The Teleological Argument:

♥Telos: end/result

♥A posteriori: based on empirical evidence using our sensory experience

Originates from Aristotle and the final cause. Ultime purpose of creation, and an unmoved mover behind the final purpose

♥Deductive: based on a set of premises

Aquinas:

♥Everything works towards a purpose

♥Therefore there must be an intelligent being/designer, which directs everything towards that purpose. E.g.an arrow requires the Archer to direct towards the target.

♥Everything in nature follows laws and they tend to have a goal or purpose. Some things must be directed by others to this purpose ---> Directed by GOD

Paley:

Analogy of the watch: If someone came across a watch and observed the intricacy, it would suggest to them a designer, even if they did not know the purpose of the watch. Similarly, the intricacies and mechanisms in nature resemble those of the watch with a definite purpose.Design and purpose can only be explained by the presence of an intelligent designer/being = GOD

Design qua regularity: the design of the universe is related to the evidence of regularity and design which is seen as evidence of a divine being

Design qua purpose: design of universe is in order to fulfill some purpose: we are here for a reason. We cannot exist by mere chance and therefore this suggests a designer. Things in the natural world make up interrelated systems aiming for a purpose.

♥Order, design and purpose through the way the planets rotate and seasons change. Our lack of knowledge increases our sense of wonder.

Hume:

♥Machine like a watch isn't a good analogy for the universe as it doesn't grow and evolve in the way the universe does.

♥Why just one designer; why not many?

♥Maybe world was created by an inferior being than god

♥The presence of evil in the world suggests its designer isn't entirely good or not powerful enough; which doesn't fit in with the God of classical theism

♥There is no evidence of the universe being made so we should not argue from causes within the world to the cause of the universe

♥There is nothing in the universe that can compare with the universe- nothing to infer an intelligent designer "nothing to which a universe can be satisfactorily compared".

♥Matter may contain "spring of order" within itself originally

♥The effects observed in nature may be caused by a wide variety of causes

♥The world is a self-regulating organism. Chaotic matter can fall into order of its own accord

Mill:

♥Challenged "a posteriori"- nobody can have knowledge of God

♥Evil and suffering suggests a designer that cannot be all powerful and all loving, this may still point to a God but not the God of classical theism

♥

Darwin:

Theory of natural selection: new species evolve from existing ones without intervention from God. Suggesting that God's existence isn't necessary for existence of living things (not due to a designer).

The complex intricacies in nature are explained by the "Survival of the Fittest"

A designing God isn't necessary and a designed universe is a naturally evolved one.

The process of natural selection is gradual and ongoing- resulting from natural and random processes

"Memes"- cultural inheritance.

Strengths:

F.R Tennant: Anthropic Principle: The Universe isn't chaotic; it is beautiful and designed to support intelligent life. The world can be analysed in a rational manner. Evolution works to advancement of species but it's supported by an ordered world that provides all that's necessary to support and sustain life. If the Big Band had been any bigger or smaller, planets couldn't have been formed. The timing was perfect for development of life. A chain of coincidences that made life possible suggests intention and purpose ---> GOD. There is also purpose of life other than survival for example appreciation of the arts, suggesting life must be the product of a designing creator = God (Aesthetic argument)

Genesis 1.25: God as creator and designer "god saw it was good". The complexity of order, beauty and purpose in the world couldn't exist accidentally and so is designed by some intelligent and purposeful God

Although Mill says that cruelty in nature prohibits the belief in a loving God, our perspective of certain actions may seem cruel but from the perspective of the designer it may be a lesser alternative.

DNA exhibits too much design to be a product of mere chance

Weaknesses:

Darwin is defended by scientific research whereas Paley isn't

Progressive evolution

Second law of thermodynamics: Entropy- ultimately everything in the universe will fall apart and there can be no purpose. Everything is in a state of "ordered chaos"

There are other explnantation than God for apparent deign in universe for example DNA

Dawkins: The Universe accords to a small, finite set of rules and a God is not that simple.