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Summary of the Teleological Argument of Design

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A summary of 'The Teleological Argument' from the AQA AS and A-Level Religious Studies specification (7062/7061). Contains a five-page overview of Paley's teleological argument, arguments for and against this view (including philosophers Swinburne, Hume, and Dawkins), key quotes, and key things to ...

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  • Section a: philosophy of religion - part 1.1
  • June 25, 2022
  • 6
  • 2021/2022
  • Summary

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Available practice questions

Flashcards for The Design Argument (Teleological Argument)

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Flashcards 30 Flashcards
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Some examples from this set of practice questions

1.

Who is the key philosopher who developed the design argument / the teleological argument of design?

Answer: William Paley

2.

Who is the main philosopher who argues against the teleological argument?

Answer: David Hume

3.

What is a key quote from Paley?

Answer: “Design must have had a designer. That designer must have been a person. That person is God”

4.

What is a key quote from Swinburne?

Answer: “the very success of science in showing us how deeply orderly the natural world is, provides strong grounds for believing there is an even deeper cause for that order”

5.

What is a key quote from Dawkins?

Answer: “biology is the study of complicated things that give the appearance of having been designed for a purpose”

6.

Who came first? David Hume or William Paley?

Answer: David Hume (remember this when writing your essays - Hume does not respond DIRECTLY to Paley, Hume merely argues against the concept of a design argument, not Paley\'s specifically)

7.

Is Paley\'s teleological argument a priori or a posteriori?

Answer: A posteriori

8.

What does a posteriori mean?

Answer: Knowledge is gained from experience and observation.

9.

How is Paley\'s teleological argument a posteriori?

Answer: He used knowledge gained from observation and experience. Paley’s observation of a pocketwatch and the universe lead him to the argument that God must exist as the designer of the universe.

10.

Is the design argument inductive or deductive?

Answer: Inductive

Content preview

AQA - AS and A-Level - Religious Studies - Philosophy of Religion -
Arguments for the Existence of God:
“The Teleological Argument”


A Summary of the Teleological Argument:
● This document contains a summary of the ‘Teleological Argument’ in order to aid revision of the key components of the
theory.
● This resource was specifically created with the AQA AS and A-Level Religious Studies specification in mind, however, it still
may be of some use to others, depending on the exam board.
● The topic covered in this document is ‘The Teleological Argument of Design’ - part of the existence of God topic in the
Philosophy of Religion section of the AQA course.



● Contents:
○ Pages 2-3 – William Paley’s Teleological Argument
■ (including arguments for and against this viewpoint)
○ Pages 4-5 – David Hume’s criticisms of the Teleological Argument
■ (including arguments for and against this viewpoint)
○ Page 6 – Key Quotes
○ Page 6 – Key things to remember




1

, ● Paley - key proponent of the Design Argument:

Philosophers Main Position Argument Arguments For Arguments Against

PALEY The ARGUMENT FROM OBSERVATION: - The simplest (and inductive) - Inductive argument - this
Teleological Paley’s 3 forms of observation – explanation for the creation of means Paley’s teleological
(a posteriori, Argument of 1) Complexity the universe, this is backed argument is based on specific
inductive Design/ The 2) Regularity up by Occam's Razor - the observations (about a watch)
argument)
Design 3) Purpose belief that the simplest which has lead to a general
Argument Paley says that these qualities observed in nature suggest that explanation is usually the best conclusion (about the universe).
(to prove God the universe had a designer. He then develops this by using the one Because the argument is
exists and is argument from analogy. inductive, it can only be
the designer of - Nature suggests intention, PROBABLE not certain to be
the universe) ARGUMENT FROM ANALOGY: our observations of nature true. So, at most, Paley
The analogy of a watch: seem to suggest that there is suggests God’s existence is
Premise (1) A pocket watch = complex parts, each with function complexity in the universe, likely, but his argument cannot
- all work for specific purpose which would suggest that be used as proof of God.
Premise (2) Watch must be designed by watchmaker, due to its there was a designer
complexity - Designer might not be God, it
Premise (3) Similarly, the universe has complex parts that - Free Will - evil may be is possible that another being
function for a purpose unavoidable to bring about designed the universe, so we
Premise (4) So the universe must have been designed by good - So this explains why cannot assume that the
universe maker the world is imperfect, despite designer was God
Premise (5) Universe far more wonderful than a watch, so Paley’s argument that it has a
designer of the universe must be much greater than a human designer - as free will is - The problem of evil and
designer required, so evil and suffering suffering. Paley’s argument
Conclusion -- The universe designer is God is unavoidable suggests God created a
complex world, perfect for the
- Scientific causes of the needs of humans, due to the
universe, such as the Big perfection, omnipotence, and
Band and evolution, can still omnibenevolence of God.
coexist with Paley’s argument However, due to the evil and
of design because God could suffering that exist in the world
have been the original cause today - both natural and moral


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