theme 1B the teleological argument

Question 1

intro - the teleological argument

Answer 1

• aposteriori, proof we use everyday
• inductive reasoning, based on experience
• empirical evidence, based on sense experience
• probable conclusions, always other possible conclusions

Question 2

P1 CROP

Answer 2

• this argument is based on the idea that there are signs of complexity, regularity, order on purpose in the universe which suggests design

Question 3

P2 Aquinas

Answer 3

• put forward 5 ways to prove that God exists, his fifth way was a form of the teleological argument
• he was arguing from design in relation to the order and regularity in the universe
• this is referred to as design qua regularity
• he regarded the overall order evident in the world as proof of a designer, which being we call God

Question 4

P3 intelligence

Answer 4

• many objects do not have the intelligence to work towards an end purpose themselves
• Aquinas used the example of an acorn (an object with no intelligence) whose ending was an oak tree
• objects must be directed by something that does have intelligence, which he referred to as God
• he also used the archer and arrow analogy which highlights how we know that nothing has a purpose does so without the aid of a guiding hand (eg an archer shooting an arrow at a target), so everything in nature is directed to its goal by God

Question 5

P4 William Paley

Answer 5

• put forward a different kind of design argument called design qua purpose
• a watch has certain complex features (it consists of parts, each of which has a function, and they work together for a specific purpose)
• anything which exhibits these features must have been designed, therefore the watch must have been designed
• the universe is like the watch in that it possesses the same features but on a far more wondrous scale undesigned by a wondrous universe maker (God)
• he further develops his argument to show the intricacy of the eye, which appears to have design and clearly has a purpose

Question 6

P5 Tennants’ anthropic argument

Answer 6

• proposed to teleological arguments in favour of God’s existence
• the anthropic argument: based on the idea that the universe is not chaotic, it contains the conditions necessary for life to exist (eg we have the right warm from the sun, air, water and environment for food to grow, and the position of the Earth to the Sun gives the necessary temperature for life which is referred to as the goldilocks principle, there are too many features to be random by chance

Question 7

P6 Tennants’ aesthetic argument

Answer 7

• based on the idea that humans possess the ability to appreciate things like beauty in nature, music, art, and literature
• he argues that since this is not necessary for survival, it cannot be the result of natural selection and therefore is evidence of a divine creator

Question 8

the teleological argument is effective in proving God’s existence

Answer 8

• it is based on our empirical evidence, sense experience of order and purpose, based on observation of apparent design which is an experience we can all share, this is supported by Tennants anthropic argument
• it uses scientific methods to arrive at its conclusion, observation of nature and the world, hypothesis and conclusion
• Swinburne argues that were used as part of a cumulative case it strengthens the argument for God’s existence (eg when paired with the cosmological argument it becomes more convincing) HOWEVER Flew’s leaky buckets
• some contemporary scientist support design, Polkinghorn sees that the Big Bang and evolution are part of God’s desire

Question 9

the teleological argument is not effective in proving God’s existence

Answer 9

• Hume (an empiricist) only accepts things as true when there is empirical evidence for it, there is no empirical evidence of God, huge leap from that being a designer to the designer being in God, even if there is a designer, why must it be God?
• Hume further states that the universe is unique, we have no basis for inferring that there is anything like a human designer behind it, and even if there is a designer, it is not possible for us to assume features of this designer or attempt to explain it, why is there not multiple designers or a team of gods?
• there are evidently flaws in design, people are born with disabilities and diseases such as cancer which show clear faults and suggests that there is not a divine designer, an omnibenevolent, omnipotent and omniscient creator would not have designed life with flaws, and if he did this questions his attributes, why would a loving God create people who suffer? HOWEVER this can be counted by Augustine’s the Odyssey which suggests we live in a fallen world due to original sin which explains moral and natural evil, and therefore problems such as ill illness and natural disasters