TA Flashcards
Teleological arguments
- telos - purpose
- looking at the world and using it as evidence for God
- argues against the idea the world is the way is it by chance or natural occurrence
- uses a-posteriori knowledge, empirical and inductive
strengths of teleological arguments
- strengths of inductive reasoning
- mathematic support - chance of life on earth developing in the way it has, has a very small probability: Big Bang, design of eye
- goldilocks enigma - universe being ‘just right’ cannot happen by chance
strengths of paley’s teleological argument
flaws of evolution:
- Theory of evolution described as blind with no purpose or end. Blind nature moving randomly
- teleological A gives purpose to the universe that evolution cannot as it gives a purpose to the universe.
- With evolution we can understand the how not the why
criticisms of the teleological argument
inductive leap - when you use specific observations as a basis for a general conclusion
if does prove existence of intelligent being, doesn’t prove concept of Christian God
criticisms specifically of Paley’s TA
Darwin - theory of evolution - natural selection explains living world as result of generational genetic development = complexity of the world. Evolution is genetic self development Vs intelligent designer
JS Mill - evil is enough to prove God deosnt exists or is unloving, nature crueler then the human mind = design not perfect, cruel. we are poorly designed
Humes criticisms of TA
poor use of analogy
cannot compare things at different states. EX comparing the universe and house. house clearly designed, built for purpose - universe may not have purpose. no real point of comparison
anthropomorphise God - personify him, limiting him
inductive leap - one God doesn’t make sense to designer universe, supports Greek Mythology
Epicurean Hypoth - universe is chaotic but throughout time it has existed and a result of natural forces balance things out like system. illusion of design
fallacy of comp - critics paley - claims design must exist because man-made objects have design- doesn’t mean its accurate to apply this is to universe
aquinas TA
- God has to be reason for development and evolve
- world ordered and regulated in patterns
- argument qua regularity based on order and regularity of universe
- reason for God - order: inanimate objects cannot think themselves = guiding hand
- seasons changing and moving planets
- analogy of archer
Paley TA
- looks at complexity of universe and world towards purpose
- 5 evidence of design: material, interlinked parts, world to purpose, motion, parts indispensable - shown in man-made objects and universe
- analogy of watch
- regularity and purpose - fibonacci sequence - order = designer and purpose
- argument qua purpose - universe well designed to fulfil purpose
supporting scholars for Aquinas
Paul Davies - focus on scientific theory that conditions for life to exist are delicate and intricate = cannot occur on their own. mathematically close to zero = intelligent being
Cicero - ‘what could be more obvious when we look up to contemplate the heavens, that there is some divinity or intelligence’
Psalm 19 - ‘the heavens declare the glory of God the skies proclaim the work of his hands’
Swinburne - not enough on its own but when combined with other arguments strong case for Gods existence
supporting scholars for paley
Swinburne - not enough on its own but when combined with other arguments strong case for Gods existence
socrates - ‘with such signs of forethought in the design of living creatures, can you doubt they are the work of design’
Fredrick R Tennant - ‘aesthetic principle’ - evolution can’t explain emotions: the love and appreciation seen from humans towards people, art etc. don’t aid us in survival = natural selection cannot account for their existence. capacity for joy was put in us by designer
