Teleological arguments

Question 1

What does the word ‘teleological’ mean

Answer 1

Telos means the end or purpose whilst logos means the study of the nature of that thing

Question 2

What is Aquinas’ argument from design?

Answer 2

1. All things have an order or arrangement and work for an end
2. The order of the universe can’t be explained by chance, but only by design and purpose
3. Design and purpose is a product of intelligence
4. Therefore, nature is directed by Divine Intelligence or a Great Designer

Question 3

Philosophical responses to teleological argument

Answer 3

Against:
Fallacy of composition
Hume denies that objects in the universe exhibit order as there are many indicators of chaos, such as collisions of galaxies and black holes, as well as natural disasters

Question 4

Religious responses

Answer 4

Roman Catholic
Psalms 19:1 “ the Heavens declare the Glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands”

Question 5

Paley’s argument from design

Answer 5

His argument is design qua purpose— argues the universe appears to have been designed to fulfil some purpose
He compared the eye and a telescope, both parts being perfectly set up for certain purpose, to produce accurate images. Therefore, the intricacy of these objects indicate that there must have been a designer

Question 6

Scientific responses to Paley

Answer 6

For:
Irreducible complexity
Dawkins
Henry Quastler
Against
Darwinian evolution, natural selection

Question 7

What did Dawkins say on the origin of life

Answer 7

“There’s no adequate, indirect evolutionary mechanism to explain the origin of the first life”

Question 8

What did Quastler say on creation of new information

Answer 8

“Creation of new information is habitually associated with conscious activity”

Question 8

What is the Argument from intelligent design

Answer 8

• Argument from intelligent design states that it was observed that functional parts and systems of living organisms are irreducibly complex, which means none of their components can be removed without causing the whole system to cease functioning
• From this premise, they inferred that no such system could have come about through gradual alteration of functioning precursors systems by means of random mutation (natural selection)
• Therefore they must have been created all at once by an intelligent designer

Question 9

Philosophical responses on argument from intelligent design

Answer 9

For:
- irreducible complexity
- Quastler
Against:
- Hume argues universe exhibits chaos rather than order
- He argues human artifacts are too dissimilar from the universe
- Fallacy of composition