1B: Inductive Arguments - Teleological

Question 1

What are teleological arguments?

Answer 1

• wants to prove God 100% exists, similarly to the CA
• however whilst CA is based on causes, the TA are based in design
• states that complex things (e.g. watches) need designers due to their intricacy. The world is also complex and therefore needs a designer too.

Question 2

What are the two different teleological arguments?

Answer 2

• design qua regularity - associated with older versions of TA. The world is too ordered/regulated to have come about by chance, therefore it must have a designer
• design qua purpose - objects (e.g. eyes) are too specific a purpose to have come about by chance. Therefore too needs a designer (God)

Question 3

Who are the three philosophers with teleological arguments?

Answer 3

• older version: Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274). DQR
• moderately old: William Paley (1743-1805). DQP
• modernish version: F.R.Tennant (1866-1957)

Question 4

What was Aquinas’ TA?

Answer 4

• the fifth of his five ways to prove God exists
• he observed that all final purposes seem to have been carefully designed to support the development and growth of human life
• e.g. non-intelligent entities under the universe (e.g. trees, plants and clouds) act in a way ti shipping human life. However they don’t choose to provide this support. Therefore an intelligent being is needed - for Aquinas this is God.
• God must exist to design nature so it supports human life, also exists to govern laws of nature in the universe

Question 5

What was Aquinas’ analogy?

Answer 5

• an arrow and an archer
• an arrow cannot fire itself towards the target, it needs someone to direct it.
• this is the same way in which nature can it direct itself ti support human life’s it too needs someone to direct it.

Question 6

Background to Paley’s argument?

Answer 6

• written in 1802 book ‘Natural Theology’
• most famous TA and referred to as the ‘Watch Analogy’
• Paley was heavily influenced by the philosopher Cicero

Question 7

What is Paley’s watch analogy?

Answer 7

• if we were to come across a stone on the ground, we could conclude it was formed as a result of random natural events (e.g. rain, wind, etc)
• however this wouldn’t be the same for a watch due to the compels parts that are fitted together for a specific purpose
• the watch cannot have come into existence by random Natural events, anyone with intelligence would conclude the watch had a designer
• Paley extends the analogy to the world around us. Like the watch, the world is complex and was also designed with a specific purpose - supporting human development and growth - therefore needs a designer, e.g. God.

Question 8

Other analogies from Paley?

Answer 8

• also uses the analogy of an eye, various parts co-operate in complex ways to produce sight. It is believed the eye was designed for a specific purpose of seeing. Therefore suggests an intelligent designer

Question 9

What are Tennant’s two types of teleological arguments?

Answer 9

• anthropic principle - DQR
• aesthetic principle - DQP

Question 10

What is Tennant’s anthropic principle?

Answer 10

• believed there must be an intelligent designer behind the universe as rhe chances of the Big Bang and evolution randomly creating a stable universe are so remote.
• Tennant believe without the designer the world would be in chaos
• Intelligent order: universe is so stable it can be empirically analysed
• Sustained life: stable natural world provides the right things that are needed to sustain human life, e.g. the water cycle
• intelligent progression: the universe is so stable that humanity has been able to intellectually develop
• for Tennant, thus clearly illustrates the universe is a stable entity and needs a designer

Question 11

What is Tennant’s aesthetic principle?

Answer 11

• states humans possess the ability ti appreciate beauty of the is surroundings, e.g. art, literature, poetry, music, etc. Humanity is the only species that has this appreciation
• Tennant argues that the appreciation of beauty must have been designed in humanity from another source as it is not a survival instinct
• for Tennant this must be an intelligent designer, e.g. God. An omnibenevolent God would want humanity to enjoy life