Teleological Flashcards
Aquinas 5th Way (Design)
P1 We see things which lack intelligence (bodies, arrows).
P2 They act, nearly always, in the same way, to reach their end.
C1 They must be designed to consistently reach their end
P3 Whatever lacks intelligence cannot move towards an end unless directed by a being with intelligence
C2 Some intelligent being exists by whom all natural things are directed to their end (God)
Paley (Natural Theology) - Argument from Spatial Order/Purpose
Inductive (Probable)
P1 Things that have complex, organised parts are designed for a function (e.g. watch).
P2 Nature contains things which have complex, organised parts.
C1 By analogy, Nature contains things which are designed for a function.
P3 Designed things must have a designer creating/representing them (e.g. watchmaker).
P4 Designers must be distinct entities from the designed things.
C2 By analogy, designed things in nature must have a designer.
C3 This designer is best explained as being an independent mind (God)
Two sides of Design Qua
= By virtue of…
1. Regularity (Swinburne)
2. Purpose (Paley)
Swinburne - Argument from Temporal Order/Regularity
Abductive (Best guess)
P1 Regularities of Succession (RoS) occur both as natural phenomena (spatial, in nature) and as a result of free action (temporal, laws of nature)
P2 RoS in the human world can be properly and fully explained by the rational choice of a free agent.
P3 This is because free agents have the intelligence, power, and freedom to bring about RoS.
P4 RoS that are the result of natural laws CANNOT be explained by other natural laws.
P5 However, RoS in the natural world CAN be explained by analogies of rational choices from a free agent.
P6 The Universe is complex.
C Therefore, RoS in the natural world are BEST explained by a free agent, who has the immense intelligence, power, and freedom needed to bring about such order in the Universe.
Hume’s presented Design Argument
P1 The ‘fitting of means to ends’ in human design resemble the ‘fitting of means to ends’ in nature.
P2 Similar effects have similar causes.
P3 The causes of human designs are minds.
C1 Therefore, by analogy, the cause of design in nature is also a mind.
C2 Given the ‘grandeur of the work’ of nature, this other mind is God.
Issue (Hume): Problems w Analogy
Weak generalisation from specific aspects to whole universe.
–> Inductive.
Human machines have designer/purpose, but biological things have no obvious designer/purpose
–> Purpose lies outside.
Issue (Hume): Unique Case
We never experience causation, only ‘constant conjunction’. Inferring causation (designer) cannot be done from a single instance (design).
–> Swinburne - Scientists do this all the time (Big Bang, breaking of atom).
Issue (Hume): No NEED for God to explain
Given infinite time, the particles could collide by random chance.
Universe = Embryo, self-transformative, evolutionary.
–> Both rely on infinite time. Hubble: Universe lifespan of 14 billion years. Fastest rate still mathematically impossible (Meyer & Berlinski).
Issue (Hume and Paley): Granted; Spatial disorder
‘vice and misery and disorder’ = faulty designer.
–> Ecosystems, Microorganisms, Karmic lives.
–> Granted; as long as there is a form of a purpose.
Problem of Evil.
–> Soul-making theodicy.
Issue (Hume): Granted; Extra Doubts
Effects outlive their causes (Deism or dead).
–> No response.
Polytheism > Monotheism.
–> Laws and concepts of science seem to apply across time/space, implying one mind.
–> Conflicts b/w Roman and Greek gods.
Universe has no purpose
–> Purpose lies outside of itself
Issue (Hume and Kant): Designer, not Creator
Architects and builders do not create from nothing (ex nihilo), but they use materials already existing.
By analogy, cannot conclude God as the creator.
–> Here, designer is sufficient. Teleological argument does not stand by itself.
Issue (Kant): ‘Lofty purpose’
May be a great being, but not perfect (God).
–> Though this is probable, it does not cancel out.
Regularities of Co-presence vs Regularities of Succession
Co-presence = spatial order
Succession = temporal order
