Topic 3 (Year 12): Teleological argument Flashcards
(17 cards)
Teleological definition.
Looking to the end results (telos) in order to draw a conclusion about what is right or wrong.
Natural theology definition.
Drawing conclusions about the nature and activity of God by using reason and observing the world.
Contingent definition.
Dependant on other things.
Principle of sufficient reason definition.
The principle that everything must have a reason to explain it.
A posteriori argument definition.
Arguments which draw conclusions based on observation through experience.
Necessary existence definition.
Existence which does not depend on anything else.
Logical fallacy definition.
Reasoning that has a flaw in its structure.
How many ways does Aquinas have in his ‘Summa Theologica’ to prove the existence of God?
5 ways.
Which of Aquinas’ ways is in relation to the teleological argument?
The fifth way.
What example does Aquinas use to show the existence of a designer?
An arrow not being able to hit a target without an archer being there.
Who does Aquinas think this designer is?
“This being we call God.”
What is design qua regularity?
Design in relation to the order and regularity in the universe.
What is design qua purpose?
Considers evidence of design by the way the parts of the universe seem to fit together for a purpose.
What does Paley compare the rock on a heath to?
A pocketwatch.
What does Paley compare the watch to?
The universe: he says that the universe exhibits purpose and regularity and so must have been designed.
Who does Paley think this designer is?
God.
Three of Hume’s objections.
1 - Fallacy of composition: we cannot say that what is observed about the parts cannot be assumed to be the same as the whole.
2 - Epicurean thesis: there is a possibility that the finite number of particles in the universe found the one combination that has created all order in the universe.
3 - Evolution: natural selection relies on random genetic mutation; some species can adapt due to the mutation, they survive whilst the previous animals may die out.
