The theory of evolution is the greatest challenge against the teleological argument

Question 1

Section 1: Theme

Answer 1

Aquinas – Summa Theologica

Question 2

Section 1: AO1

AQUINAS

Answer 2

Design Qua purpose
Aquinas’ 5th way in his Summa Theologica argues that everything in the universe has a purpose (telos) and achieves its end through its design. This comes from God. Aquinas uses the analogy of the archer to show this as just as the archer guides an arrow to its target, God guides everything to its end

Question 3

Section 1: AO2 FOR

AQUINAS

Answer 3

The universe must have existed for evolution to exist and is an argument from regularity

Question 4

Section 1: AO2 AGAINST

AQUINAS

Answer 4

Evolution: Aquinas’ premise that all things are well adapted to their surroundings because of teleological explanations is flawed. Through Natural selection and survival of the fittest species from natural adaptions to their habitat

Epicurean Hypothesis (Hume): given infinite time every particle in the universe would have been given time to combine, which would result in a stable environment able to sustain life

Question 5

Section 2: theme

Answer 5

Paley Qua via purpose

Question 6

Section 2: AO1

PALEY

Answer 6

(a posteriori) (inductive)
The analogy of the watch postulates that within nature there is evidence of design. If we stumble upon a watch we would know that there was a watchmaker, likewise, the complexity, regularity, and order within the universe lead us to the idea that there is a designer. Paley says this is God

Question 7

Section 2: AO1 FOR

PALEY

Answer 7

Anthropic principle: Suggests the universe exists for the sake of humankind as if the initial conditions of the earth had been otherwise, we would not exist to observe these conditions. Can’t have just evolved, conditions are so right that it must have been designed, everything is for our benefit.

Question 8

Section 2: AO1 AGAINST

PALEY

Answer 8

the world seems perfectly designed with us perfectly adapted, because of the theory of evolution, survival of the fittest!
therefore there is no need for belief in God, more chance of survival through nature

J S Mill argues the world was clearly not set up for the good of humans - not only are human beings cruel, but nature is cruel; Stephen Fry echoes David Attenborough’s comment that the God who put the whale in the sea is the God who put the parasite in the eye of the starving child

Question 9

Section 3: theme

Answer 9

Language games

Question 10

Section 3: AO1

WITTGENSTEIN

Answer 10

Wittgenstein’s Language Games: Ultimately the existence or non-existence of God cannot be disproved, and the validity of the teleological argument will be determined by one’s religious position - if one is playing the game of religion, the rules of this argument make sense, yet if one is playing the game of science, one will not be able to understand this argument in turn meaning conditioned by language/ the game

Question 11

Section 3: AO2 AGAINST

WITTGENSTEIN

Answer 11

Dawkins – faith is an excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence

Question 12

Section 3: AO2 FOR

WITTGENSTEIN

Answer 12

Arguments about God are to strengthen faith of wha a religious believer already believes. To seek a rational explanation is a failed enterprise as to ask whether God exists is not a logical question but one of faith
-However this means that teleology cannot prove the existence of God