Telelogical argument
Teleological Argument
Examine the key ideas and strengths of the design argument for the existence of God?
The design argument is also known as the teleological argument. The word teleological has its root in the Greek word telos, meaning purpose or order .It attempts to prove Gods existence by using the posteriori argument, based on observations or an experiences.
“What could be more clear or obvious when we look up to the sky and contemplate the heavens, than there is some divinity or intelligence?”- Cicero
The two main advocates of this theory are St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century and William Paley in the 19th century; we will examine both in turn. We will also examine the Aesthic view and Richard Swinburne argument.
St.Thomas Aquinas believed that existence of god could be proven. In his Summa Theologiae Aquinas put forward five proofs (or five ways) for the existence of God:First Way – Argument from Motion Second Way – Causation of Existence Third Way – Contingent and Necessary Objects Fourth Way – The Argument from Degrees and Perfection Fifth Way – The Argument from Intelligent Design.
In his fifth way Aquinas explains,
1. Things in the universe work towards an end or purpose
2. Order cannot happen by chance
3. Unintelligent objects can’t move towards a purpose by themselves
4. An intelligent being must be directing them
5. This intelligent being must be God
Aquinas observed the universe and saw that everything in the universe was working towards a purpose for e.g. Tress growing leaves every spring and losing them every autumn. He noticed that they lacked intelligence, but there was regular pattern of leaves growing and dropping off at changes of seasons.
He stated that this order cannot happen by chance but designed, by an intelligent Being. For ex; a small baby learning to walk and the mother (intelligent being) directing the baby on how to walk.
Aquinas suggests that the universe is complex but works with regularity and in
Examine the key ideas and strengths of the design argument for the existence of God?
The design argument is also known as the teleological argument. The word teleological has its root in the Greek word telos, meaning purpose or order .It attempts to prove Gods existence by using the posteriori argument, based on observations or an experiences.
“What could be more clear or obvious when we look up to the sky and contemplate the heavens, than there is some divinity or intelligence?”- Cicero
The two main advocates of this theory are St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century and William Paley in the 19th century; we will examine both in turn. We will also examine the Aesthic view and Richard Swinburne argument.
St.Thomas Aquinas believed that existence of god could be proven. In his Summa Theologiae Aquinas put forward five proofs (or five ways) for the existence of God:First Way – Argument from Motion Second Way – Causation of Existence Third Way – Contingent and Necessary Objects Fourth Way – The Argument from Degrees and Perfection Fifth Way – The Argument from Intelligent Design.
In his fifth way Aquinas explains,
1. Things in the universe work towards an end or purpose
2. Order cannot happen by chance
3. Unintelligent objects can’t move towards a purpose by themselves
4. An intelligent being must be directing them
5. This intelligent being must be God
Aquinas observed the universe and saw that everything in the universe was working towards a purpose for e.g. Tress growing leaves every spring and losing them every autumn. He noticed that they lacked intelligence, but there was regular pattern of leaves growing and dropping off at changes of seasons.
He stated that this order cannot happen by chance but designed, by an intelligent Being. For ex; a small baby learning to walk and the mother (intelligent being) directing the baby on how to walk.
Aquinas suggests that the universe is complex but works with regularity and in