arguments based on observation - teleological

Question 1

the teleological argument is the study of what

Answer 1

telos

Question 2

what does telos mean

Answer 2

everything in the world is designed to reach a purpose

Question 3

is this argument apriori or a posteriori

Answer 3

a posteriori because gains knowledge from design in the world to prove the existence of god

Question 4

what is aposteriori

Answer 4

knowledge gained from experience

Question 5

william paleys book

Answer 5

‘natural theology’

Question 6

paley uses the analogy of

Answer 6

the watch

Question 7

what is an analogy

Answer 7

a comparison of two similar things

Question 8

paley uses an analogy in his argument to demonstrate

Answer 8

why it is reasonable to infer that there is a designer of the world and from this that there is therefore a god

Question 9

paleys first argument - design qua purpose

Answer 9

if i found a stone in a field, i could assume it had been there forever
if i found a watch in a field, i would not make the same inference
this is because the watch and the stone differ in significant ways

Question 10

the watch (purpose and complexity)

Answer 10

the watch has a purpose which is to tell time
the watch is complex as individual parts work together to fulfil its purpose

Question 11

what happens if the watch does not work ?

Answer 11

it does not matter if the watch fails to work, the point is the watch’s existence suggests it was designed for a purpose. just because the watch doesn’t work, doesnt mean the watch does not show elements of design. there is a difference between having no purpose and failing to work properly to fulfil the purpose

Question 12

conclusion of paleys first argument

Answer 12

• the fact that the watch has both purpose and complexity infers that it has design, and is not the product of chance. if it has design, it follows that it must have a designer, we can call this designer watchmaker.
• if any parts were shaped differently the watch would not work. all parts are assembled purposefully in this order, meaning there must be a designer. the designer is a watchmaker

Question 13

watch quote

Answer 13

“every manifestation of design, which existed in the watch, exists in the works of nature”
paley states the same design in the watch is found in the natural world

Question 14

evidence of purpose in the world

Answer 14

many systems that work to ensure life exists - eg water cycle, carbon cycle, food chains.
these also show complexity, as all systems work together

Question 15

paley’s evidence of purpose and complexity using science at his time

Answer 15

scientific knowledge at his time, how muscles and tendons in the arm work or how the eye works
these both show purpose and complexity

Question 16

purpose and complexity still exist in these things even if it goes wrong eg. (from examples)

Answer 16

earthquakes in the natural world
being blind - how eye works
breaking arm - muscles and tendons in arm
purpose and complexity still exist

Question 17

paley is not saying the world is like a machine (the watch) he is saying…

Answer 17

the world has purpose and complexity, just like a watch does, so we can infer they each have a designer

Question 18

the second part of paleys argument

Answer 18

design qua regularity

Question 19

three things that show design in the universe

Answer 19

1. astronomy (planets)
2. newtons laws of motion
3. gravity
   this design shows regularity, routine and consistency so is known as ‘design qua regularity’. for example, the planets orbit the sun, they do not know themselves how to do this, nor that they need to do it
   these are laws of nature, but nature is not able to create laws which organise the universe. therefore there must be an intelligence which is responsible for these laws. we can infer that there is a designer that created these called God.

Question 20

thomas aquinas quote

Answer 20

“everything operates as to a design”

Question 21

in ‘summa theologica’ aquinas has five ways to prove the existence of God. which is design qua regularity

Answer 21

the fifth way

Question 22

what is aquinas fifth way

Answer 22

1. the world shows evidence of purpose
2. the world lacks the intelligence to direct this purpose
3. so there must be an intelligence that directs this
   Archer and arrow analogy
4. we call this intelligence God

Question 23

analogy: archer and arrow

Answer 23

1. an arrow hits a target even though it does not have a mind of its own
2. the archer (someone with a mind of their own) shot the arrow
3. things in the natural world follow natural laws
4. god caused the natural world to behave in this way

Question 24

the archer and the arrow is an example of ‘regularity of succession’

Answer 24

everything in nature follows certain laws that lead to certain results being achieved.

Question 25

richard dawkins quote

Answer 25

“no purpose, no evil no good, nothing but blind indifference” from ‘the blind watchmaker’ - the world is so faulty that the watchmaker must be blind

Question 26

david humes