TELEOLOGICAL Flashcards
what type of argument is the teleological argument
argument based on observation, a posteriori
why is the teleological argument called the teleological argument
telos = end, the argument is based off the end result of the universe
what way is the argument based off
5th way
briefly describe the 5th way
natural objects achieve their end through design and not chance
what analogy describes 5th way
arrow and archer
who inspired paley
newton
how did newton view the world
machine-like
what era were paley and newton thinkers of
enlightenment
what analogy did paley use
watch
briefly describe paleys watch analogy
came across watch in wilderness, could not account for it in natural way - array of intricate design, this couldn’t have come together by chance AND SO must be a watchmaker
failure of watch analogy
the most we can infer is that there is a watchmaker, we do not and cannot know whether he is still active or even still alive
who has criticisms that can be applied to paleys argument
hume
what 3 criticisms does hume make
- aptness of analogy
- epicurean thesis
- argument from effect to cause
explain aptness of analogy
what we choose to say the world is like shapes the outcome of the argument - by choosing a machine as his argument, Paley has already decided what his conclusion is going to be
what parallel does Hume draw instead of a watch
a cabbage - leaves fit together, serve a purpose as food BUT if we found a cabbage we would not draw the conclusion that there is a cabbage-maker
explain epicurean thesis
any world has to fit together in order to continue, could such a stable order arise at random? suppose we have infinite time and finite particles, in infinite time, these finite particles would undergo every possible combination EG our universe
classic example of epicurean thesis
monkeys on typewriters
explain argument from effect to cause
we cannot go from an effect to a cause greater than that needed to produce the cause
example for argument from effect to cause
scales - we can see one pan which is in the air so we know the other pan is heavier BUT we cannot know anything else. same from evidence in world to God
what alternatives does Hume give to the Christian God in his argument from effect to cause
infant deity or committee of gods
what principles does Tennant put forward
anthropic and aesthetic
what is the anthropic principle
the world is so exactly right to create the precise environment for man to evolve that it must surely have been planned
examples of factors supporting anthropic principle
distance from the sun, fundamental laws of physics
what is the aesthetic principle
the natural appreciation that human beings have for things considered beautiful eg music, art and poetry, no other species reacts in this way
how does aesthetic principle relate to belief in God
appreciation was a direct result of a benevolent God, God designed a world for his creation to live in and enjoy, it isn’t necessary for survival
counter argument to tennants aesthetic principle
beauty in nature helping animals to survive eg peacock feathers attracting mates
what does swinburne contribute to the argument
a more modern version, the simplicity of the universe - the simplest and most economical explanation is that God designed it
what principle does swinburne appeal to
Ockham’s razor - when there are competing theories, the one with the least hypotheses is most likely to be true
criticisms of teleological argument
mill - cruelty in nature
dawkins - laryngeal nerve of a giraffe
darwin - evolution
briefly explain mills criticism
problem of evil! from a flawed universe, we can infer a flawed creator. particular emphasis on natural evil. evidence in the digger wasp
what does anthony kenny add to mills argument
paley’s type of argument ‘leads to a God which is no more the source of good than the source of evil’
what is dawkins criticism
laryngeal nerve of a giraffe, such a flaw in design! appeals to evolution as an explanation for design in the universe since it is obviously not perfect
what is a criticism derived from darwin’s theory of evolution
‘the origin of species’ - survival of the fittest and natural selection point to a world of chance
