teleological / design argument

Question 1

a postereori meaning

Answer 1

Arguments based on sense experience. Meaning behind/after sense experience

Question 2

key scholars

Answer 2

Paley and Aquinas

Question 3

does the world show evidence of design?

Answer 3

-eyes how complex
- fish gills
-seasons /nature

Question 4

what does st thomas aquinas come up with

Answer 4

The 5th way of proving Gods existence

(his early version of teleological argument)

Question 5

What is st thomas Aquinas’ 5th way

Answer 5

Aquinas argues the intricate complexity and order in the universe can only be explained through the existence of a great designer.

It is a postereori. The argument uses empiricism

Question 6

what analogy does Aquinas use

Answer 6

Aquinas uses the ‘arrow and archer analogy

Question 7

what is the arrow and archer analogy

Answer 7

Arrows cannot reach the target on their own. In the same way that the archer guides the arrow to where it is meant to go, God guides natural bodies to where they are meant to go.

Question 8

william paleys teleological argument basic key words

Answer 8

Paleys argument is based on observation(empiricism

It is a postereori (post experience)

It is inductive and makes inferences

Question 9

what is paleys argument based on

Answer 9

based on 3 observations about the world

Question 10

what are the 3 observation

Answer 10

complexity

regulation

purpose

Question 11

complexity

Answer 11

Paley observes the complexity of the natural world, including things within it. He looks at the complexity of biological organisms and organs such as the eye. He also looks at the complexity of the laws of nature by which everything is governed.

Question 12

Regularity

Answer 12

Paley observed in particular the regularity of the orbits of comets, moons and planets and the regularity of the seasons of the year

Question 13

purpose

Answer 13

Paley observes the machines that we make and infers they are built for a purpose; their complexity and regularity implies they have purpose (they serve a particular function). Our observation of the complexity and regularity of the world therefore implies the world also has purpose.

Question 14

Paleys argument

Answer 14

• some objects in the world show clear evidence that they were designed because the exhibit complexity and regularity, from which we can infer that they were made for a purpose.
• The universe appears to exhibit complexity and regularity, from which we can infer that it was made for a purpose

-so it is likely that the universe was designed.

In summary: Paley argues inductively from what we can see in the world (appearance of design) back to the supposed cause (God)

Question 15

william paley - text (natural theology)

Answer 15

in crossing a heath, he hits his foot against a stone , and were asked how the stone came to be there; i might possibly answer that it was just there

but supposed i found a watch on the ground and was asked how it came about there, you cant just think it has always been there at some time there must have existed a watch maker, a creator or designer who built it for a purpose

Question 16

Paleys analogical design argument

key info

Answer 16

An inference is a conclusion reached through evidence and reasoning. An analogy is an inference where information or meaning is transferred from one subject to another.

Paley is transferring his inference about the organisation and design of watches to the organisation and design of nature

Question 17

palyes analogical design argument

Answer 17

• A watch has complex parts, each with a function, and the parts work together for a specific purpose
• so the watch must have been designed by a watchmaker
• similarly the universe has parts that function together for a purpose
• so the universe must have been designed by a universe maker
• the universe is a far more wonderful design than a watch, so its designer is much greater than any human designer
• The universe designer is God

Question 18

who supports design argument

Answer 18

FR Tennant: The anthropic principle

Question 19

what is the anthropic principle

Answer 19

There are 30+ boundary conitions that have to be ‘fine tuned’ for an ordered universe containing intelligent life to develop.

The odds against all boundary conditions being exactly the right settings are colossal. It seems something must have designed it to bring about intelligent beings such as ourselves

-distance from the sun
-force of gravity
-expansion rate of the big bang

Question 20

who is another contemporary supporter

Answer 20

John Polkinghorne
Theoretical physicist and Anglican priest

Question 21

what does John Polkinghorne argue

Answer 21

Polkinghorne argues science shows us a universe that is deeply intelligible, rationally beautiful, finely tuned for fruitfulness, intrinsically rational… these properties are not just happy accidents.
The best explanation is God. The approach is evidence based, asking how what we observe may be be explained. It is not conclusive but it is highly suggestive

Question 22

first criticism of teleological

Answer 22

David Hume: why not many Gods? The argument does not prove the existence of the Christian God.

Even if we grant that the universe was designed, there is no evidence that this was the God of Christian theism. The universe could have been designed by a lesser being or even by many Gods working together. Furthermore, the existence of evil and imperfection in the world suggests a limited designer

Hume uses the example of a ship okay a watch can be made by one person but something like a ship is far too complex to be made by one person

Paley would respond by saying that its because God is omnipotent

Question 22

second criticism of teleological

Answer 22

David Hume: The analogy is flawed - the world is more like a vegetable than a machine

“The world plainly resembles more an animal or vegetable than it does a watch”

vegetables grow themselves, without the need for a designer.

to make an ana=ology between the designers of human machines and a designer of the universe is anthropomorphism

Question 23

third criticism of teleological

Answer 23

John stuart Mil: The natural world is filled with evil and suffering - the creator of this would not be omnibenevolent

“Nearly all the things which men are hanged or imprisoned for doing to one another are natures every day performance”

he observes that the natural world is filled with pain and suffering. It therefore does not suggest the existence of an omnibenevolent creator .

This undermines the idea that our observation of the natural world leads us to belief in Christian theism . The amount of evil and suffering caused by nature is irreconcible with the idea of an all-loving designer.

Christian response - st augustine the original sin/the fall

Question 24

fourth criticism of teleological

Answer 24

Richard Dawkins: Evolution and natural selection explains the illusion of design. There is no intelligent designer he wrote a book called the 'blind watchmaker'. He argues that there is no watchmaker. "natural selection is the watchmaker". Dawkins believes that humanity needs to 'outgrow belief in God' . Science can now explain the appearance of design in the universe as being the result of Darwin's theory of evolution and natural selection. The world was not designed for us; we adapted to it, which is why our species has survived. He writes: Natural selection is the blind watchmaker, blind because it does not see ahead, does not plan consequences, has no purpose in view

Question 25

fifth criticism of teleological

Answer 25

Bertrand Russell: The existence of the universe is a brute fact he argued that the existence of the universe is a 'brute fact' - a fact that cannot be further explained of explains itself. He asserted in a famous 1948 radio that "I should say that the universe is just there, and that's all." Response: Leibniz - principle of sufficient reason Everything must have a sufficient reason for existing

Question 26

the argument does offer proof

Answer 26

- it is an inductive argument, most things we accept as true in life are based on inductive arguments. They are accepted as 'true beyond reasonable doubt'. The stronger the evidence is, the more probably true a claim is - many theists may be satisfied that the argument offers proof because it is consistent with their pre existing beliefs and world view. It is consistent with biblical teaching ("In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth"). Theists may see this rationally and empirically based argument as providing 'proof' for their religious beliefs - the argument uses/observation/empiricism- this is a popular way of attaining proof in the 21st century.

Question 27

the argument does not offer proof

Answer 27

-only deductive arguments can offer absolute proof. The design argument is inductive, so can never be absolutely certain. Pascal "It has little impact" - Richard dawkins gas demonstrated significant flaws to the argument - Even if it proved design, it cannot prove who the designer is (this part of the argument requires faith). 'God' as designer is not empirically proven by Paley - There are credible alternative explanations for the appearance of designs - they undermine the argument's status as proof. An theist is unlikely to be satisfied by the design argument because these alternative explanations demonstrate the argument is outdated/incorrect/flawed. - Fiedists (believe knowledge of God is through faith alone) would argue that Natural theology cannot lead to knowledge of God. It is impossible to 'know' God in this way. Religion is a matter of faith, rather than objective proof.

Question 28

It does have value for faith

Answer 28

Pope John Paul Il authored the encyclical 'Fides et Ratio' (1988) He asserts that reason and faith are mutually supportive - 'Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth'. This argument compliments faith - faith is beyond reason but is not contrary to reason. John Polkinghorne: "Faith is motivated belief, based on evidence". Paley's argument is rationally and empirically based. His reasoning and use of empiricism therefore provides strong support for theists. It gives them a 'reasoned defence of their faith' (Ludwig Wittgenstein). It is consistent with Biblical teaching (e.g. Genesis 1:1). It confirms Biblical teaching there is a 'guiding hand' directing nature in a purposeful way. Paley's argument gives evidence to support the 'belief that' God exists. His description of the universe's design encourages 'belief in' God. (HH Price).

Question 29

It does not have value for faith

Answer 29

Pascal: Faith is a matter of the heart, not just reason. "We know the truth, not only through our reason, but also through our heart". '. The existence of God is not something that can be proved. For Fideists, rational arguments play no part in faith as they do not lead to commitment. Belief in God must be based on 'faith alone' - you cannot try to 'prove' God exists in this way. Paley's argument does not successfully address the Problem of Evil. This may restrict its value for faith in an omnibenevolent God.