Outline the design argument for the existence of God. The teleological argument is an a posteriori argument. The word teleological
Hannah Leaton 12.5
Outline the design argument for the existence of God.
The teleological argument is an a posteriori argument. The word teleological comes from the Greek word “teleos” meaning end, or purpose. It is based on the idea that there is evidence of design in the world, as natural order shows more that simply chance. This, therefore, points to the idea of a designer.
The classical argument for design has three premises, which lead to a conclusion. The universe has order, regularity and a purpose. This complexity shows evidence of design, which in turn implies a designer. This designer is God.
The design argument can be split into two, Design qua Regularity, and Design qua Purpose. Design qua Regularity comes from the fact that there is evidence within the world, which shows regularity, for example the water cycle, or the sun rising everyday. Thomas Aquinas (1225 – 1274) said, “The arrow is directed by the archer”. In his fifth way, the Governance of Things, he identified the order that “natural beings” possess shows evidence for the existence of an “intelligent being”, which we call God. “We see that things that lack knowledge, such as natural bodies, act for an end”. Another example of evidence from something natural proving there is design in the world comes from astronomy. The hold of gravity that keeps the planets in orbit cannot have come about by chance, and therefore an external agent must have imposed order. This agent was God. In the 20th Century, Arthur Brown supported this argument. He said, “The ozone layer is a might example of the creator’s forethought”.
