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
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller achatakondu. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £7.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
