Teleological

• What are teleological arguments also known as?

  Arguments from design
• What do teleological arguments aim to show?

  Nature's features indicate a designer, God
• Who considers a version of the teleological argument in Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion?

  David Hume
• What does Hume argue about the effects resembling each other?

  Similar effects imply similar causes
• How does Hume's argument relate human design to nature?

  Both show fitting means to ends
• What analogy does Hume use to explain design in nature?

  Human designs resemble nature's designs
• What is Paley's famous comparison in his teleological argument?

  A watch and a stone
• Why does Paley argue a watch must have a designer?

  It has parts organized for a purpose
• What does Paley claim about nature compared to a watch?

  Nature has greater hallmarks of design
• What does Hume (as Philo) argue about human-made items?

  They have obvious designers and purposes
• What does Hume suggest about biological things compared to machines?

  Biological things lack obvious designers
• What does Hume argue about the analogy's strength?

  It weakens due to differences between designs
• What does Hume argue about disorder in the world?

  It suggests the universe isn't designed
• What examples does Hume give of disorder in nature?

  Empty spaces and chaotic weather events
• What does Hume argue about the nature of the designer?

  The designer may not be omnipotent or omnibenevolent
• What does Hume argue about causation?

  We only experience constant conjunctions
• How does Hume apply his causation argument to the universe?

  Creation is a unique event, not inferred
• What does Hume suggest about matter and time?

  Finite matter can organize over infinite time
• What thought experiment does Hume use to illustrate his point?

  Monkeys typing Shakespeare
• What does Darwin's theory explain?

  Complex organisms emerge without a designer
• How does Darwin explain giraffes' long necks?

  Through competition and natural selection
• What does Swinburne distinguish between in his argument?

  Spatial order and temporal order
• What does Swinburne argue about the laws of nature?

  They lack a scientific explanation
• How does Swinburne suggest we explain the laws of nature?

  Through a personal explanation, like design
• What is a problem with the teleological argument regarding multiple universes?

  Infinite universes could randomly support life
• What do Hume and Kant argue about the designer?

  The designer may not be God as defined
• What are some characteristics of the designer according to Hume and Kant?

  Designer may not be eternal or omnipotent
• Outline Aquinas's teleological argument

  P1: All things have an order or arrangement, and work for an end

  P2: The order of the universe cannot be explained by chance, but only by design or purpose

  P3: Design and purpose is a product of intelligence

  C: Therefore, nature is directed by a Divine Intelligence. This we call "God"
• Paley's proof for the existence of God


  P1. A watch has certain complex features of spatial order and purpose

  P2: Anything which exhibits these features of spatial order and purpose must have been designed by a designer

  C1: Therefore, the watch has been designed by a designer

  P3: The universe possesses features of spatial order and purpose, except on a far more wondrous scale.

  C2: Therefore, the universe has been designed by a wondrous designer

  C3: Therefore, God exists.
• Paley's response


  The existence of a law presupposes a lawgiver
• Criticism of Paley


  There is a law or principle that disposed the universe to be in that form
• Hume's argument from analogy

  P1. In 'the fitting of means to ends', nature resembles the products of human design.

  P2. Similar effects have similar causes.

  P3. The cause of the products of human design is an intelligent mind that intended the design.

  C1. Therefore, the cause of nature is an intelligent mind that intended the design.