The Teleological Argument Flashcards
What is the teleological argument for the existence of God?
An argument from design asserting that the order and purpose in the universe are best explained by an intelligent designer.
Who is one of the earliest figures in the development of the teleological argument in Christian philosophy?
Aquinas
In which work does Aquinas present the ‘fifth way’ as an argument for the existence of God?
Summa Theologica
What does Aquinas argue about the order and regularity in nature?
It implies the guidance of an intelligent being.
What analogy does Aquinas use to explain his teleological argument?
An arrow directed toward a target requires an archer to direct it.
What philosophy does Aquinas’s teleological argument build upon?
Aristotelian philosophy
According to Aquinas, what is necessary to explain the purposeful structure of the natural world?
An intelligence to guide it.
Who presented a well-known version of the teleological argument in ‘Natural Theology’?
William Paley
What analogy does Paley use to illustrate the teleological argument?
The analogy of a watch.
What does Paley argue the complexity of the natural world points to?
The existence of an intelligent designer, identified as God.
What is one of the most famous critiques of the teleological argument?
David Hume’s critique
In which work does Hume present his skeptical challenge to the teleological argument?
Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion
What does Hume claim about the analogy between the world and human artifacts?
The analogy is flawed because the universe is much more complex.
What does Hume suggest about the imperfections in the universe?
They cast doubt on the benevolence of the designer.
How does Hume compare the universe to a vegetable?
He suggests the universe is more like a vegetable than a machine, indicating it is organic.
Who developed a version of the teleological argument based on the ‘anthropic principle’?
F. R. Tennant
What does the anthropic principle state?
The universe appears fine-tuned for the existence of life.
What does Tennant argue about the conditions necessary for life?
They are highly improbable and suggest design.
What aspect of human experience does Tennant highlight as evidence of purposeful design?
The human capacity for rational thought and appreciation of beauty.
How has the teleological argument evolved over time?
From Aquinas’s initial formulation to critiques by Hume and developments by Paley and Tennant.
True or False: The teleological argument is no longer a central topic in the philosophy of religion.
False
