The Teleological argument is also a cosmological argument it also begins with the existence of the cosmos. McCloskey rejects this argument along with the argument of design by rejecting the premise. However, “Tennant and Swinburne developed a version of this argument not as strict deductive proof but to show probability of theism” (Evans & Manis) The theory of evolution was offered as an explanation for the creation of design which was rejected because there many things before the theory of evolution. McCloskey believe there must be indisputable proof of actual evidence to prove evolution. If Atheist accepted this example of purpose then the designer is malevolent or imperfect designer, in contrast teleological argument argues there is an intelligent
I think William Lane Craig made a strong argument when it came to a cosmological argument. He does have a point that there is an explanation of how the world came to be but there is more to it, such as dates and things like that. He says that the ultimate question in philosophy would be “why does anything exists”? He brings up that atheist think that the universe is eternal but he says there is reasons why the universe began. He says its obscured to think that its number of past events is infinite, which he says leads to self-contradictions.
In the argument from design, the world must have been created by an intelligent being. It could not have been created otherwise. Paley argues this when he analyzes the existence of world, corresponding with god’s purpose in its existence. He claims that “there must have existed, at some time, or [an]other, an artificer or artificers who formed [the world] for the purpose which we find it actually
On the teleological argument, McCloskey’s claim that “to get the proof going, genuine indisputable examples of design and purpose are needed” is not reasonable. Why does one side of the equation need examples and the other does not, is not a fair assessment of a problem. There should always be examples to prove that each side is disputable or undisputable for the premise. A person can assume that a statement is true but that does not make the argument true and in all fairness why would that argument be considered true without some type of proof. The teleological argument is to show probability of theism, exhibit purpose of order, design and infer that the cause must be an intelligent
In addition, scientists use the homologous structure as evidence for evolution by using structures with different appearances and functions that derived from the same body parts in a common ancestor. Furthermore, natural selection is evidence for evolution because for example, when Darwin collected birds they were a closely related group of distinct species, but the different beak shapes were related to food gathering. Artificial selection is another piece of evidence for evolution in which operates by favoring individuals with certain phenotypic traits allowing them to reproduce and pass their genes to the next generation. Overall many biologists accepted Darwin’s theories but there are some objections such as how evolution is not demonstrated, no fossil intermediates, the intelligent design argument, evolution violating the second law of thermodynamics, proteins are too improbable, the irreducible complexity argument, and how natural selection does not imply
After reading The Teleological Argument, William Paley’s conclusion is straightforward and can be stated in just two words: God exists. His entire argument is based on a watch and is used as a means to prove God’s existence. As simple as a watch may seem, Paley describes its complexity and claims that a higher power had to have created its intelligent design. But how does he know that God designed the watch and a man didn’t? Paley argues that we have never seen a watch been made and that we are all incapable of designing something so unique and intelligent; therefore, we can conclude that something greater than us must have created it.
Megan Castro Professor Jason Southworth PHI 2010 January 25, 2016 Paper #1: Paley In William Paley 's The Teleological Argument, Paley concludes that God exists-or rather a "watchmaker", i.e. a designer of the universe, exists. Paley presents his argument with the over-stretching of the analogy that the existence of such an intricate design that is a watch, has a great purpose, as opposed to a stone that is of no use, and serves as proof of a watchmaker. Paley uses the example of a watch to explain and conclude that the universe is just the same. The intricate design that is the universe has a great purpose and serves as proof of a universe maker, i.e. God, which further concludes that God exists.
McCloskey makes a statement that in order, “to get proof going, genuine indisputable examples of design or purpose are needed” (McCloskey, 1968). He holds his standard of indisputability to a high claim. In order for McCloskey to ask a theist for indisputable evidence of the existence of a Creator, I believe that there must be evidence from his own theory that is indisputable. This reminds me of a class I had in community college that was about Critical Thinking. My professor told me that I could no argue my religious foundation because it was based off of opinion and not known fact.
McCloskey claimed that the cosmological argument “does not entitle us to postulate an all-powerful, all-perfect, uncaused cause.” At first glance of this statement I am understanding the statement as that something doesn’t allow us to come up with a belief or solution, which is silly. In the same thinking one could say that based on his arguments he is not allowed to assume there is no God. Nevertheless, based on the existence of a contingent being it points toward the existence of a necessary being because they require an ultimate cause. Beyond this, the cosmological argument may be limited.
McCloskey’s claim that you need, “to get the proof going, genuine indisputable examples of design and purpose are needed” (McCloskey, 52), is not reasonable. McCloskey’s alluding to the probability of certain examples of purpose and design as the work of a powerful, malevolent, or imperfect planner or designer causes it to be disputable, (McCloskey, 52). Evans and Manis purposes an example of a design that proves the existence of a designer of the universe. The analogical version confronts the argument stating that some objects exists to serve the other, thereby fulfilling a proposed goal.
There have been an innumerable amount of arguments for the existence of God for hundreds of years. Some have become much more popular due to their merit, and their ability to stay relevant through changing times. Two arguments in particular that have been discussed for a very long time are the ontological and cosmological arguments. Each were proposed in the period of the high middle ages by members of the Roman Catholic Church. They each have been used extensively by many since their introduction.
Teleological argument is the argument for God’s existence based on the evidence of design in the world (Lawhead 327). It is also known as the argument from design, it is the idea that our world and the universe is so complicated to understand that the world was no accident in fact it was designed by someone, but who? Growing up in a catholic church and learning from the bible about how everything first started is how I learned that God does exist. William Paley was another person who had a famous version of the watchmaker argument. He has an analogy that I will later explain in this essay to support the teleological argument.
The Design Argument The question of whether God truly exists has been debated between believers and non-believers for centuries. Also known as the Teleological Argument, the Design Argument argued by William Paley states that there are so many intricate details and designs in our world that there must be a creator. In addition, it also argues that this world could not have been created by chance alone due to the characteristics that make it the perfect condition for human life to exist (Pecorino). In this essay, I will be giving a brief overview of what the Design Argument is, then providing evidence and reasoning in favor of the argument, then addressing the criticisms of the argument, then comparing both sides of the argument, then finally
This theory understands the problems and hypocrisy of the original argument and looks at it this way instead: everything that has a beginning in time has a cause of existence. Most scientists agree that the universe has a beginning in time – some say it is the big bang – and thus must have been caused by something. This something would then be God. This is the closest the argument gets to proving the existence of God.
The cosmological argument is a philosophical argument which is in favour of the existence of God. It is both a posteriori and inductive argument. This means that the argument is based on the evidence in the world around and the argument itself can only persuade the audience reading it as it is only a inductive argument not a deductive argument which means that not all of the facts said in the argument may not be true. In the case of the cosmological argument, the argument has been formed to persuade us of the existence of God. The argument is also based on the concept of causation which is also known as the law of cause and effect
The traditional claim of all Cosmological Arguments is defined as “something outside the universe is responsible to explain the existence of the universe” (PowerPoint 380). In the “causal argument,” or the First Cause Argument on the cosmological argument, “something” outside of the universe that is supposed to inform us about the existence of the universe is argued to be explained as God. As the first cause argument goes into depth and with the help of Thomas Aquinas, it is easy to see how God is responsible for explaining the existence of the universe around us. Within the first cause argument on the cosmological argument the following premises and conclusions are discussed: Premise 1: There exists things that are caused. Meaning that