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Teleological
argument (Paley (Deign argument
''Design qua…
Teleological
argument
Paley
Deign argument
''Design qua purpose'
The watch analogy
When we come across a watch it's pieces were not put together by chance. This is similar to the universe which is filled with intricate parts all which together has a end (Telos) just like a watch as all its parts benefit each other, therefore the world is not self-evident.
''When we come to inspect the watch, we perceive that its several parts are framed and put together for a purpose''. (William Paley, Natural theology)
''Like cause produces like effects.'' Paley believes that what is true of human design can be said also of the world, and what is true of human designer can also be said of God.
An example that Paley uses is instincts of an animal which aids its survival, a bird has wing's for flight, fish has fin's to swim. Evidence of a 'designing creator' (God).
''We have no reason to fear therefore our being forgotten or overlooked or neglected
'' (Paley, Natural theology)
Aquinas' Analogical form
This is a Analogical
argument.
'Design qua Regularity'
Order and regularities
Aquinas' fifth way see that in non rational beings always act in a way which results to the best result, usually it leads to their benefit and so it can be assumed that it is their purpose, and so there must be a force directing them.
''we see things which lack knowledge, such as natural bodies
act for an end, so as to obtain the best result...they achieve their end, designedly '' (Summa Theologica)
The premises of the argument is that through observation there is a beneficial order in the universe, and it is teleological. even those with no intelligence is directed to a purpose. Therefore this is done by God.
''Now whatever lacks knowledge cannot move towards an end, as the arrow is directed by the archer, an intelligent being called God'' (Summa Theologica)
Criticisms
- ''Epicurean hypothesis''
At the time creation, the universe consisted of several particles in random motion. In its initial state it was chaotic, but gradually the forces of nature formed the ordered system.
Problem of evil
John Stewart Mill, 'If the maker of the world can do all that he will, he wills miser and there is no escaping that conclusion'. If the designer was all loving then the suffering of humanity would not have been included in the design.
Dysteleological argument
Kant
Kant argues that the universe may be in chaos but, because of the way in which our minds organise our experiences, the world around us appears to be ordered, we impose the design on the world ourselves, and cannot be certain of the reality of the situation.
Unsound premises
Aquinas' argument has an unsound premises, this produces an unlogical conclusion.
Strengths
Arguments from Probability. Swinburne argues that order and regularity of universe, cannot be explained and this is because of the actions of God.
-
Blind watch maker
Dawkins is resistant to any attempt to suggest that natural selection can be interpreted as the way in which an intelligent designer plans and gives purpose to his creation. 'It has no mind...it has no vision, no foresight at all'.
Dawkins 'God of Gaps'
where there is a gap in the scientific knowledge, you can not incorporate God into the gaps. 'Faith is the great cop-out, the excuse to avoid the need to think and to evaluate evidence'.
Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution
'One general law, leading to the advancement of all organic beings, namely, multiply, vary, let the strangest live the weakest die' (Orign of the Species) There is not really an designer just adaption to survive.
Like effects do not always infer like causes
The problem of induction
Hume identified the problem of induction, when we see a design we are custom has taught us that this is a legitimate connection to make, the problem is that we must ask why e.g.: like effects may infer like causes in 99 out of 100 cases, but not necessarily in 100 of 100 cases.
Strengths
Providential universe
Swinburne argues that God is the best explanation of the universe, because God is within everything on earth. ''Lt us make man in our image, and let him have dominion over the fish of the sea, and the birds of the heaven''.(Genesis 1:26)
Analogy still shows evidence of a designer
Paley was careful enough to show that the world had a designer but nothing about his nature was revealed. And so any defects to design stills shows evidence of the universe has been designed.
Use of analogy
Swinburne supports Paley's analogical argument by claiming that 'The analogy of animals to complex machines seems to me correct and its conclusion justified.'
Ockham's razor
''Entities are not to be multiplied beyond necessity'' God is the simplest explanation and that is it, no need for further explanations