Teleological Arguments

Hume’s design argument from analogy

• P1. In 'the fitting of means to ends', nature resembles the products of human design.  

• P2. Similar effects have similar causes.  

• P3. The cause of the products of human design such as a machine is an intelligent mind that intended the design.  

• C1. Therefore, the cause of nature is an intelligent mind that intended the design.  

• C2: Therefore an intelligent designer (God) exists. 

Scientific explanation

Explains an object or other event in terms of the scientific laws of nature. Eg. Fell over due to gravity.  

Personal explanation

Explains an object or other event in terms of a person and their purposes. Eg. He fell over because he wanted to change the lightbulb and leant too far from the ladder.  

The design argument fails as it is an argument from a unique case (Hume)

• P1: Design arguments make the inference that this universe and its properties were caused by a designer. 

• P2: We can make an inference that 'X caused Y' only if we have repeatedly observed event X conjoined to event Y. 

• P3: We have observed only one universe and its properties are a unique case. 

• P4: We have never observed the origins of any universe. 

• C1. We cannot make an inference about the cause and origins of this universe and its properties. 

• C2: Design arguments are based on invalid inference.