Transcript Teleological Criticisms

Does the argument have value? Strengths
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Firstly the argument has great appeal. The universe and all of it’s beauty
continue to amaze and perplex us. It seems quite right therefore that the
DA has continued to have attention paid to it in the contemporary period.
Consider the quotation from the great German philosopher and theologian
Immanuel Kant in ‘The Critique of Pure Reason’ : “This proof always
deserves to be mentioned with respect. It is the oldest, the clearest, and
the most accordant with the common reason of mankind”. (18th C).
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The premises are easy to understand. Many recognise them as valid (even
if they are atheists). Even the great critic David Hume said: ‘A purpose, an
intention, a design, strikes everywhere the most careless, the most stupid
thinker’. Indeed it is an posteriori argument – draws upon experience and
it’s analogical form means that we can relate to is in some way. Poets and
hymn writers all praise the ‘craftsmanship of nature’.
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Scientific explanations of the universe could be compatible with the DA:
- The anthropic principle suggests the DA need not reject the principles of
evolution. I
- Indeed the Big band and evolutionary theory can be seen as the means
by which the creator performs his work.
- Given the challenges posed by Darwin, Archbishop Temple (late 19th c)
claimed: “The doctrine of evolution leaves the argument for an intelligent
Creator and Governor of the earth stronger than it was before”.
Furthermore, Richard Swinburne stated– “ the very success of science in
showing us how deeply ordered the natural world is provides strong
grounds for believing that there is an even deeper cause of that order”.
Teleological Argumentcriticisms
David Hume (1711-1776)
Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion.
Hume set out 2 versions of the design
argument.
Hume’s first argument
 To speak of design is to imply a designer.
 Great design implies a great designer.
 There is great design in the world, so …
 There must be a great designer.
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This version relies on analogy (universe –
watch). Illogical Leap – too unalike to
withstand comparison.
Hume argued that it in fact implies a
superhuman, anthropomorphic concept of God,
which is very limited and inconsistent. The
world is imperfect and flawed, and as such
could suggest an imperfect and flawed creator:
The design of the ‘wobbly’ Millennium Bridge
across the Thames is argued to suggest an
incompetent design team.
The design of the world , with all its arbitrary
suffering, is argued to suggest an incompetent
creator.
Surely, if order needs explaining so does the
being responsible??? Morally negative
evidence – supposed to be a posteriori and
ignores suffering which world full of.
Hume’s second argument
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Paley says if look - world is ordered.
This is either because of chance or
because of design.
It is entirely possible that the world did
come about by chance.
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Hume was arguing that if a person can see order and
purpose in the universe, all that this can legitimately
lead to is the conclusion that there is order and
purpose in the universe (we impose patterns of order
where none exist).
Ancient Greek philosophers like Democritus and
Epicurus in their Atomic Theory – the order we see is
part of this randomness.
Modern Physics (chaos theory) confirms the world is
chaotic and unpredictable. In sharp contrast to Paley
universe not a great mechanical object acting in a
law like and purposeful way.
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Further there is nothing in the argument to
suppose that there is only one creator – if
many builders collaborate to build a house,
why not many Gods? Argument 4 Polytheism.
Hume went on to support the idea of natural
selection – he claimed that is highly plausible
that adaptations made by animals to survive
may be the result of random adaptations,
rather than the agency of an intelligent
designer.
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Furthermore, even if something has a
purpose/order does not follow it entails
design and a designer – never mind a divine
one at that!
To conclude that there is a God behind this
presumed order would be, in Mackie’s word,
‘gratuitous’. Hume argued that there is no
need to make that step from ordered
universe to God. That point poses a crucial if
not insuperable problem to the argument
from design.
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Hume argued that a more accurate analogy
would be to compare the world with a carrot
– the ‘mark’ of design discerned in the world
could be due to ‘generation’, ‘self-regulation’
and ‘growth’ rather than to design.
Darwin (1809-1882) supported this criticism
with his work on natural selection.
J. S. Mill (1806- 1873)
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In Nature and the Utility Religion (1874) Mill argues
that nature is ‘guilty’ of serious crimes for which she
goes unpunished. The various ‘atrocities’ through
which both humans and animals suffer would not go
unpunished if they were the result of Human agency.
‘Nearly all the things for which men are hanged or
imprisoned for doing to one another are nature’s
everyday performances’.
Mill therefore concludes that the world cannot be
ordered, and he rejects the idea that it is the result of
intelligent design