Teleological/Design Argument Flashcards
What type of argument
A posteriori-Arguments which depend on sense experience. Meaning behind / after sense experience.
Inductive-Arguments which supply strong evidence (not absolute proof) for the truth of the conclusion. Inductive arguments are probabilistic.
St Thomas Aquinas- the 5th way of probing Gods existence
-A posteriori
Uses empiricism
-Aquinas argues that the intricate complexity and order in the universe can only be explained through the existence of a great designer
William paley teleological A basics
-based on observation (empiricism)
-a posteriori
-it is inductive and makes inferences
What are 3 observations about paleys argument
Complexity
Regularity
Purpose(telos)
Complexity
Paley observes the complexity of the natural world.
He looks at the complexity if biological organisms and organs such as the eye.
He also looks at the complexity of the laws of nature by which everything is governed
Regularity
Paley observes in particular the regularity of the orbits of comets, moons and planets and the regularity of seasons of the year
Purpose
Paley observes the machines that we make and infers they are built for a purpose; their complexity and regularity implies they have a purpose.
Our observation of the complexity and regularity of the world therefore implies the world also has purpose
The Design Argument
On the basis of these observations he formulates this argument
Some objects in the world show clear evidence that they were designed because they exhibit complexity and regularity, from which we can infer that they were made for a purpose.
• The universe appears to exhibit complexity and regularity, from which we can infer that it was made for a purpose.
• So it is likely that the universe was designed.
•In summary: Paley argues inductively from what we can see in the world (appearance of design) back to the supposed cause (God).
William paley natural theology
Ur walking u come across a stone and were asked how the stone came to be there. You would think it has always been there however if you come across a watch because it is so complex you would think there had to have been a watchmaker
Paleys analogical design argument
A watch has complex parts, each with a function, and the parts work together for a specific purpose
So the watch must have been designed by a watchmaker
Similarly the universe has parts that function together for a purpose
So the universe must have been designed by a universe maker
The universe is a far more wonderful design than a watch, so its designer is much greater than any human designer
The universe designer is God.
From the watch
Every indication of design that existed in the watch, exists in the work of nature; with the difference on the side of nature, of being greater or more, and that in a degree which exceeds all computation
