Summary Religious Studies A/AS Level: Philosophy of Language- Topic 3 pt1, The Existence of God
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Course
G571 - AS Philosophy of Religion (H173)
Institution
OCR
This document discusses the 3rd topic of the philosophy of language module which is 'The Existence of God'. I summarise the teleological and cosmological argument whilst providing relevant scholarly insight and key definitions.
ARGUMENTS BASED ON OBSERVATION (A POSTERIORI):
Design Qua Regularity Design Qua Purpose
1. Objects follow natural laws= have a 1. The world shows pattern, organization
goal/purpose and design
2. Objects perform their job efficiently- they were 2. Everything seems to be designed to fulfil
designed that way its goal/purpose (e.g. sunflower turns
3. Therefore, everything must have a designer towards the light)
4. Everything natural doesn’t think for itself but 3. Anything that is designed must have a
are directed by something which does think- designer
e.g. an arrow heads towards the target as it has
been directed by the archer Things in the universe happen for a reason; all parts
serve a purpose
There is regularity and order in the universe- this
could not have been by chance (e.g. the rotation of
planets, gravity etc.)
TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT- Thomas Aquinas: Fifth Way
1. Things that lack intelligence work systematically and repeatedly to fulfil a purpose e.g. a tree grows fruit
2. These things need to be guided by an intelligent being with knowledge- cannot move towards telos alone (e.g. Archer
and arrow analogy)
3. Something must direct these things which Aquinas concludes is God
Philosophy | Topic 2, Sub-section 1
, TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT- William Paley: Natural Theology
1. The watch analogy (design qua purpose)-
He was walking across a heath ad found an old-fashioned watch on the ground; it had clearly not
been there forever as the watch was…
- Complex
- Intricate piece of machinery
- Shows workmanship
- All the cogs are perfectly intertwined
- All the parts work together in order to reach its purpose= to tell the time
Conclusion: if any of the parts were shaped differently, then the watch wouldn’t work. All the parts assembled purposefully
in this right order= by a designer (watchmaker)- GOD
This same design is found in the natural world:
Human eye= extraordinary flexibility and ability
Wings of birds= engineered for flight
Fin of fish= engineered to swim
Philosophy | Topic 2, Sub-section 1
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