Teleological Argument. Teleological argument or the argument from design is based upon observation...

TeleologicalTeleological ArgumentArgument

Teleological ArgumentTeleological Argument

Teleological argument or Teleological argument or the the argument from design argument from design is based is based upon observation of the worldupon observation of the world

It is It is notnot an argument designed an argument designed to prove the existence of God to prove the existence of God but one which says God but one which says God mustmust exist i.e. human eye so complex exist i.e. human eye so complex there must be a Designerthere must be a Designer

This is a This is a posterioriposteriori statement statement


Arguments from analogyArguments from analogy

William Paley (1743-1805)William Paley (1743-1805)

‘‘The Watchmaker’The Watchmaker’


Arguments from analogyArguments from analogy

What do you think about Paley’s What do you think about Paley’s analogy?analogy?

Is it a good analogy?Is it a good analogy?

Are the underlying assumptions Are the underlying assumptions correct?correct?


CriticismsCriticisms

Weak analogy – weak conclusionsWeak analogy – weak conclusions

Charles Darwin – Origin of the Charles Darwin – Origin of the Species (1859)Species (1859)


Further problemsFurther problems

1) Warburton (p.14) says 1) Warburton (p.14) says argument does not support argument does not support monotheism (Gen 1:26?)monotheism (Gen 1:26?)



2) Is Warburton’s analogy on 2) Is Warburton’s analogy on human constructors a good one?human constructors a good one?



3) Warburton also cites body 3) Warburton also cites body decay to show why God cannot decay to show why God cannot be considered all-powerful (p.14) be considered all-powerful (p.14) How could this be rebutted?How could this be rebutted?



4) The problem of Evil makes 4) The problem of Evil makes belief in a compassionate God belief in a compassionate God difficult. Do you agree with him?difficult. Do you agree with him?



4) The problem of Evil: where does 4) The problem of Evil: where does he get his definition of God he get his definition of God from?from?



4) The problem of Evil: how could 4) The problem of Evil: how could this be rebutted?this be rebutted?



5) Hume says it is possible that 5) Hume says it is possible that matter matter isis self-ordering and not self-ordering and not ordered by a maker at all. ordered by a maker at all.

We will only ever see the things We will only ever see the things that work well and assume that work well and assume design – we will not see failuresdesign – we will not see failures



6) Hume – it is impossible to draw 6) Hume – it is impossible to draw conclusions about a whole thing conclusions about a whole thing by just looking at part of it. by just looking at part of it.

We need to see the big pictureWe need to see the big picture



7) Hume – the design of the world 7) Hume – the design of the world does not show the kind of God does not show the kind of God people are looking for.people are looking for.

How could this be rebutted?How could this be rebutted?

Anthropic Principle Anthropic Principle

Anthropic Principle or Anthropic Principle or Fine Tuning Fine Tuning ArgumentArgument

The chances of right conditions for The chances of right conditions for life are so small that God must life are so small that God must have controlled it and hence – have controlled it and hence – exists. This is supported by exists. This is supported by scientific evidencescientific evidence




Warburton offers national lottery Warburton offers national lottery analogy (p.16)analogy (p.16)

Is this a good analogy?Is this a good analogy?




Warburton states that life exists Warburton states that life exists not because someone not because someone engineered the right conditions engineered the right conditions but because the right conditions but because the right conditions were already present (p16)were already present (p16)


Task (p.44)Task (p.44)

Teleological Argument. Teleological argument or the argument from design is based upon observation...

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