The Teleological Argument Flashcards
What is the teleological argument?
An argument from observation that suggests God’s existence by observing that things in the universe seems to have a purpose which suggests a designer.
What is Aquinas’ teleological argument?
In his fifth way he states that inanimate objects that lack knowledge still manage to complete their purpose eg) heart pumping blood around the body. If things without knowledge benefit towards a natural order then they must be directed by a designer. He gives the example of an archer firing an arrow towards a target.
What are Paley’s two arguments?
1) Design qua purpose
2) Design qua regularity
What is Paley’s argument from design qua purpose?
Paley uses the analogy of the watch to explain. He applied this to things in the universe and saw that the universe must have a designer too because things in the universe are so detailed. He gave other examples of the eye, fins, bird’s wings, and the lacteal system which all have purposes.
What is Paley’s analogy?
Paley uses the analogy of the watch to explain. He states if a man was walking on a health and saw a rock he would attribute it to nature but if he found a watch he would attribute it to a designer because of the intricate detail and purpose to tell the time. He applied this to things in the universe and saw that the universe must have a designer too because things in the universe are so detailed.
What is Paley’s argument from design qua regularity?
Argues there is evidence of a designer from the order of the universe. He uses the examples of the rotation and relationships of the planets, the seasons, and gravity.
What are Humes’ criticisms of the teleological argument?
1) Analogy is a weak method of reasoning - the universe is not comparable to a machine like a watch and is better compare to a living organism like a vegetable
2) Even if there is a designer it is not necessarily the God of classical theism - it could be an immoral God, the first attempt of an infant deity then abandoned, or many Gods
3) Fallacy of composition - just because things in the universe have a purpose doesn’t mean the universe has
4) Epicurean Hypothesis - given infinite particles and time the universe would form by chance but look as though it had a designer
How does Darwin’s Natural Selection and Dawkins challenge the teleological argument?
Darwin’s theory of natural selection suggests that the fittest survive and pass on their characteristics to their offspring which happens by random chance and therefore there is no need for a designer as evolution is random with no purpose.
Dawkins attacks Paley using the theory in ‘The Blind Watchmaker’ saying that as cumulative mutations in DNA cause variation the process is blind and there is no designer
What are Paley’s counter-arguments?
1) Even if we had never seen a watchmaker before we’d still infer a designer - Just as we’d infer God
2) Even if the watch is faulty there is still elements of design - not addressing the quality of design
What is Morrowitz’s argument?
He looked at the probability of life on earth and concluded that the universe would have to be a trillion times older and larger for a protein molecule to exit by random chance - the same as 4 million coins all landing heads.
What is Fred Hoyle’s example he uses to support Morrowitz?
He said the universe happening by chance would be the same as a hurricane raging through a junkyard and forming a Boeing 747
What is Brown’s argument?
That the thickness of the Ozone layer is just right to flourish which suggests a designer
What is Tenant’s anthropic principle?
The world is finely balanced for life to exist and these conditions suggest a designer. Eg) distance from the sun
What is Tenant’s aesthetic principle?
There is art, beauty, and music in the world which have no survival value which suggests a benevolent designer created them for humanity’s pleasure
