The teleological argument

Inductive argument

What is the teleological argument?

• The argument is focused on the meaning or purpose for the universe.

• It looks at the purpose of certain parts of the universe before moving towards the purpose of the whole universe.

• It is also referred to as the ‘design argument.’

• It is inductive and a posteriori

What question is the argument based around?

• Is it more likely that the universe has been designed, or as a result of random chance?

What is Aquinas’ fifth way?

• Aquinas’ fifth way is about design.

• Everything that exists in the world seems to fulfil a purpose. This purpose cannot be an accident so it must have been designed.

• Aquinas argued from design qua regularity - he saw the overall order in the world as proof of a designer.

• the premises are drawn from observation of the world around us.

• It is inductive and a posteriori

What is a quote from Aquinas about his fifth way?

• ‘Whatever lacks knowledge cannot move towards an end, unless its directed by something with knowledge, the way an arrow is directed by an archer.’

• ‘Therefore some intelligent being exists by whom all natural things are directed to their end; and intelligence and this being we call God.’

• - Aquinas, Summa Theologica

What is the archer and arrow analogy?

• An arrow has no intelligence to direct itself to its ‘end’ but an archer does have this intelligence.

• The arrow cannot hit its target without the archer.

• The same way an arrow is directed by an archer, we have to be directed to our end by an intelligent being.

• This being we call God.

• ‘Whatever lacks knowledge cannot move towards an end, unless its directed by something with knowledge, the way an arrow is directed by an archer.’ - Aquinas, Summa Theologica.

What is an example in nature that shows order even when the things involved have no consciousness of their purpose or order?

• The water cycle

What does the fifth way say about beings in general?

• Non - rational beings act in a way that leads them to the best result for them.

• This process is regular and rarely changes, it cannot be an accident.

• This purpose must be designed.

What does Aquinas’ fifth way say regarding governance?

• Aquinas concluded that God was involved in the world.

• He made it for a certain purpose and guides it towards that purpose.

• God governs the universe.

What is some background info on Paley’s watchmaker argument?

• William Paley proposed his version in his Natural theology - published at the beginning of the 19th century.

• If we were to discover a stone whilst out walking, we may question how it came to be, and through a consideration of natural events come to a conclusion of how it was formed.

• However if we were to discover a watch we would not come to the same conclusions.

What was Paley’s watchmaker analogy?

• In the 19th century, the watches had complex mechanisms, concluding that it had been designed by a being with intelligence. - And not a result of random chance.

• The watch with all its complexities needs an intelligent watchmaker to explain how it came into being.

How does Paley’s watchmaker analogy relate to the universe?

• Paley states that the universe we live in is complex too, therefore infers a designer, the same way we inferred a designer for the watch.

• He uses an example of the eye:

• All of the different parts/functions, the way it perceives objects, functions that keep the eyeball moving and the eyelids that protect the eye.

• He suggests that the complexity of it within the human body alone is evidence for a designing intelligence.

• The same way the watch needed the intelligent watchmaker, so does the universe need an intelligent maker.

How does Paley argue design qua regularity?

• Looks at the way the universe behaves according to some order.

• Paley considered the motion of the planets in our solar system.

• The relationship between the planets, the effect of gravity could not have come about without a designing principle at work.

• (If gravity was slightly stronger or weaker the universe may not exist today.)

• That designer is God

How does Paley argue design qua purpose?

• He looks at the way the universe was designed to fill some purpose.

• Parts of the universe appear fit together intentionally.

• In the universe things have been put together by a designer with specific functions in mind.

• Paley used the intricate mechanisms of the human body

• The way the eye is adapted for sight, its various parts co-operate in complex ways to produce sight.

• He believed that the eye was specifically designed for the purpose of seeing - this complex design suggests an intelligent designer.

What is background info on Tennant’s anthropic argument?

• In Tennant’s 1928 ‘Philosophical theology’ he developed a set of evidences that are recognised as ‘anthropic principles’ today.

What is Tennant’s anthropic argument?

• If there had been a small change in the universe then life would not have developed.

• The world has provided the basic necessities to sustain life.

• The world can be analysed in a rational manner.

• The process of evolution, through natural selection has led to the development of intelligent human life, to the degree that the intelligent life can observe and analyse the universe that it exists in.

What is Tennant’s aesthetic argument?

• The aesthetic argument related to the natural appreciation humans have for things that are considered ‘beautiful’.

• There appears to be no other species that reacts to its surroundings in this way.

• This can be extended to the appreciation that humans have for music, art, poetry and other forms of literature. + other things like fashion, cosmetics that are said to enhance human beauty.

• Our appreciation of it is not necessary but it exists.

• Tennant’s response was to claim that this appreciation is a direct result of a benevolent God, he wanted his creation to enjoy living in the world.

• Tennant believed that beauty in the world is proof of God’s existence and helps people realise this for themselves.