Teleological argument Flashcards
St Thomas Aquinas Fifth Way: concept of governance, archer and arrow analogy
Aquinas observed that natural objects and beings exhibit purposeful behaviour, moving toward specific goals or “telos.”
He argued that everything in the world operates according to a design from God, as these entities lack the intelligence to direct themselves toward their ends. To illustrate this, he compared the relationship between an archer and an arrow: while the arrow has no intelligence, it hits its target because the archer understands the goal and directs its movement. Aquinas put forth the idea that God’s ability to direct the behaviour of all things is superior to human capability, as God establishes natural laws that guide objects toward their intended purposes.
What does Telos mean?
where things move towards a certain goal or purpose
Paleys watch design?
he argus that the complexity and purpose observed in natural objects are best explained by an intelligent designer
he uses the analogy of a watch: if one found a watch on a rock, one would not assume it formed naturally, as its intricate parts work together to serve a specific purpose of keeping time
any alteration in the watch’s components would prevent it from functioning, indicating it could not have arisen by chance or existed forever
How does he extend this analogy to the universe?
complex and purposeful structures, like the human eye or bird wings, similarly imply a designer
he asserts that just as a watch requires a watchmaker, the complexity and purpose in nature suggest a universe maker, who must possess intelligence and intent to create such design
What is the quote?
every manifestation of design, which existed in the watch, exists in the works of nature
Analogies?
A key aspect of the argument is the use of analogies to provide a best explanation style of reasoning
when something cannot be directly observed, it is empirically valid to rely on analogies to explain it
if we clarify a similar phenomenon, it becomes reasonable to expect the unobservable counterpart to have a similar explanation
How has this method become common in science?
instance, scientists often test drugs on analogous creatures before human trials.
Swinburne?
notes that arguments by analogy are ‘common in scientific inference,’ allowing us to infer that if a known cause (z) produces an effect ( x), a similar cause will likely produce a similar effect in analogous situation
weaknesses/criticism?
Hume argues that just because 2 effects are similar, it does not imply they have similar causes
e.g both smoke come from fire and smoke comes from dry ice may appear alike, yet their causes = entirely different
similarly, while the complexity and purpose of the universe may resemble those of a manmade object, such as a watch, this does not mean that their causes = the same
Hume emphasizes that 2 similar effects can arise from different causes
There may be no analogies between their analogies?
Hume contends that even if we draw analogies between the natural world and manmade objects, we cannot assume their origins are similar
the origin of the universe is crucial to design arguments that seek to conclude a designing mind, but Hume highlights the potential radical differences in how the universe was created compared to anything we know
What did he question?
whether we have ever witnessed worlds forming, suggesting that the universe’s creation may be entirely unlike the creation of manmade items, such as watches
Consequently?
we cannot confidently claim that the origins of anything within the universe can be analogised with the universe itself
Hume further argues that artefacts - mechanical with mathematically precise designs which sets them apart from natural objects
Some may argue that Hume’s criticism is not successful?
Paley’s argument is not solely based on analogy
the core argument is that the complexity and intricacy found in both manmade and natural objects - like the eye - imply the necessity of a designer
this complexity where indivifual parts are meticulously assembled to achieve a specific function or purpose ( telos) suggests that such arrangements could not arise purely by chance
Thus, the arguments posits that nature requires a designer due to its inherent complexity, with analogies to manmade objects serving merely as illustrations of this idea
Quote about What hume says?
have worlds ever been formed under your eye?
Is God the best or only explanation?
strength of the telelogical argument?
a strength of the telelogical arguments is that aquinas presents it in a way that suggests a greater power as the designer of the universe without definitively proving a specific deity
Mcgrath?
Describes Aquinas natural theology as an “aposteriori demonstration of the coherence of faith and observation”
indicating that design arguments porivde reasonable grounds for believing in a designer
However, Hume?
contends that even if evidence of design exists, it does not necessarily imply that the designer is the God of classical theism; it could be a lesser or deceased god, or even a committe of gods
In response?
Swinburne argues that Ockham’s razor supports the notion of a single God as a simpler explanation for the universe’s design compared to multiple deities
Who proposed the anthropic and aesthetic arguments?
Fredrick R Tenant
What does Anthropic mean?
relating to human beings
Anthropic argument?
states that the universe was designed for the purpose of bringing about intelligent human life, asserting that the emergence of such life was not a matter of chance.
the complexity of life’s origins and the ongoing process of evolution serve as ecvidence of a designer’s influence
Why is it reasonable to infer that it results from intelligence?
since the universe is ordered and regular rather than chaotic
3 points supporting evidence?
the universe can be understood rationally, i.e by the laws of physics
the world contains all we need for survival
evolution via the natural selection leads to the existence of beings capable of rationality and survival
What does aesthetic refer to?
the beauty of something
What did Tenant argue?
that the existence of beauty and our ability to appreciate beauty must be evident of a designer
there is no evolutionary advantage for humans to appreciate beauty or create art, therefore this appreciation must be intentional
Natural selection?
might benefit from beauty in attracting mates, it does not necessitate the existence of beautiful landscapes
Tennant concluded that our appreciation of beauty is a result of a loving god placing it in the world for our enjoyment
