Teleological Argument

Improved Essays
The eighth proof explains the series of causes cannot extend back infinitely, for then there would be no beginning to the existence of the series of causes, so causes would exist at all (Velasquez).
The ninth and final proof of God existence is the conclusion that there is a first cause of existence, and this is God (Velasquez).
The Teleological Argument also known as “the design” states that the order and purpose manifest in the works of nature indicate that they were designed by an intelligent being (Velasquez). This argument is what set off the true believers, and those that believe science created the earth that we live in today. William Paley’s argument starts off with the first point that, if we find an artifact, like a watch, that

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    These arguments do come together though to form a strong case for the theistic belief in God. Dr. Mark Foreman suggests using four elements when approaching these arguments. These elements are the best explanation approach, the cumulative approach, the aspect of defeasibility, and the minimalistic concept. The best explanation approach simply implies that God is the best explanation for certain aspects of the universe. This approach is actually used often throughout science to affirm things we cannot see or touch such as electrons and black holes.…

    • 742 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    William Paley was a senior Christian religious leader of Carlisle, who lead Christian theology defending Christianity. Paley’s position is from the design argument, called teleological arguments which are arguments from the order in the universe to the existence of God. William Paley points out the resemblances of the universe to a watch, with many ordered parts working in harmony to further some purpose. “Paley argues that just as we infer the existence of an intelligent designer to explain the presence of a subtle and complex artifact like a watch, so too we must infer the existence of an intelligent Grand Designer to explain the existence of the works of nature, which are far more subtle, complex, and cleverly contrived than any human artifact.” (Paley, 181)…

    • 513 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    1. Thesis The discovery and acceptance of Natural Selection refutes Paley’s design argument. Beyond this, Natural Selection offers new conclusions to theological problems, most of which are atheistic. Despite these plausible solutions, a skeptical mindset towards atheism should be adopted since logical arguments still remain in favor of theism.…

    • 498 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Paley’s argument for the Existence of God Paley’s argument is termed the design argument which is solely based on an analogy of a watch. This is that the universe as a whole is complex and there must be an intelligent designer responsible for designing the universe. Just like the watch, the parts come together to fulfill a purpose, and if we have never seen a watch before the complexity or the way the watch was designed would make us conclude that it was made by an intelligent designer. This analogy is used to compare the universe to the watch. In addition, he mentions that “it is not necessary that a machine be perfect in order to show with what design it was made” (Paley, 2) some errors in the production of the watch does not conclude that…

    • 948 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The Teleological Argument The existence of God can be supported by the design argument or teleological arguments that conclude: since nature looks like it was designed, then nature was or has a designer which we call God. Not only is nature designed but things humans have created are designed also. In order to have something in existence, it must have a creator which must have designed that something. A number of arguments utilize design arguments in favor of the existence of God.…

    • 1740 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In this paper I will argue that St. Anselm’s ontological argument is not adequate in proving the existence of God. First I will discuss his ambiguous use of the term “God”. Then, I will move on to analyze the term “greatest” made in his premises. Lastly, I will also criticize Anselm's argument by demonstrating that Anselm’s reply to Gaunilo’s objections are unconvincing. Anselm was the first one who developed the ontological argument, an argument for God’s existence based on reason, not on physical evidence.…

    • 1645 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Saint Thomas Aquinas was a philosopher in the 13th century credited with his philosophical works: Summa Theologiae and Summa Contra Gentiles. These were used as a basis of Christian theology for early theologians. In these works, Aquinas spells out what is known as “The Five Ways.” This is a series of five arguments that Aquinas believed to prove the existence of God using the facts one can observe in the world. Two of the arguments used are the argument from motion and the argument from design.…

    • 967 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Although both arguments establish valid justifications of God’s existence, an exact answer is still unknown. William Paley was a Christian philosopher from the late 1700’s best known for his teleological argument for the existence of God, which is also known as the design argument, which argues the existence of God by seeking evidence through design in creation. The main idea of Paley’s argument asserts that the universe is too intricate and highly ordered to have been created by accident or incidental change, therefore, providing proof of God’s existence. The word teleology is derived from the Greek root word telos, which means “purpose” or “goal” furthermore, Paley believed that every design had a valuable purpose and every designed thing implies a designer. For example, Paley uses a watch to represent a telos due to its functional complexity that accurately differentiates articles created by…

    • 848 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Paley begins by engaging with his reader, asking them what they would think if they were to discover a rock laying in a field and then questioning why their reaction would differ if they had found a watch in place of the rock. He is aware that in the case of the rock one would be content to say it may have always been there, although they would not be content with this answer upon seeing the watch. He questions the reader’s assumptions, asking, “Why should not this answer serve for the watch as well as for the stone” (Paley, 565). This questioning is meant to lead the reader to arguing that the watch must have been created and could not have come to be from natural processes. Paley argues for the necessity of the watch’s creator writing, “the watch must have had a maker: that there must have existed, at some time, and at some place or other, an artificer or artificers who formed it for purpose… who comprehended its construction and designated its use” The presence of a creator for Paley is implied by the complexity of the watch, it could not have come into being without something capable of understanding and assembling it.…

    • 1166 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Cosmological argument The cosmological argument is a well known argument that attempts to prove the existence of God. The most common leader of the argument is Thomas Aquinas who devised Five Ways to prove the existence of God, which he referred to as “demonstration.” It comes to the conclusion that God exists from posteriori because it focuses on cause and effect to come to an assumption that God exists, which contrasts with the priori approach to the ontological argument. Linear religions generally accept that God made the universe ex nihilo because in Genesis God existed at the beginning of time; therefore, He must be the cause of the universe because you can’t have an effect without a cause.…

    • 490 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Zayd Boucaud Professor Sarah Allen Philosophy December 4, 2017 "Cleanthes' Argument from Design" This essay will divulge into the deeper meaning of Cleanthes’ argument from design, with an explanation of not only his views, but the opposition’s as well (with a further understanding about why his argument may be proven invalid.) Cleanthes’ premises (leading to his valid conclusion) will have further, more simple explanations that will show his own reasoning in favor of God’s existence.) Flaws in his argument will be displayed subsequently, which will lead to the conclusion of his argument overall: ample validity but simply lacking soundness.…

    • 1772 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Religion is a matter of personal belief, faith, or dogma. The majority of religions are centered on the existence of one or more gods. The existence of God, or multiple gods, is a priori truth- no observation can show that God does not exist. However, there is also no observation that prove that God does exist. This dilemma has driven many philosophers to propose numerous arguments against and for the existence of God.…

    • 808 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The ontological argument is different than the cosmological or teleological arguments as it relies on A Priori knowledge rather than A Posteriori. A Priori knowledge is knowledge that you can know prior to any experience; it is known through reason alone. This essay will explore how reliable the ontological argument is. The ontological argument is an argument for the existence of god by St Anselm (1033-1109). Anselm defined god as “that than which nothing greater can be conceived.”…

    • 784 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Argument from Degrees and Perfection Fifth Way ? The Argument from Intelligent Design. Aquinas concluded that common sense observation tells us that no object creates itself. In other words, some previous object had to create it. Aquinas believed that ultimately there must have been an UNCAUSED FIRST CAUSE (GOD) who began the chain of existence for all things.…

    • 1424 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The existence of God is always important in the aspect of philosophy. St. Thomas Aquinas explains what he believes is the five reasons god exists. The five reasons he believes why God exist is the Argument from Motion, Efficient Causes, Possibility and Necessity, Gradation of Being, and Design. The definition of God means that which nothing greater can be meant. St. Aquinas is a known philosopher for his discussions of the relationship between faith and the reasons, including the five reasons and proof why God existence is true, while developing Aristotelian doctrines within the church (PBF 42).…

    • 1606 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays