Transcript Philosophy of Religion

The Teleological Argument:
Argument from Design/Purpose
Wm. Paley
(1743-1805)
(A posteriori vs. a priori argument)
The
order and intricacy of things in the
universe make sense only if an ordering and
purposive mind is their cause
 Analogy:
watch
. . universe
watchmaker . . universe-maker
Criticisms of the Teleological
Argument: David Hume
Even
the claim that the universe exhibits order
is doubtful; it is a human imposition
We cannot use analogy in discussing the
universe: we do not experience universes or
know that intelligent beings produce them
Even if we argue analogously, we cannot
conclude that its creator is one, wise, good or
even still existing
Criticism of the Design Argument:
Charles Darwin
(1809-82)
Things
in nature exhibit order, but that is not
the result of design or purpose
Things appear orderly because random
variations produce adaptive individuals
 Objection (Fine Tuning Argument): divine
design is a more likely explanation for the
intricate conditions needed for life