God's existence by observation - teleological Flashcards
what is the teleological argument
The argument from design suggests that the world displays. elements of design, with things being adapted towards some overall end or purpose (telos in Greek). Such design suggests that the world is the work of a designer – God.
What is Aquinas’ fifth way?
Uses the observation that non-intelligent, organic life acts in purposeful and ordered ways to imply that they were given these goals by an intelligence - God.
Examples of Aquinas’ observation for his fifth way
Acorns always grow on oak trees in the right conditions.
The moon has a 29.5 day cycle.
Why does the observation of purpose infer a creator to Aquinas?
Only intelligent beings can assign a purpose to things and move these things toward the purpose.
Analogy of the Archer (Fifth way)
God is the archer, guiding non-intelligent things (the arrow) to their purpose (the target).
What is the argument of the fifth way argument? (5)
1) the natural world obeys natural laws
2) natural things flourish as they obey these laws
3) things without intelligence can not irect themselves
4) Therefore, things without intelligence require something with intelligence to direct them to their goals
5) this is God
How did Hume counter the teleological argument?
Analogy can only compare similar things, why not compare the universe to a cabbage (organic)?
We only have experience of our universe so cant compare designed/undesigned universes.
Why would one assume the watch (and universe) was designed
The complexity and inherent purpose of the watch, and so the universe, proves it was put together in a complex manner to serve a purpose
What is the analogy of the watchmaker? (Paley)
If someone found a rock (undesigned world) on the ground they would not ask how it got there, assuming natural causes.
If someone found a watch (designed world) on the ground the previous answer (that it had always been there) would not work. They would assume a designer.
What is the Epicurean hypothesis
There is a very high probability that a random system, over a very long/infinite period of time, will have periods of order and stability.
Evolutionary challenges to the teleological argument
Dawkins and Atkins - suffering and cruelty in evolution (female digger wasp laying eggs in caterpillars)
Natural selection presents the facade of design (finches beaks) as a random genetic mutation.
Hume’s arguments against the teleological argument: One of many argument
the governing principle of the world coul be one of many that work equally well as intelligence.
Hume’s arguments against teleological: man-made analogy
a man-made thing is bound to lead to the conclusion of a designed universe. We have experiences of watches being designed so begs the question when it comes to the universe.
Also risks implying a human-like God
