arguments for god based on observation (3) Flashcards
telelogical
design arguments for the existence of God, they are based of observing purpose in the natural world and suggesting design
strengths of Aquinas’ fifth way
- there are examples in nature of non thinking things acting towards a purpose
- arrow needs an archer to direct it, naural things need direction
- purpose is the sign of a consious mind that plans end with their design
weaknesses of Aquinas’ fifth way
- could be another explanation for purpose. evolution means things fit their environment
- Aquinas assumes that there is an innate purpose, may be a human construct
- logical fallacy by making leap to the God of natural theism
Paley’s teleological argument (qua purpose)
analogy of watch: all parts have been constructed for the purpose of time. Paley compared examples of natural purpose with mechanical- like eyes, wings etc. concludes a consious mind initially designed purpose.
(qua regularity)
Paley infers a designer due to order in natural world, like order of the planets. the predictaility proves God’s existence.
criticisms of Paley
what if watch was broken? Paley said watch still had a purpose even if not fufilled. quality of design is not important. this can be used against things like natural disasters.
paley’s observations of the world prove God
- a designer would know the purpose and since we can observe it is logical
- purpose can be seen in beings, like how birds wings let them fly. even if we dont understand how, still there.
- design qua regularity can be observed through order in nature- gravity
paley’s observations of the world dont prove God
- Hume argues its a leap from seeing purpose to there being a God
- Dawkins claims natural selections a blind process
- law of entropy suggests there is inclination towards order over disorder
- too many faults in the world
Hume’s problems with analogies
- analogies can lead to mistaken conclusions
- philo ridicules design conclusions. evidence suggests a human like God or a immature one
- there could many designers of our world
Hume’s problems with observation
- fallacy of composition, untrue to think that because something is true of a part it is true of a whole
- example of balancing scales without seeing other side, we can only guess.
epicurean hypothesis
an infinite nuber of particles in eternal time would everually fall into order by chance.
telelogical arguments make too many assumptions
- we cannot assume that because a machine has a designer the world must too
- design arguments suggests a monotheistic God
- ## suggests there was intentional design over chance
telelogical arguments dont make too many assumptions
- similar effects often have similar causes. just because we didnt see universe be made doesnt mean no designer
- Hume is taking analogy too far and poking fun
- we couldnt throw all parts of a watch in the air and expect them to land correctly
evolution
Darwin, natural selection means creatures with best suited characteristics survive. if species adapt to environment no need for a God, if evolution is random then no overall purpose.
the blind watchmaker
Dawkins book, attacks Paley. argues evolution is carried on through random matters of DNA to produce variations. the process is blind and lacks purpose.
evolution explains design in world
- explains regularity and purpose as a result of chance
- we can only observe purpose as we have brains that look for it
- natural selections is wasteful and cruel, cant be decided by God
evolution cant explain design in world
- unlikely that such order came about by chance
- even if the watch is broken there is still a designated purpose
Tennants aesthetic and anthropic principles
aesthetic- why do we have an appreciation for the arts and beauty, not needed for suvival
anthropic- God set up laws of physics to allow evolution with purpose of allowing life to evolve
Aquinas first way
argument from motion. motions means change from potentiality to actuality- like cold things becoming hot. nothing can change alone and cant be inifinite regress must be an umoved mover.
Aquinas’ second way
argument from cause. everything is a succession of causes, there must be an uncaused causer.
Aquinas’ third way
argument from contingency. everything can exist or not exist, if there was a time something existed then theres a time nothing did. there is something now so there must be something necessary.
Liebniz
why is there something rather than nothing? use example of books, each copied from previous manuscript. Liebniz argued there needed to be a reason for series.
Aquinas cosmological argument is convincing
- we can observe motion. a ball will not move unless i throw it.
- we can observe cause. i open a door a cat walks in, needs a cause.
- we can see contingency. we need our parents.
Aquinas cosmological argument is not convincing
- it is reasonable to assume there can be infinite regress
- cause and effect may be correlation, they can occur together but we cant be sure
- just because things in the universe are contingent doesnt mean everything is
- existentialists would argue asking why the world exists in useless
