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Teleological Argument - Coggle Diagram
Teleological Argument
Summary
Analogy = He beings with a observation of a stone and then a watch. A watch has complex parts put together for a purpose, so it must have been designed by a watchmaker. Similarly the universe has parts that function together for a purpose. So the universe must have been designed by a universe maker. The design of the universe is far greater than that of any watch, so its designer is far greater than any human: its designer is God.
Key Features = Paley's argument is based on his observation of the world so it is a posteriori and inductive, and also a probability argument and not a proof. It is based on 3 main observations: the complexity of the biological world, the regularity of the orbits of the heavenly bodies and of the seasons of the year & the purpose of a designer (God) seen in this complexity and purpose. Paley argues inductively from what we can see in the world back to the supposed cause
Hume's Critiques
The cause of the design in the universe needs only to be proportional to its effect. Even if we grant that the universe was designed, there is no evidence that this was the God of a Christian theism. A lesser being could have designed the universe
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Analogies between the universe and machines are flawed. The world is more like a vegetable and vegetables design and reproduce themselves
An analogy between the designers of human machines and the designer of the universe is just anthropomorphism
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths = 1) Paley is right to see God as the designer of nature: Swinburne argues that evolution simply obeys the laws of science designed by God. 2) Paley's language is anthropomorphic but his conclusion that the designer is metaphysical and transcendent still seems reasonable. Moreover we know enough about design to show that Paley could be right. 3) Paley argued that evil may be unavoidable in order for God to bring about good. Modern arguments support Paley here, for example, the free will defence, Process Theology and Hicks Irenaean theodicy
Weaknesses = 1) There is too much evil in the world to see it as the design of a loving/powerful God. 2) As Hume said, we have no experience of universe making so our ideas about it are anthropomorphic and limited. 3) Hume seems to be right that an all powerful God of Christian theism is a greater cause than is needed to account for the appearance of design in the universe
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