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18 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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The Teleological Argument |
'Telos' is Greek for purpose. Argues that the universe is being directed towards a telos, an end purpose. |
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'Summa Theologica' |
(The work of Thomas Aquinas which includes his Quinque Viae (Five ways) which are his five arguments for the existence of God. |
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Aquinas' Fifth way Argument |
1) There is beneficial order in the universe 2) A beneficial order does not happen by chance 3) Many objects do not have the intelligence to work towards a beneficial end by themselves (non-rational beings, cannot reason for themselves) 4) Therefore there is an intelligent being guiding them according to a plan i.e. God exists. |
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Key features of Aquinas' Fifth way argument |
1) Inductive and a posteriori 2) Uses the Analogy of an Archer
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Three criticisms of Aquinas' Fifth way Argument |
David Hume: -How do we know that there is beneficial order without comparing our universe to another?; -Order in the universe does not prove that it has been designed by an intelligent being; -Fails to provide reason for believing in the christian God. |
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'Natural Theology' |
A book by WIlliam Paley where he presents his form of the Teleological Argument. |
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William Paley's argument |
Paley's watchmaker analogy: If you found a watch on a heath (i.e. land) you would think that it had been designed as it shows features of design: -Displays a form of order; it is complex and has a purpose. He goes on to say that the universe shows similar features of design and that this is evidence that God exists. |
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Strengths of Paley's argument |
-Coherent and philosophically valid. -The analogy appears correct. -He attempts to pre-empt Hume's objections. |
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Criticisms of Paley's argument |
-Hume said that we cannot know that this universe is ordered without having another universe to compare it to -Order in the universe does not mean it is from an intelligent designer. -Does not prove Christian God
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Design qua purpose |
The universe was designed to fulfill a purpose |
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Design qua regularity |
The universe behaves according to some order. |
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David Hume |
A philosopher (1711-76): Has strong criticisms towards the teleological argument in his posthumously published 'Dialogues:concerning Natural Religion' and 'An enquiry Concerning Human Understanding'. |
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The 'Fine-tuning' Argument |
Proposeed by F.R. Tennant and is based on the Anthropic principle (law of human existence). -The Universe is 'fine-tuned' for our existence -which is extremely unlikely to have come about by chance -therefore this is evidence of an intelligent designer i.e. God. |
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Strengths of F.R. Tennant's fine tuning argument. |
-It is compatible our contemporary scientific understanding. -Coherent and philosophically valid. -Scientific evidence is agreed with by most scientists. |
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Objections of F.R. Tennant's fine tuning argument. |
-Ignores the possiblility of a multiverse (parallel universes)put forth by William Jefferys. -Labelled as a 'God of the gaps argument' as our understanding in the future may explain the odds. -Victor Stenger puts forth the argument from imperfection: the universe is not exactly fine-tuned. (natural disasters etc.) |
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a posteriori |
Based on evidence rather than assumptions/predictions. |
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Michael Behe's argument of irreducible complexity |
There exists cumulatively complex and irreducibly complex systems. -Irreducibly complex systems are those that cannot work without all parts being present -thus they cannot be the result of evolution but an intelligent designer i.e. God. e.g. Bacterial flagellum, human eye.
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Criticisms of Behe's argument of irreducible complexity |
-Behe misunderstands evolution and 'streamlining' explains irreducibly complex systems. -God of the Gaps -Some argue why God would create some irreducibly complex systems and others that are cumulatively complex. |
