TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

Question 1

What is the Teleological Argument?

Answer 1

• An attempt to demonstrate existence of God from the evidence of order and purpose in world around us
• It argues that these things cannot just arrive as a result of chance- therefore there must be some being outside of the universe

Question 2

Is the Teleological Argument A posteriori or A priori?

Answer 2

A posteriori- arguments which draw conclusions based on observations through observation

Question 3

What is Aquinas’ text

Answer 3

Summa Theologica

Question 4

Aquinas’ Teleological Argument

Answer 4

• Used his Fifth Way to deal with his TA (Design)
• He saw order in actions and motions which he said follow rules and laws
• The way ‘natural bodies’ act in a regular fashion to achieve their end provides evidence for existence of intelligent being

Question 5

Aquinas quote to support his TA

Answer 5

“It is plain they achieve ther end, not fortuitously but designedly.”

Question 6

How did Aquinas believe we could learn about God?

Answer 6

• Revelation - where God chooses to reveal the truth to people
• Through our own Human Reason

Question 7

Aquinas’ analogy

Answer 7

• If we see an arrow flying, we know that someone aimed and shot it
• In the same way, the fact inanimate objects have clear purpose proves that things are being directed towards their goal by God

Question 8

How is Aquinas’ argument persuasive?

Question 9

How is Aquinas’ argument flawed?

Answer 9

• On its own, his analogy of the archer isn’t sufficient

Question 10

William Paley’s text

Answer 10

Natural Theology

Question 11

Paley’s TA argument (analogy)

Answer 11

• We can see clear evidence of complex design which can’t be by chance
• When you stumble across a watch on a heath, you can’t look at its intricacy and assume it happened by chance, but that it was created by a watchmaker

Question 12

Design qua Purpose

Answer 12

• The universe is too complex in its design to be random chance
• Used example of eye to show specific design with clear specific purpose- thus there is a designer God

Question 13

Design qua Regularity

Answer 13

• The order and regularity at work in the universe (motion of planets, effects of gravity) can’t have come about without a designer/ designing principle at work

Question 14

Paley’s argument about human life

Answer 14

• Humans and animals are perfectly suited for their environments
• Not only is it all designed but clearly designed with purpose

Question 15

Give 3 answers from Paley to criticisms he expected

Answer 15

• Even if watch doesn’t work properly;
• Even if there’s part of the watch we don’t understand;
• Even if we have never seen a watch before; it doesn’t mean

Question 16

Quote Paley which exemplifies his beliefs

Answer 16

“There cannot be design unless there is a designer.”

Question 17

Strengths of Paley’s TA

Answer 17

• Supported by Anthropic Principle
• Supported by Principle of Ockham’s Razor (best explanation is usually the simplet)

Question 18

Weaknesses of Paley’s TA

Answer 18

• Why would God put evil into his design?
• Hume: Paley compares a man-made watch with the organic earth and human race