hume teleo argument

Question 1

Hume’s design argument- play

Hume uses three fictional characters for exploring different perspectives of god.

Answer 1

Philo- a sceptical philosophical thinker
Cleanthes- a religious philosopher thinker
Demea- a religious orthodox thinker

Cleanthes argument goes as follows:
P1 look around at the universe and you’ll see it consist of parts working together towards an end with incredible accuracy
P2 in this way the universe resembles a great machine as machines also consist of parts working together towards an end with incredible accuracy
P3 effects that are similar have causes that are similar
P4 machines are caused by human designers possessing though wisdom and intelligence.
Conc 1 therefore the universe must be caused by a designer of nature possessing though wisdom and intelligence that are proportional the grandeur of the universe
Conc 2 therefore God exists.

Question 2

explanation of play

Answer 2

Cleanthes is arguing that because the universe is like a machine in one observed respect consisting of parts fitting together and adapted to ends therefore it is like a machine in another unobserved respect having a designer.

effects
machine- consists of parts, adjusted perfectly to each other, adapted to ends
universe- consists of parts, adjusted perfectly to each other, adapted to ends but on a wondrous scale

cause
designer of the machine- thought, wisdom, intelligent
designer of the universe- thought, wisdom, intelligent but proportional to its wondrous scale

Question 3

conclusion

Answer 3

the argument goes beyond merely saying there is a deity, giving us details as to the nature or attributes that god might have.
similar to the mind of humans consisting of thought, wisdom and intelligence but of much larger faculties proportional to the grandeur of the work.