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H173/H573 Year 1 Philosophy > Teleological Argument > Flashcards

Teleological Argument Flashcards

(47 cards)

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1
Q

What are the key terms for the teleological argument?

A

Telos, design, Designer, design qua purpose, design qua regularity

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2
Q

Which of Aquinas’s Five Ways is his teleological argument?

A

Five

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3
Q

What example does Aquinas use?

A

The arrow needs to be directed to its end/target by an archer

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4
Q

What does Aquinas observe in nature?

A

Inanimate things in nature act the in the same, or nearly the same way to fulfil their purpose

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5
Q

What does Aquinas mean by inanimate objects/beings in nature?

A

Unthinking objects / beings

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6
Q

How do inanimate things in nature achieve their end/purpose?

A

Directed towards their purpose by an intelligence

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7
Q

What is Aquinas’ conclusion?

A

The intelligence directing nature’s inanimate objects towards their purpose, is God

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8
Q

What is William Paley’s most famous analogy?

A

The Watch Analogy

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9
Q

Who are the main two scholars who devised Teleological Arguments?

A

Thomas Aquinas and William Paley

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10
Q

How do inanimate things in nature achieve their end/purpose?

A

They are directed towards their purpose by an intelligence

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11
Q

What is the main point of Paley’s analogy?

A

The watch has the PURPOSE of telling the time; it must have been designed by a watchmaker for this purpose.

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12
Q

How does Paley relate his analogy to things within the universe?

A

There are things in the universe that also have a purpose; purpose indicates design; therefore there must be a Designer.

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13
Q

What are Paley’s three other examples of design qua purpose?

A

The eye (purpose to see), bird’s wing (purpose to fly), lacteal system in mammals (purpose - feeding number of young reproduced)

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14
Q

What are Paley’s two examples of design qua regularity?

A

Rotation of the planets and gravity

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15
Q

What is Paley’s conclusion?

A

The Designer of purpose and regularity in the universe is God.

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16
Q

What does design qua purpose mean?

A

Design “as relating to” purpose

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17
Q

What does design qua regularity mean?

A

Design “as relating to” the regular cycles and natural laws and order of the world

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18
Q

Name three scholars who give modern Teleological Arguments.

A

F. R. Tennant, A. Brown and R. Swinburne

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19
Q

What is the Aesthetic Principle?

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A

Humans appreciate music, art and beauty which have no survival value so this could imply a benevolent Designer.

20
Q

What is the Anthropic Principle?

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A

This world is finely balanced to allow life to exist, its favourable conditions for humans to evolve suggest a Designer.

21
Q

Who argued that Design in the universe was more probable than chance?

22
Q

Who argued the position and thickness of the Ozone Layer indicates a Designer?

23
Q

Define Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection

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A

The process in nature where the organisms best adapted to their environment survive and pass on their genetic characteristics while those less adapted tend to be eliminated.

24
Q

In what three ways can Darwinism challenge the TA?

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A

random/chance process rather than purposeful design; no need for a Designer; humans are not special

25
Name two scholars that challenge the TA?
D. Hume and C. Darwin
26
What example does Darwin give for Natural Selection?
Finches having evolved different shaped beaks according to food sources available on different Galapagos islands.
27
What other example can be used to support Natural Selection?
Moths during the Industrial Revolution
28
What key words should be included in a summary of Darwinism?
adaptation to environment, natural selection, survival of the fittest, reproduce, advantageous characteristics
29
Name four ways Hume criticises the TA.
Alternative explanation for design; analogy; religious worth; assumptions
30
In what three ways does Hume criticise the use of analogies?
universe is not mechanistic but organic; a machine is made by many hands (many gods?); human imagery leads to an anthropomorphic god
31
What analogies does Hume use that are used to criticise Paley's watch?
house and ship - built by many people
32
According to Hume, what kind of world do we live in?
"the first rude attempt of an infant deity, then abandoned"
33
According to Hume, what kind of designer could have designed our world?
An immoral designer
34
What is Hume's alternative explanation for apparent design in the world?
The Epicurean Hypothesis
35
What is the Epicurean Hypothesis?
With infinite time and an infinite number of possible combinations, order will eventually be established.
36
What does Hoyle (apparently say) about the universe occurring by chance?
It is about as likely as a hurricane raging through a junk yard and producing a Boeing 747.
37
What example does Morowitz use to explain the probability of the universe occurring by chance?
A protein molecule
38
What is Morowitz's conclusion?
The universe would have to be trillions of times older and larger for a protein molecule to have occurred by random chance.
39
Which argument could you use Morowitz against?
Natural Selection - occurring by chance
40
What is Richard Dawkins' book called, which criticises Paley's TA?
The Blind Watchmaker
41
Why does Dawkins think the process of evolution is "blind"?
It has no purpose or foresight - random but cumulative mutations produce gradual changes over long periods of time.
42
Which scholars/theories would you use? 'Evolution leaves no room for a designer of our universe.' Discuss.
Darwin, Dawkins, Tennant (Anthropic Principle), Paley (responses to potential criticisms), Morowitz, Hoyle
43
Which scholars/theories would you use?'Paley's arguments are weaker than the criticisms of them.' Discuss.
Paley (and repsonses to potential criticisms), Hume, Mill, Darwinsim, Morowitz, Swinburne
44
Which scholars/theories would you use? 'Human beings see “design” in the universe where none exists.' Discuss.
Hume, Dawkins, Paley, Aquinas, Swinburne, Tennant
45
Which scholars/theories would you use? 'God is the most likely explanation for design in the universe.' Discuss.
Aquinas, Paley, Swinburne, Hume, Darwinism
46
Which scholars/theories would you use? 'The universe has no purpose.' Discuss.
Dawkins, Darwinism, Paley, Aquinas
47
What is an a posteriori argument?
An argument based on sense experience and observations of evidence

H173/H573 Year 1 Philosophy (9 decks)

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