Design (Teleological) Argument

A set of flashcars about the design/teleological argument including main philosophers.

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Aquinas
Introduced the 5th Way, which was the basis of the Design Argument
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Design Argument
Otherwise known as the Teleological Argument, with Telos meaning purpose.
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5th Way
Known as 'The Archer'. Is the idea by Aquinas that everything in the universe has a purpose. This analogy is that the universe was given purpose just as an arrow is given its purpose by the archer who fires it.
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The Watchmaker
Created by William Paley, is the analogy that just as watchs, which show complexity and were designed for the purpose of telling the time, the world also exhibits complexity and the purpose of sustaining life, meaning it was also designed.
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The Anthropic Principle (Strong)
That the universe was designed specifically for the purpose of supporting human life.
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The Anthropic Principle (Weak)
If even the slightest part of the universe were different, human life could not exist. These conditions are needed in order for us to exist.
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Irreducible Complexity
Produced by Michael Behe, is the argument designed to conter evolution. This argues that thing is the world (like the human eye) are irreducibly complex, so much so that they couldn't have been an accident.
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Design Qua Regularity
The idea that the worlds regularity, such as the rise and fall of the sun, is too well made to be an accident
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Design Qua Purpose
Everything in the world is too well designed to have been an accident, it must have been designed for a purpose.
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Immanuel Kant
Rejected the argument. Wrote that the complexity we see may just be a product of our perception, and we only impose the complexity onto the world. Design is a trap.
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David Hume
Just because we see things have a designer, doesn't mean the world does. We do not have experience of the world being designed. It is unique and we cannot make assumptions. It may be designed, but it could be more than one designer.
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Hume and Mill
We judge the creators attributes according to what they created. The presence of sufering and evil suggest a cruel designer.
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Stephen Law
The design argument does not say anthing about the designer. This argument could be used to sho that God is evil rather than omnibenevolent.
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Robert Hambourger
Even though we are here to mavel at the incredible fact of our existence, it does not mean that we didn't come about by chance. Random processes could have occured.
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William Blake
God cannot be known purely through natural theology. It is also through mystical revelation and direct awareness.
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Strengths
It uses inductive reasoning, and does so with experiences that are universal. It does not rely on fixed definitions we are required to accept.
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Strengths II
The use of the analogy is comprehensible to us, and moves from something within our experience to something beyond it, making it straightforward to follow. It fits with human reason, and encourages the study of nature along with giving purpose.
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Strengths III
God reinforces the idea that God is involved in the history of the universe/ Gives purpose rather than having blind nture moving in a random direction. Raises the possibility for the existence of God. (Swinburne)
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Otherwise known as the Teleological Argument, with Telos meaning purpose.

Back

Design Argument

Card 3

Front

Known as 'The Archer'. Is the idea by Aquinas that everything in the universe has a purpose. This analogy is that the universe was given purpose just as an arrow is given its purpose by the archer who fires it.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

Created by William Paley, is the analogy that just as watchs, which show complexity and were designed for the purpose of telling the time, the world also exhibits complexity and the purpose of sustaining life, meaning it was also designed.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

That the universe was designed specifically for the purpose of supporting human life.

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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