The telelogical argument from Aquinas
Aquinas' argument with criticism from Hume, J.S Mill etc
- Created by: Luna
- Created on: 09-01-13 16:28
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- The Telelogical Argument: Aquinas
- An a posteriori argument: uses evidence in the Universe to prove God's existence
- Everything in the Universe acts towards a certain purpose
- E.g an arrow in a bow acts towards hitting a target
- However, the arrow would not be able to achieve its end without the archer
- Natural parts of the Universe also act towards a certain purpose, e.g. the lungs. We do not tell our respiration system to breath ourselves, but the purpose of the lungs (to keep us alive) is still achieved
- Aquinas argues that purposes cannot be reached without an intelligent force, demonstrated by the bow and arrow analogy. Without the intelligent force- the archer/ God, the purpose is not fulfilled
- Hume: does this intelligent force have to be the God of Classical Theism?
- BENEFICIAL ORDER
- J.S Mill: is all order beneficial? Natural evil, e.g diseases- they may be achieving their purpose, but they cause suffering and are not beneficial in any way
- Aquinas argues that purposes cannot be reached without an intelligent force, demonstrated by the bow and arrow analogy. Without the intelligent force- the archer/ God, the purpose is not fulfilled
- Natural parts of the Universe also act towards a certain purpose, e.g. the lungs. We do not tell our respiration system to breath ourselves, but the purpose of the lungs (to keep us alive) is still achieved
- However, the arrow would not be able to achieve its end without the archer
- Hume: can the world not have gained order? (concept of natural selection)
- Darwin, evolution and natural selection means that order is 'learnt', i.e, with the human lung, it had developed into being as efficient as it is now over time
- E.g an arrow in a bow acts towards hitting a target
- Natural parts of the Universe also act towards a certain purpose, e.g. the lungs. We do not tell our respiration system to breath ourselves, but the purpose of the lungs (to keep us alive) is still achieved
- Aquinas argues that purposes cannot be reached without an intelligent force, demonstrated by the bow and arrow analogy. Without the intelligent force- the archer/ God, the purpose is not fulfilled
- Hume: does this intelligent force have to be the God of Classical Theism?
- BENEFICIAL ORDER
- J.S Mill: is all order beneficial? Natural evil, e.g diseases- they may be achieving their purpose, but they cause suffering and are not beneficial in any way
- Aquinas argues that purposes cannot be reached without an intelligent force, demonstrated by the bow and arrow analogy. Without the intelligent force- the archer/ God, the purpose is not fulfilled
- Darwin, evolution and natural selection means that order is 'learnt', i.e, with the human lung, it had developed into being as efficient as it is now over time
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