arguments for the existence of god

arguments from observation

• a posteriori arguments; knowledge post sense experience

1. teleological argument - arguments from design as they based on the based on the order of the universe

2. cosmological argument - based on perceived qualities of the universe, such as cause and effect

teleological argument

• aquinas’ 5th way - all things have a purpose, therefore, they must have a creator

• paley’s design argument - things within the universe are complex and have purpose, so, must have a creator

paley’s design argument

• all things have a function in a very complex, precise and purposeful manner to achieve their goal

• compared a watches complexities to that of an eye and deemed that these complex things must have a creator

• the ultimate creator must be god

paley’s design argument proves god’s existence

• purpose can be observed in living beings e.g., bird’s wings are designed to fly

• paley responded to criticisms about apparent lack of purpose, even if we do not understand how or why all parts of the watch work, it would not detract from our conclusion of design

• design being regular in nature can be observed through the order and predictable patterns seen in nature, such as gravity. so, paley infers god as the designer behind this regularity

• even if the watch was broken, we could infer a watchmaker because of the overall design and purpose. similarly, even though there are things in the world that do not work perfectly, there is still evidence of design, and therefore of god

paley’s design argument doesn’t prove god’s existence

• dawkins offers a better explanation to complexity and design through evolution and natural selection

• some natural things don’t seem to have a purpose or arguably have poor design e.g., what is the purpose of a human appendix

• in physics, the law of entropy states that there is a tendency towards disorder rather than order. this suggests there is no designing mind

• problem of evil - if the world has been designed, it makes no sense for it to have designed with such evil. the most we can infer from a flawed creator

aquinas’ fifth way - design or purpose (telos)

• we observe that all natural things seem to have a purpose and aim to achieve them

• things without intelligence cannot try to achieve a purpose without being directed by an intelligent being

• therefore, there must be an intelligent being who has directed all things towards their purpose; this must be god

aquinas’ fifth way does prove god’s existence

• there are examples in nature of non-thinking beings that act to achieve a purpose; a sunflower grows facing the sun

• it is correct that an arrow needs an archer to direct it. in the same way we could argue that 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 conscious mind that plans an end within it’s design. god is an explanation that works

aquinas’ fifth way doesn’t prove god’s existence

• there could be another explanation for apparent purpose. these living beings and organisms look purposeful, but it is because they have evolved to suit their environment. it 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 can be accused of a logical fallacy because he makes a logical leap to the idea of god within classical theism. even if we assume there is a designer, there is no reason to assume the characteristics of this god

• the problem of evil - what is the purpose of evil?

cosmological argument

• aquinas’ first 3 ways - the universe must have a first cause; god is the only being that can be

aquinas’ first way - motion

• the world is constantly in a state of motion

• anything in motion has been put into motion as nothing can move by itself

• there must be a first unmoved mover that moves everything in the universe; this must be god (as it cannot be infinite regress)

aquinas’ second way - causation

• in the world, there is a series of causes and effects

• nothing can cause itself, as that would mean it would have to exist before itself (impossible)

• there must be a first uncaused causer; this must be god

aquinas’ third way - contingency (reliance)

• things come in and out of existence; they are contingent

• if everything were contingent, there would have been a time where nothing existed

• as things exist now, so there must have been something whose existence is necessary (it cannot not exist as ALL things rely on it)

• there must be a universal creator of which all things existence is contingent; this must be god

arguments from reason

ontological argument