Telelogical Argument Flashcards
Which of Aquinas’s 5 ways pertain to the Teleoloogical argument for Gods existence
Aquinas’s 5th way-arrow and the archer
What did Kant say about the telelogical argument
That it is the oldest, clearest and most accordant proof of Gods existence, accordant with human reasoning, that deserves to be mentioned with respect.
What does Aquinas’s fifth way posit?
He argues that everything in the world seems to have an order or purpose, however, Aquinas deemed it impossible for inanimate objects to have a purpose. Therefore there must be something guiding them. “Whatever lacks knowledge cannot move towards an end” “Not fortuitously but Designedly”-Quotes from Aquinas.
What was Aquinas’s analogy for an inanimate object moving towards a purpose or with regularity (He argues both Qua purpose and qua regularity)
The arrow, or inanimate object, and the archer, God, who is guiding it towards a goal or regularity.
Who is tho probably the most famous proponent of the Telelogical argument, having been Arch deacon of Carlisle
William Paley
What is Paleys analogy?
The watchmaker.
Explain the watchmakers analogy
It compares the complexity of a watch, found on a heath to the complexity of the universe to argue for the existence of an intelligent designer. The intricate and purposeful arrangement (contrivance) of the various components of the universe, from the movements of celestial bodies to the complexity of biological organisms, are clear indications of intelligent design to Paley, as discovering a watch would be an indication of an intelligent designer.
What are the two strands of Paleys argument
Design “Qua regularity” and “Qua Purpose”
What are F.R. Tennants two arguments for the existence of God
The Aesthetic and Anthropic principles
Why did tennant believe that Evolution was consistent, and even supportive of the Design Argument
Evolution could have a purpose, guided by God, as to him it is unlikely that a blind process like evolution cvould have resulted in the world we observe
Summarise Tennants anthropic principle, properly known as the “principle of anthropic value”
He proposed a variation of the anthropic principle known as the “principle of anthropic value.” Tennant argued that the universe is not just compatible with the emergence of intelligent life, but that it also possesses an inherent value that is necessary for the existence and flourishing of conscious beings. For example, the universe operates at an extremely precise density that results in the universe being basically flat, that is essential for the universe as we know it to develop. In other words, Tennant believed that the universe was created with a purpose that extends beyond just supporting the emergence of life, and that this purpose is intimately tied to the existence and flourishing of conscious beings.
What argument refutes Tennants anthropic principle?
That of the weak anthropic principle; essentially, of course the Universe is fine-tuned to support life, as if it wasn’t we wouldnt be able to observe it, so any other alternative, providing our existence is constant, is impossible. There is also the idea that observation causes the collapse of string theory and the creation of a universe with strict laws of physics, and without observation, a state of quantum superposition would be in place, with a state of extra dimensions that only collapse when under observation, as mayu have happned in our universe, due to conscoius observers, . However, this is disputed and no consensus has been agreed. Furthermore, it is conceited of humans to believe that the universe is desgined for them, it could jsut as easily have been designed for cockroaches or bacteria.
Explain Tennants Aesthetic principle
The idea that there is beauty in our world, something that is not necessary for survival, and we have the ability to appreciate it, something Tennant calls biologically superfluous, so a divine and perosnal creator must have made it However, beauty is subjective, and in some cases is involved in necessary processes e.g. beautiful flowers for pollination-Anthony O’Hears argument
What was Swinburnes addition to the inductive arguments for Gods existence
The cumulative argument or the idea that multiple flawed arguments (cosmological, teleological and ontlogical) can be combined too create sufficient evidence for Gods existence
Who countered Swinburnes cumulative argument
Anthony Flew with his idea of ten leaky buckets
