Inductive argument - Teleological

Philosophy

Teleological argument

arguments looks at order, purpose and beauty in the natural world and conclude the best explanation for this must be an intelligent designer; God.

A posteriori - Teleological

on the basis of experience; knowledge is based on experience, observation and empirical evidence.

What does Aquinas' Fifth Way suggest about things we observe in the universe?

Things we observe in the universe have a purpose.

According to Aquinas' Fifth Way, why can't things direct their own behavior?

Things are not intelligent enough to direct their own behavior.

What does the existence of natural laws imply in Aquinas' Fifth Way?

Natural laws must have an origin - an intelligent designer.

What conclusion does Aquinas Fifth way draw about God's existence from natural laws?

God exists.

What analogy does Aquinas use to illustrate his point about Fifth way -purpose?

The archer and the arrow analogy.

What does the archer and arrow analogy imply?

If you see an arrow directed towards a target, there must be an archer who shot it.

What analogy did William Paley use to illustrate the notion of purposeful design?

The watch analogy.

What does William Paley argue about a watch found on a heath?

It is not a product of nature nor chance.

Why does William Paley believe a watch must have a watchmaker?

Because its parts are intricately assembled to achieve the purpose of telling time.

How does William Paley compare a watch to the universe?

He compares them in terms of complex order, regularity, and purpose.

What conclusion does William Paley reach about the universe based on his watch analogy?

The universe must have a designer, which he identifies as God.

Design qua purpose

argument that everything in the universe has been designed to fulfil a purpose

Design qua regularity

argument that the universe and everything in it works with an orderly regularity

What does the Anthropic argument by Tennant suggest about nature's provisions for life on Earth?

Nature provides in advance for the needs of life on Earth.

What is noted about the conditions necessary for life according to Tennant's Anthropic argument?

The precise conditions for specific anthropic purposes are immensely complex and highly improbable.

What would happen if there were slight variations in the conditions necessary for life, according to Tennant?

Any slight variation in a small measure would mean we did not exist.

Challenge - What does Tennant's Anthropic argument suggest about the cause of the conditions for life?

It suggests that more than mere physical laws are responsible for these conditions.

What explanation does Tennant propose for the complexity of conditions necessary for life?

An ultimate intelligence, such as God, is a viable explanation.

What does the anthropic principle state?

We are here because the universe is suitable for us to be here, not the other way around; it just so happens to sustain human life.

Challenge - What is a common criticism of the anthropic principle?

Some people think it has no meaning at all and just states the obvious.

Challenge - What is a key argument against the idea that the universe is structured for human life?

It gives humanity a special status which is unwarranted.

What does the evolutionary theory suggest about life?

Life perpetuates according to survival values.

What is the significance of humans appreciating beauty and art in the context of survival values?

Beauty and art have no survival value, suggesting a lack of naturalistic explanation for such values.

What conclusion does the aesthetic argument by Tennant provide?

It provides clear evidence for God.

Challenge - What is a challenge to Tennant's aesthetic argument?

Beauty is subjective, not an objective quality that we all agree is found in nature.

How does Tennant describe beauty in his argument?

Tennant writes about beauty as if it were an objective fact.

What does the natural world contain besides beauty?

The natural world also contains things that are considered ugly.

What analogy does David Hume suggest is more appropriate than comparing a mechanical instrument to an organic one?

A better analogy would be with a vegetable.

According to David Hume, what is not sound inductive reasoning regarding the universe?

Assuming there is a governing intelligence behind the universe.

What does Hume argue we cannot determine from any notion of design?

We cannot determine how many designers there were, nor whether it was the God of classical theism.

What criticism does Hume suggest could be made against any designer of our world?

The designer could be criticized for incompetence, creating an imperfect, almost apprentice-like world.

What feature of our world does Hume argue questions the morality of a designer?

The existence of disease.

What does Hume say about our ability to assess the order of our world?

We do not know if this world is particularly well ordered since we have no other worlds to compare it with.

What might be a reason for any perceived order in the world, according to Hume?

Order might be a necessary part of the world's existence.

What does Hume suggest about the appearance of design in the world?

Any world will look designed, but this could be only by chance.

Challenges to teleological - Scientific arguments

1. Darwin's theory of evolution and the notion of survival of the fittest put forward that appearance of order emerged from an underlying process that is both unpredictable and random.

Challenges to teleological - Scientific argument

2. Dawkins argues that a watchmaker has foresight with precise notions of purpose and predicted outcomes; natural selection is blind and unconscious.