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Teleological Argument. If we look into ... be lost. This in itself is only
the teleological argument at its most basic. The detailed ...
teleological argument. ... Derham is another theologian who would agree with
Aquinas' teleological argument for the existence of God. ...
... The Teleological Argument According to the teleological argument for the existence
of God—also known as the argument from design—the universe is like a ...
... At best, the teleological argument can only suggest the possibility of a grand
architect and cannot provide evidence that the universe was created. ...
... At best, the teleological argument can only suggest the possibility of a grand
architect and cannot provide evidence that the universe was created. ...
Submitted by billbaker30 on January 26, 2006
Category: Philosophy
Words: 3099 | Pages: 13
Views: 605
Popularity Rank: 14,638
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Evaluate the teleological argument for the existence of God
The arguments for the existence of God are usually understood as arguments for classical theism. H.P. Owen , in his book Concepts of Deity, defines theism as "...belief in one God, the Creator, who is infinite, self-existent, incorporeal, eternal, immutable, impassable, simple, perfect, omniscient and omnipotent." (pg 1)
H.P.Owen uses Aquinas' Summa Theologica as his chief source for classical theism. It is here, as the last of Aquinas' Five Ways, that we are presented with the argument for the existence of God from design, otherwise known as the teleological argument or the "Armchair argument". Aquinas says that we can come to a proof of the existence of God simply by reflecting on the nature of the universe. Lucilius, in Cicero's De Natura Deorum presents us with one of the earliest mentions of the teleological argument suggesting that the existence of "some divinity or superior intelligence" (Davies pg50) seems obvious in the light of any contemplation about the world. Aquinas said we could observe that unintelligent things appear to fulfil a function. The world is not made up of separate entities that are entirely individual, rather these entities interact with each other often in complex networks that seem to fulfil functions, such as an ecosystem. For instance, trees, whilst appearing unintelligible, serve to provide oxygen, fuel and building materials for us, provide food and shelter for many animals and also serve recreational and aesthetic purposes. They have all the appearance of being proposed by an intelligence, to build towards a purpose. "Hence it is plain that they achieve their end, not fortuitously, but designedly." (Hick The Existence of God pg 85) Something that is unable to think or act for itself, yet still moves towards an end, must be propelled by something that does have knowledge and intelligence. The intelligent being that moves things towards...
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