The Teleological argument

• What does the teleological argument claim about God?


  It claims that God exists as the required explanation of the nature of the world.
• What is Aquinas' 5th way regarding goal-directed behavior in the universe?


  Aquinas' 5th way states that things we observe in the universe are goal-directed and do not behave randomly.
• Give an example of goal-directed behavior as per Aquinas' argument.


  Flowers moving towards the sun is an example of goal-directed behavior.
• What does Aquinas suggest about the nature of things in the universe?


  He suggests that all beings have a nature that inclines their behavior towards a certain goal (telos).
• What analogy does Aquinas use to explain goal-directed behavior?

  The analogy of an archer and the arrow is used to explain goal-directed behavior.
• What does Paley's watch-maker argument assert?


  It asserts that complexity and purpose in objects, like a watch, imply the existence of a designer.
• How does Paley relate the human eye to his argument?

  Paley relates the human eye to his argument by stating it is composed of complex parts arranged to achieve the purpose of sight.
• What is Hume's critique of the analogy used by Paley and Aquinas?


  Hume argues that things which are similar can have very different causes, challenging the analogy between human-made objects and nature.
• How does Hume describe the universe in contrast to artifacts?

  Hume describes the universe as more chaotic and organic, unlike the mechanical precision of artifacts.
• What is the main point of Hume's evidential problem of evil?


  The main point is that the evidence of evil in the world makes belief in a perfect God unjustified.
• How do religious philosophers like Hick respond to the problem of evil?


  They argue that suffering serves a good purpose, such as encouraging moral growth (soul-making).
• What does Darwin's view on nature suggest about the existence of a designer God?


  Darwin suggests that the cruel and vicious aspects of nature contradict the idea of a loving and all-powerful God.
• How does evolution challenge the arguments of Aquinas and Paley?

  Evolution explains the appearance of design in nature without the need for a designer, making their supernatural explanations unnecessary.
• What is F.R. Tennant's anthropic principle?


  Tennant's anthropic principle claims that for evolution to occur, God must have designed the earth with specific conditions.
• What is Swinburne's fine-tuning argument?


  Swinburne's fine-tuning argument suggests that the laws of physics indicate a designer, as they are precisely set for life to exist.
• What does the term 'telos' refer to in the context of Aquinas' argument?


  'Telos' refers to the goal or purpose towards which beings are inclined in their behavior.
• How does the theory of evolution explain variation in species?


  The theory of evolution explains that members of a species that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
• What does Richard Dawkins mean by 'the blind watchmaker'?

  Dawkins refers to the idea that natural selection operates without a conscious designer, likening it to a watchmaker who is 'blind'.
• What is the significance of the discovery of other earth-like planets in relation to Tennant's argument?

  The discovery of other earth-like planets suggests that the existence of a planet like Earth is not a rare event, challenging Tennant's argument for a designer.
• What is the main limitation of the design argument according to Hume?


  The main limitation is that it cannot establish the validity of any particular religious belief or specific God.
• How do Aquinas and Paley respond to Hume's critique regarding the design argument?

  Aquinas and Paley accept that their arguments do not prove a specific God but rather support the rationality of believing in a God.
• What is the relationship between natural laws and the existence of God in Aquinas' argument?

  Aquinas argues that natural laws must have an origin, which he identifies as an intelligent designer, or God.
• What is the purpose of the Teleological argument in philosophy?


  The purpose is to provide a rationale for the existence of God based on the observed order and purpose in the universe.
• How does the complexity of nature relate to the design argument?


  The complexity of nature suggests that it must have been designed by an intelligent mind, as complexity cannot arise by chance.
• What is the significance of the analogy of the watch in Paley's argument?


  The watch serves as an illustration of how complexity and purpose in objects imply the existence of a designer.
• How does Hume's critique challenge the design argument's reliance on analogy?


  Hume's critique challenges the design argument by asserting that similar effects can arise from different causes, undermining the analogy's validity.
• What does the term 'fine-tuning' refer to in Swinburne's design argument?

  'Fine-tuning' refers to the precise conditions necessary for life, suggesting that these conditions indicate a designer.
• What is the main conclusion of the teleological argument?


  The main conclusion is that the complexity and order in the universe imply the existence of an intelligent designer, or God.
• What is the issue regarding the existence of a planet like Earth?


  The existence of a planet like Earth is not a remarkably unlikely event to happen by chance.
• How many planets are estimated to be in our galaxy?

  There are around 1-10 trillion planets in our galaxy alone.
• What has been discovered since Tennant regarding Earth-like planets?


  Many other Earth-like planets have been discovered.
• What is Swinburne's modern design argument called?


  Swinburne's modern design argument is called the 'fine tuning' argument.
• How is Swinburne's argument influenced by Aquinas and Paley?


  Swinburne's argument is more influenced by Aquinas' 5th way than by Paley.
• What did Paley argue regarding the order of things in space?


  Paley argued about the order of things in space, like the parts of the human eye.
• How did evolution counter Paley's argument?


  Evolution countered Paley's argument by explaining the order of things without the need for a designer.
• What does Aquinas' 5th way discuss?

  Aquinas' 5th way discusses the order of objects' behavior over time due to natural laws.
• What is the significance of the laws of physics according to Swinburne?

  The laws of physics must be exactly as they are for us to exist.
• What conclusion does Swinburne draw from the fine-tuning of the laws of physics?


  Swinburne concludes that it is more reasonable to believe that a God intentionally designed the laws of physics.
• What is the multiverse theory?


  The multiverse theory posits that our universe is one of an infinite number of universes with all possible combinations of physical laws.
• How does the multiverse theory counter Swinburne's argument?


  If the multiverse theory is true, we don't need a special explanation for why our universe exists.