The Teleological Argument
- Created by: Jenny Jones
- Created on: 29-12-14 13:26
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- Teleological Argument (design argument)
- empirical evidence/posterori reasoning
- 1) harmonious order in world
- 2) all works together perfectly
- 3) suggests purpose + design to uni
- 4) intelligent designer = GOD
- William Paley (from design)
- ANALOGY OF THE WATCH
- St.Thomas Aquinas (to design)
- 5 ways prove God's existence
- Teleological = 5th way
- Book - Summa Theologica
- work based on natural law
- ANALOGY OF THE ARCHER
- 5th Way (purpose)
- 1) evidence in world it is designed
- 2) all works to some purpose
- 3) not luck bc things have no ration powers but still have purpose
- e.g. a tree has no brain but purpose = providing oxygen
- 4) there4 must be directed by external power
- 5) Intelligent being (GOD) directs all towards purpose
- Criticisms
- David Hume
- 1) humans have limited understanding of possible designer
- to speak of design, implies designer
- great design implies great designer
- if great design, must be great designer
- argument implies superhuman perspective (ANTHROPOMORTHIC)
- 2)
- world is ordered
- either chance or design
- possible world came about by chance
- supports natural selection b4 Darwin
- nothing in Aquinas or Paley argument suggest only one designer
- 1) humans have limited understanding of possible designer
- J.S. Mill
- nature guilty of crimes - goes unpunished
- "nearly all the things which men are hung or imprisoned for doing to one another are natures everyday performances"
- there4 world cannot be ordered + no intelligent design
- David Hume
- Darwin
- Book = Origin of the Species
- individuals most suited to environment survive to pass their advantageous genes to next generation
- If Evolution is right...
- no telos / purose
- break things down to individual functions
- consciousness evolved to help us better survive
- 'apparent design' = a 'series of successful mistakes'
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