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Paleys teleological argument - Coggle Diagram
Paleys teleological argument
Summary of Paleys Argument
Summary = Watch is made up of many complex parts therefore must have been designed to tell the time
Existence of watch has order and purpose (to tell the time) --> this implies a watchmaker exists
Anything that has evidence of order and purpose is the result of an intelligent agent + creator
Designer of watch = watchmaker
Designer of world = world maker (God)
Criticisms of Paleys design argument
1. Charles Darwins theory of evolution
Rather than there being a design, natural selection + survival of the fittest in competitive nature means that beings adapt to have certain advantages and mutations to survive
The complexity of nature is a necessity rather than design --> this refutes Paleys assumption that anything complex that has a purpose is designed
Paleys design argument anthopormophisez God by proving Gods existence through the use of a watchmaker analogy
2. Humes Epicurean Theodicy
Infinite time and finite particles undergo every possible combination until eventually, a combination stabilises and creates the universe --> the universe COULD come around by chance without being designed
'Apparent' order is not the same as 'intended' order
Summary of Aquinas' 5th way
Natural objects, which lack knowledge, act for an end to obtain the best result (e.g the purpose of a plant is to grow into a plant that produces flowers and fruit)
This end is achieved by design and not chance as they almost always act in a watch to obtain the best result (they act for a telos and to achieve this purpose) and this is done by behaving in a highly regular way
Natural objects have no knowledge so MUST be aided by something that HAS knowledge (idea of cause and effect)
Zenos analogy of the archer and arrow: An arrow cannot move itself as it has no knowledge. The archer (intelligent agent) directs the arrow towards the target (purpose) --> therefore, there must be an intelligent agent who directs all natural things to an appropriate purpose
This intelligent agent is GOD