Teleological argument for existence of God Flashcards
what does the argument state :
1=the world contains order regularity and purpose
2= looking at an object continuing these properties we may infer that it was designed
3= the world is an object and contains the properties in 1
4= therefore the world as an object was created and designed
what type of argument is it?
‘A posterior’
what does ‘a posterior’ mean?
based on our experience of world around us
who was the first to put forward the argument? and who then later developed it ?
plato and later Aquinas
what did Aquinas state ?
he states that something can’t be left/purposeless without a guiding intelligence
what does Aquinas say about non intelligent things ?
non intelligent material things produce beneficial order and therefore require an intelligent being in order to do so
what is Aquinas example of an non intelligent material thing ?
an archer directs his bow and arrow and therefore God directs nature
which philosopher agrees with Aquinas ?
William Paley
what is Paleys argument ?
if there was a watch with many parts and qualities there must be a designer for it consequently the world has many more qualities and parts so therefore must have a designer aswell
what does Paley suggest we don’t need to know ?
the purpose of the watch/ world to detect a creator
what is Anthropic Principle and what is its weaknesses and strengths
weakness- if the universe is so unlikely then surely life is just as unlikely or accidental
strength - life is so unlikely and unpropable that therefor there must be a designer - God
who does F.R Tennent support?
Aquinas
what quote does Tennent use?
’ nature is meaningless and valueless without God behind it and man in front
what does Tennant argue
that man is at the forefront of creation nieces the circumstances of universe surprisely and uniquely enable life
which philosophers argue against God
Darwin, Hume
