The Teleological Argument-AS Philosophy UNDER CONSTRUCTION

The Teleological argument ('Telos'=design)

Elements: 

• Analogy 
• Cause + effect
• Inductive argument-inference to the best explanation
• Probabilities

Intro:

• Order in the universe
• Empirical
• Teleological
• Argument for or from existence of order in the universe as the foundation

2 challenges

Hume: But there's like cancer and stuff! 

Chaos: The world is the product of chaos (X purpose X direction)

•  
  • Paley's watch 
    • Complex
    • Harmonious
    • Planned
    • Intelligence-Fine tuning
    • Purpose
  • ALL indications of design are evident in the universe, the whole universe operates with the same design features and the universe is infinite in space, time, etc.
    • The Eye

Hume: It is but a weak analogy, comparing the universe to a machine with a small number of similarities and more differences.

So, is it weak or strong?

• What is it's purpose?

• Empirical similarity is weak.

• Disorder in the world challenges harmonious aspects.

• We can't stand outside the universe to judge whether it is harmonious.

• Anthropomorphic difficulties: incompatible with other attributes of God.

The argument for cause and effect

If the universe is the effect, there must be a cause.

• Conclusions about causes require prior experience-empirical inquiry.

Causes are often proportional to effect.

• Hume: We have no experience of the creation of the universe. We need empirical knowledge to not be making mere guesses.

The problem is trying to reach backwards from a unique event to determine the cause.

Hume's suggestion

• There are many planets, experiments could have been 'bungled'?

• Is there a team of designers?

• Or an unknown intelligence? 'The Giant Spider'

• 'Giant vegetable argument'

There is, at the end of the day, sufficient doubt to discount the argument as proof and any other possibilities are just as likely.

F.R. Tennant (1866-1957)

 Accepted and included the theory of evolution, which has a purpose and is created and guided by an intelligent God. Progress is not random but makes progress.