Philosophy of Religion: Design argument

Explain Aquinas’ 5th way

Aquinas used the analogy of an arrow to explain how purpose proves God’s existence. An arrow requires an archer to ensure it reaches its target. Similarly, anything natural that acts towards a purpose -Sunflowers can follow the sunlight, for example- must have an intelligent being guiding them as they are not intelligent enough to give their purpose. Since all natural beings have purpose, there must be an intelligent being giving purpose, which he identifies as God.

Outline Paley’s design argument

Paley used the analogy of a watch to explain the design argument. Paley argued if you found a watch on the ground it would be assumed it was designed due to complexity. He argued that just as a watch implies a watchmaker, the complexity of the universe suggests there is a designer, which he identifies as God.

Explain the use of analogy in the design argument

In the design argument, concepts such as the universe and God are dealt with, both of which are metaphysical concepts and are as such, far beyond what people are used to dealing with. Therefore by using an analogy of something normal like a watch or an arrow, difficult concepts make more sense.

Give a weakness of the use of analogies in the design argument

Hume claimed analogies aren’t valid to explain because they both may have similar effects but not necessarily similar causes. For example, smoke and steam both look similar but are caused by very different things. It follows we can’t liken a watch to the universe as we can’t know the mechanics of the universe.

Outline Swinburne’s teleological argument

He says since the world is typically very well ordered this suggests an orderer or designer as without one the likelihood of the universe coming together in this exact way is closer to zero than any other number. While evolution may disprove Paley’s watch argument it doesn’t explain the order required for existence.

Give two criticisms of Swinburne’s argument

• Hume: No proof the designer is God

• Random odds can to some extent explain consistency, with an infinite universe

What is evolution?

Charles Darwin theorised that all species evolved from common ancestors through natural selection and adaptation over time. This is an alternative to the religious explanation of God.

Give a common feature of all design arguments

All inductive and a posteriori

What is Hume’s criticism of the existence of God due to the Problem of Evil?

He argued that the existence of evil contradicts the notion of an all-powerful, all-good God, suggesting that either God does not exist, or is not benevolent. God being good is impossible as we are only justified in believing what the evidence suggests. We only have evidence of an imperfect world of good and evil. We are only justified in believing that imperfection exists. Ergo, belief in a perfectly good being is not justified.