as philosophy – teleological argument compatible

7/29/2019 AS PHILOSOPHY teleological argument compatible

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Yamina Hamadache


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When we look at an object we can oftenascertain its purpose (telos) by either askingthe creator or seeing how it can be used.

The teleological argument views the Universeas something which is made, which points to amaker God.


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The Universe shows signs of regularity (theseasons, orbiting of planets).

This regulation is evidence of an ultimate

Creator. Thomas Aquinas 5th Way A natural

inanimate object manages to fulfil purpose byworking in regularity although it has nointelligence, therefore there must be someexternal intelligent being to account for theirpurposeful behaviour


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This part of the argument states that theUniverse works together in such a precise waythat it must have been created.

William Paley uses the analogy of the watch; ifyou picked up a watch youd know its madeas it all fits together. Similarly the Universe fitstogether and so must be made. He also usedthe eye as an example how it is adapted tolight.

Arthur Brown a feature like the ozone layermust be seen as a mighty proof of the

Creators forthought


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One can accept the order and purpose in theworld, but that need not necessarily lead to aCreator. Pierre Laplace replied to Napoleon Ihave no need of that hypothesis when asked whyhe had not included God in his cosmology.

Hume argues that it is illegitimate to infer purposeon something when there is no proof that it hasbeen made. He also said that, supposing theUniverse WAS created, natural and moral evilsuggest an unintelligent or imperfect being as the

creator. He formulated the epicurean hypothesis:after time randomness will evolve into an orderedsystem i.e. The order we see today is not a productof a creator, but regularity born of irregularity!


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John Stuart Mill agreed with Hume; he thoughtthat the disorder of the Universe points to a Godwhich is neither omnipotent, nor benevolent. He

also challenged the idea that this Creator must bethe God of Classical Theism the Universe couldhave been created by a host of gods.

In his book Origin of Species Charles Darwincreated the theory of natural selection the idea

that advantageous genotypes survive byoutcompeting the others, resulting in speciesadapted to habitat.

William Paley draws parallels between a clock(something artificially manufactured) and an eye

the product of millions of years of evolution. Theycannot compare, and with evolution no referenceto external intelligence is needed as anexplanation.

as philosophy – teleological argument compatible

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