Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Aquinas' teleological argument (arguments based on observation) -…
Aquinas' teleological argument
(arguments based on observation)
Aristotle's ideas were new to the Christian world at the time Aquinas lived
Aquinas used Aristotelian ideas extensively in his Christian theology
though God gave us our reason so that we could learn about him
Five Ways - reasons to conclude God exists
Fifth Way is a short teleological argument
5th Way
things which lack intelligence, such as natural bodies, act for an end, and this is evident from their acting always, or nearly always, in the same way, so as to obtain the best result
not fortuitously, but designed, do they achieve their end
whatever lacks intelligence cannot move towards an end, unless it be directed by some being endowed with knowledge and intelligence
some intelligent being exists by whom all natural things are directed to their end; and this being we call God
strengths
There are examples in nature of non-thinking beings that act to achieve purpose
It is correct that an arrow needs an archer to direct it so it seems reasonable to assume natural things are also directed towards their purpose
Aquinas is right that we need an explanation for purpose - purpose is a sign of a conscious mind that plans an end within its design. God is an explanation that works
weaknesses
living beings and organisms look purposeful, but it is because they have evolved to suit their environment.
looks like design but has occurred because less well-adapted beings have died out
Aquinas makes an assumption about purpose. What we assume to be ‘purpose’ could be due to chance or perhaps natural things do not have an innate purpose, it may be a human construct
Aquinas could be accused of a logical fallacy because he makes a logical leap to the idea of God of classical theism.
Even if we assume there is a designer, there is no reason to assume the characteristics of this God
Example: arrow heading for a target
if we saw arrow in flight we would conclude it must have been shot on purpose because arrows can't move on their own
when we see planets moving in an orderly way we can therefore conclude rhat a divine mind must have put them in motion on purpose because planets can't move on their own