Design (Teleological argument) Flashcards
What is the design Argument known as?
The Teleological argument.
What does Telos mean?
goal or purpose
What is the Design argument?
• Suggests that certain aspects of the universe are so perfectly adapted to fulfill their function that they display evidence of being deliberately designed. Such design can only be explained with reference to an intelligent, infinitely great-designer – God.
What are the 3 things the Design argument is based on?
Inductive reasoning
A posteriori
Interpretation of experience.
What does Inductive reasoning mean?
Starts with a specific experience and draws general conclusions from them.
What is an a Posteriori argument?
The proof of the statement relies on external evidence. e.g. there are more boys taking computer science than girl. The external evidence is the register.
why is the design argument an A Posteriori argument?
It argues that due to the order and complexity of the universe, it can not happen by chance, it must be a result of design.
What does Interpretation of experience mean?
Since the Design argument uses inductive reasoning to produce an a Posteriori argument, its based on experience. We tend to think that experiences are the best source of authority when it comes to Knowledge.
What are 2 A02 criticisms of Interpretation of Experiences?
1) There are Hoaxes, when people deliberately try top fool us e,g, Media
2) There are illusions, hallucinations and mistakes when something seems to be true but isn’t.
Does inductive reasoning deal with Probabilities or certainites?
Probability
Of Aquinas 5 ways, which way is the Design Argument?
The 5th way. in his Summa theologica.
What does Benefical order mean?
There are things in the universe that work towards an end or purpose. Aquinas states the world has Beneficence order.
What does Aquinas observe about the Beneficial order in the universe?
He observes that the beneficial order in the universe could not happen by chance and since many objects do not have the intelligence to work towards an end or purpose, there must be something that has the intelligence, this is God, who is the explanation of beneficial order.
What is an analogy?
a comparison of two or more things to show how they
are similar.
What is William Paley’s analogy?
If you came across a watch and examined it, you wouldn’t assume that the parts of the watch came about by chance. Just like a watch, the world is ordered, and so couldn’t of come by chance.These means that the world needs a designer, which is God.The watch has a watchmaker.
What are strengths of an Analogical Argument?
1) Easier and simple to understand
2) Demonstrates that the world has a telos.
3) Helps people understand God.
What are weaknesses of an Analogical Argument?
1) By comparing God to a watch maker, shows that God is limited and non-moral.
2) Things could have come about through chance
3) Dawkins says we assume purpose but there isn;t actually purpose.
What was Hume’s critiscms of the analogical argument?
This was written 30 years prior to Paley, so it is not a direct criticism, as it was a criticism of the Design argument. He said that an Analogy only serves to demonstrate that there was a designer, but not anything of the nature of the designer.
What is Design qua Regularity ( Paley’s own form of the argument)?
The universe appears to behave according to some order of rules. This is supported by Aquinas.
What is Design Qua Purpose ( Paley’s own form of the argument) ?
The universe appears to have been designed to fufil some purpose. (Supported by William paley, Watch analogy, if any parts of the watch don’t work then it cannot work, the parts are assembled perfectly. by a designer.) The complexity of the watch suggests a watch maker.
What is the Epicurean Hypothesis? Hume agrees with it
At the beginning of time, particles are in random motion, but evolve into an ordered system. Hume agrees with these saying there is design but it has happened by chance not God.
What are 2 modern day interpretations of the Design argument?
1) Richard Swinburne - argument for Probability
2) Tennant - Antrophic principle. and Aesthetic argument
What is Richard Swinburne’s argument for Probability?
He supports Paley and Aquinas’ ideas, but states that the probability of design is greater than chance (order in the universe increases the probability of the existence of God). He employs the Ockham’s razor to deduce that God is the simplest explanation of the existence and order in the universe.
What is the Anthropic Principle, employed by FR tenant?
The conditions of earth are so uniquely designed to support human life. The universe appears to have been finely tuned for our existence.