective?
2. What if we don’t understand what a watch is?
3. What if the watch had got it’s order by chance?

These are questions Paley asked to critic his own theory, answers to these questions are next

Question 12

How does he resolve these objections?

Answer 12

1. Even if it was broken, it would still need to have a designer in order to exist.
2. We wouls still realise there’s a designer.
3. Paley sees this as nonsense. Watches are not a product of chance as a watch is too complex.

These are the answers to the questions asked previously.

Question 13

What are the other examples Paley gives for the application of his observations of the world?

Answer 13

• A human eye, it is complex and regular.
• Fish gills, has a purpose.
• Birds and their feathers, purpose.
• The stars, planets and comets, regulatrity and complexity.

Question 14

What can we conclude from the purpose and regularity we observe in nature?

Answer 14

That these were the intentional design of God

Question 15

What are the criticisms of the design argument?

Answer 15

• No evidence that the universe creator is the Christian God.
• The designer of the universe could have been teamwork.
• The universe could have been a product of trial and error.
• The existence of evil, a flaw in a “perfect universe”, who’s fault is it, ours or the designer.
• The universe is more like a vegtable than a machine, as it grows and adapts on its own.
• Anthropomorphism.
• Universe could have come around by chance.

Question 16

Who wrote these criticisms?

Answer 16

David Hume, an atheist

Question 17

What is the Epicurean Hypothesis?

Answer 17

That the universe could have come about by chance.

Question 18

What are the weaknesses of paley’s argument?

Answer 18

• Can’t prove designer is the Christian God.
• The existence of evil
• Hume’s arguement - the universe is a vegtable not a machine and vegtables do not need a designer as they grow on their own.
• We have no experience of the universe, therefore we have no understanding of the universe.
• Nature can design itself.

Question 19

What did Richard Swinhume say?

Answer 19

“Simplicity is always evidence for the truth.”

Question 20

What are the strengths of Paley’s argument?

Answer 20

• Paley could be right as the designer being the Christain God is the simplist answer.
• Evil brings about good, it’s unavoidable.
• Evolution is compatabile with this theory
• It has simplicity
• “Nature shows intention”, everything must have happened in a very specific way to have intellegent life.
• Designer must be metaphysical and transcendent; can’t make the universe inside the universe.
• Everything in the universe can be described mathmatically

Question 21

What are the 3 meanings of proof?

Answer 21

1. Sufficient evidence for the truth of propersition.
2. Proof can be probable, inductive.
3. When all evidence points to the truth of conclusion the inductive arguements can amount to “proof”.

Question 22

What is the value of Paley’s arguement?

Answer 22

• It is inductive, it’s evidence is not scientific proof.
• The designer may not be the christian God.
• Simple truths are the most logical and best answers.
• Religious believers deny this as God can only be proven through religious experiences which cannot be shared.

Question 23

What do some argue in response to Paley’s argument?

Answer 23

That a belief in God is blind trust, but the design arguement is a plausable hypothesis as it is probable that there is a divine designer.

Question 24

What is the distinction of “belief in” and “belief that”?

Answer 24

“Belief in” is personal, “belief that” is acknowledgement of a statement.

Question 25

Can faith be based on reason?

Answer 25

Yes it can, however many religious believers don’t want proof.

Question 26

What did Pope John Paul II write in the Enyclical letter?

Answer 26

The truth is a combination of both faith and reason. We need to know ourselves, the world and God.

Question 27

What is the value of Paley’s arguement for religious faith?

Answer 27

• Better understanding of God
• Supports faith with reason
• Evidence found in the world
• Defends againist atheists
• Reasonable hypothesis, shows that atheists don’t have more eveidence than theists do.
• Simple, could convince those who are uncertain.
• Paley provides proof for faith when faith doesn’t want proof
• Gives a reason to believe “in” and “that” God exists.
• The designer does not equal the Christian God.
• Can’t provide a reasonable belief “In” God
• Personal convicion trumps any proof.