The Teleological Argument - Examine the Design Argument for the existence of God.

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The Teleological Argument

A: Examine the Design Argument for the existence of God. (10)

               

           The teleological argument argues that the sense of purposeful design we see in nature suggests that the world has a designer (God). The world cannot be here by chance. Many philosophers have come to the conclusion that God exists by studying the natural world.

               The teleological argument is related to Aquinas's Fifth Way. He used the idea of purpose which links in with causation. Causation gives things their perfections.  Aquinas stated 'Something therefore causes in all other things their being, their goodness, and whatever other perfections they have. And this is what we call God.' 'Goal-directed behaviour is observed in all bodies obeying natural laws, even when they lack awareness... But nothing lacking awareness and understanding, the arrow for example requires an archer.  Everything in nature, therefore is directed to its goal by someone with understanding, and this we call God.'  The world has a purpose therefore somebody has set the world its purpose.

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       At the time of William Paley (1802) there were many scientific discoveries which point to a designer/God. William Paley used the example of the watch. He argued that if someone walking across a heath were to come across a watch and then examine it. You would come to the conclusion that the watch must have a watchmaker because the watch is very intricate and everything works together. You look at the effect (the watch) and determine what caused it (the Watchmaker). You would not know the watch's purpose but you would still come to the conclusion that ...

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