Download Existence of God – Teleological Argument

The Teleological
Argument
“Design Must Have a Designer”
William Paley
The Teleological Argument
 To gain an understanding
of the Teleological
Argument
 To understand how the
theory of evolution might
present a challenge to the
design argument
 To consider my own
viewpoint on the
Teleological Argument
The Argument for Design
telos = purpose
The teleological argument starts with the
idea that many things in nature appear as if
they have been designed for a specific
purpose.
Many philosophers have asked the question:
“Does nature have a designer?”
Can design happen by accident?
1.
2.
Draw a simple flower pattern
on a piece of paper and cut out
the pieces.
Pick up the pieces and drop
them onto your desk.
Try this a few times.
It’s very unlikely that the
pieces will form a flower shape
by chance. The only way to get
a perfect flower design is to
arrange them yourself.
Evidence of Design in Nature?
1.
2.
a)
b)
c)
d)
3.
4.
What special abilities do some plants have?
Which animals have special features to help
them:
See/hear/smell?
Move around?
Protect themselves?
Communicate?
What unique skills and abilities do humans
have?
Can you think any other examples of possible
design in nature? e.g the solar system
Definition of Analogy
A form of reasoning in which a
similarity between two or more things
is inferred from a known similarity
between them in other respects.
(Collins English Dictionary)
William Paley (1743-1805)
William Paley argued that nature
must have a designer. He used an
analogy to explain his view.
If you found a watch you would see
that it is very complex and conclude
that an intelligent being, a
watchmaker, had designed it for the
purpose of telling the time.
Paley noted that many things in
nature were just as complex as a
watch.
Like the watch, the human eye
is very complex.
It also has a specific purpose
(helping us to see).
Paley argued that if a watch
has a designer then the eye
must too.
Paley believed that God, like
the watchmaker, had carefully
designed the universe.
William Paley’s Watch Analogy
The Watch
The Eye
Is complex
Has a purpose
(tells the time)
Is very complex
Has a purpose
(helps us see)
Has a designer
(a watchmaker)
Has a designer
(God)
Some questions on the
teleological argument.
1. What is the meaning of the Greek word
telos?
2. Why did William Paley compare God to
a watchmaker?
3. Give three examples from nature that
might support William Paley’s
argument.
David Hume (1711-1776)
The Scottish philosopher
David Hume claimed that
Paley’s watch analogy was
flawed because:
It’s not right to compare
a watch to an eye because
there are important
differences between
them (one is living while
the other is manmade).
Hume also claimed that
even if the world was
designed, we can’t be
sure it was designed by
an intelligent god. There
are many examples of
poor design in nature.
Also we can’t be sure
whether the world was
designed by one god or
many.
What examples can you
give of poor design in
nature?
Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
The main challenge to the
design argument came from
Charles Darwin’s theory of
evolution.
According to Darwin complex
life forms evolved from
simple ones over millions of
years through the process of
natural selection.
Darwin and the Tree of Life Video
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2.
3.
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5.
6.
7.
How does the Bible explain the creation of living
things?
What did Charles Darwin notice about the animals of
the Galapagos Islands?
How have animal breeders used artificial selection
to produce different breeds of animals like dogs?
How could the similar process of natural selection
happen in the wild?
Why was Darwin’s book “The Origin of Species”
shocking to many people at the time?
According to the theory of evolution what were the
first living things like?
How has the discovery of DNA added to the theory
of evolution?
Use the table to show the differences between
the ideas of William Paley and Charles Darwin?
William Paley’s design
argument
Charles Darwin’s
theory of evolution
William Paley’s design
argument
Living things were
created and designed
by God.
 All the different
species were created
in just a few days.
 God created complex
species which have
remained fixed.

Charles Darwin’s
theory of evolution
Living things
evolved naturally. A
designer may not be
needed.
 Different species
evolved slowly over
millions of years.
 The first living
things were simple.
They became more
complex over time.

For many Christians like Conor Cunningham
it is possible to believe in the theory of
evolution and still believe in God.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6Sk_4
qz_m0
Did Darwin Kill God?
1.
Copy and complete:
Some Christians have a literal view of the
Genesis creation story. They believe that …
Other Christians see the Genesis creation
story as a symbolic or allegorical story.
They think that …
2. “The theory of evolution proves that God
does not exist.”
How far do you agree with this statement?
Give reasons for your answer.
Creationism vs Evolution
A. I think the creation story in the book of
Genesis is literally true. The theory of
evolution must be false.
B. I think the Genesis story is a symbolic
story - not a scientific account of creation.
God may have played a part in the process
of evolution.
C. I think Darwin’s theory of evolution is
correct. This must mean that God does not
exist.
Write down the viewpoint you agree with most.
Give reasons to support your view.
http://www.wtsof.tv/watch/S17E21the-monkey-suit
www.venganza.org