LECTURE 17: THE TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT AND CAUSALITY

TODAY’S LECTURE

In Today’s Lecture we will:In Today’s Lecture we will:

1.1.Continue our investigation into the philosophy of religionContinue our investigation into the philosophy of religion

2.2.Consider another Consider another a posteriori a posteriori argument for the existence of God: The argument for the existence of God: The Teleological ArgumentTeleological Argument

3.3.Discuss and critique a variation of the teleological argument: Paley’s Discuss and critique a variation of the teleological argument: Paley’s Watch AnalogyWatch Analogy

4.4.Investigate Kant and Hume’s criticisms of the teleological and Investigate Kant and Hume’s criticisms of the teleological and cosmological arguments for God’s existencecosmological arguments for God’s existence

THE TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

Key Features of the Teleological Argument:Key Features of the Teleological Argument:

Argues that the universe must have had an intelligent creatorArgues that the universe must have had an intelligent creator

Teleological/Telos is Greek for purpose or designTeleological/Telos is Greek for purpose or design

oBegins with an Begins with an a posteriori a posteriori observationobservation

oBoth Paley and Aquinas use observation, logic and analogy to make Both Paley and Aquinas use observation, logic and analogy to make the case for an intelligent creatorthe case for an intelligent creator

oAquinas uses the analogy of an arrow in his argumentAquinas uses the analogy of an arrow in his argument

oPaley uses the analogy of a watchmaker in his argumentPaley uses the analogy of a watchmaker in his argument

oIntelligent design argues that we need some idea of intelligent causes Intelligent design argues that we need some idea of intelligent causes to explain complex biological features of the worldto explain complex biological features of the world

oTheistic evolution attempts to reconcile the theory of evolution with Theistic evolution attempts to reconcile the theory of evolution with the idea that God created the worldthe idea that God created the world

THE TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

Version 1: AquinasVersion 1: Aquinas

We see that things which lack intelligence, such as natural bodies, We see that things which lack intelligence, such as natural bodies,

act for an end, and this is evident from their acting always, or act for an end, and this is evident from their acting always, or

nearly always, in the same way, so as to obtain the best result. nearly always, in the same way, so as to obtain the best result.

Hence it is plain that not fortuitously, but designedly, do they Hence it is plain that not fortuitously, but designedly, do they

achieve their end. Now whatever lacks intelligence cannot move achieve their end. Now whatever lacks intelligence cannot move

toward an end, unless it be directed by some being endowed with toward an end, unless it be directed by some being endowed with

knowledge and intelligence; as the arrow is shot to its mark by the knowledge and intelligence; as the arrow is shot to its mark by the

archer. Therefore some intelligent being exists by whom all archer. Therefore some intelligent being exists by whom all

natural things are directed to their end; and this being we call natural things are directed to their end; and this being we call

God.God.

-Thomas Aquinas, pp. 254-255--Thomas Aquinas, pp. 254-255-

TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

Version 2: Paley’s Watch Analogy (pp.260-262)Version 2: Paley’s Watch Analogy (pp.260-262)

The world is to God as a watch is to a watchmaker The world is to God as a watch is to a watchmaker

Suppose you are walking through a field and you accidentally find a Suppose you are walking through a field and you accidentally find a watchwatch

The watch’s function is to keep time by means of cogs and other intricate The watch’s function is to keep time by means of cogs and other intricate components.components.

But where did the watch come from?But where did the watch come from?o It is unlikely that it just accidentally appeared from nowhere (it is It is unlikely that it just accidentally appeared from nowhere (it is

too complicated)too complicated)o The watch must have been made by a watchmakerThe watch must have been made by a watchmaker

By analogy, Paley argues:By analogy, Paley argues:o Nature is more complicated than a watchNature is more complicated than a watcho Therefore the universe must have been made by anTherefore the universe must have been made by an

intelligent creator; godintelligent creator; god

TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

Version 3: Intelligent Design (p.265)Version 3: Intelligent Design (p.265)

Intelligent causes are necessary to explain complex biological Intelligent causes are necessary to explain complex biological structuresstructures

1.1.There is a fundamental distinction between undirected natural causes There is a fundamental distinction between undirected natural causes and intelligent causesand intelligent causes

2.2.Intelligent causes can do things which undirected natural causes cannotIntelligent causes can do things which undirected natural causes cannot

3.3.Intelligent causes can be empirically detected and distinguished from Intelligent causes can be empirically detected and distinguished from undirected natural causesundirected natural causes

4.4.Information underlies all intelligent causesInformation underlies all intelligent causes

5.5.Therefore, where there is information there is intelligenceTherefore, where there is information there is intelligence

6.6.Intelligent design traces pathways of intelligence back to their originIntelligent design traces pathways of intelligence back to their origin

7.7.Intelligent design limits itself to detecting intelligence without stating Intelligent design limits itself to detecting intelligence without stating what that intelligence iswhat that intelligence is

TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

Version 4: Theistic Evolution (pp. 264- 268)Version 4: Theistic Evolution (pp. 264- 268)

Is the theory of evolution compatible with the concept of God?Is the theory of evolution compatible with the concept of God?

oDarwin showed that the existence of complex biological systems can Darwin showed that the existence of complex biological systems can be explained by his theory of evolutionbe explained by his theory of evolution

oAccording to the theory of evolution; complex biological systems are According to the theory of evolution; complex biological systems are the result of a long process of gradual modifications brought about by the result of a long process of gradual modifications brought about by Natural SelectionNatural Selection

oSome thinkers (E.g. Dawkins) argue that the theory of evolution and Some thinkers (E.g. Dawkins) argue that the theory of evolution and God are incompatibleGod are incompatible

oEvolution appears to suggest that we can have complexity without an Evolution appears to suggest that we can have complexity without an intelligent designer (Contra Paley)intelligent designer (Contra Paley)

oEvolution challenges the Biblical view that Humans and all the Evolution challenges the Biblical view that Humans and all the creatures of the Earth were formed in seven dayscreatures of the Earth were formed in seven days

TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

Version 4: Theistic Evolution (Cont.)Version 4: Theistic Evolution (Cont.)

Is the theory of evolution compatible with the concept of God?Is the theory of evolution compatible with the concept of God?

oTheologians (such as F.R. Tennant) argue that the theory of evolution Theologians (such as F.R. Tennant) argue that the theory of evolution and God are compatibleand God are compatible

oThe fact that complex organisms are the result of a long process of The fact that complex organisms are the result of a long process of gradual modifications does not preclude the idea of designgradual modifications does not preclude the idea of design

oTherefore, evolution does not prove that God did not create the Therefore, evolution does not prove that God did not create the universeuniverse

oTennant suggests that Humans are the pinnacle of the evolutionary Tennant suggests that Humans are the pinnacle of the evolutionary ‘ladder’‘ladder’

oThe theory of evolution therefore appears to have an end or purpose The theory of evolution therefore appears to have an end or purpose (wider teleology) beyond mere mechanical natural processes(wider teleology) beyond mere mechanical natural processes

oThe theory of evolution is therefore fully compatible with the concept The theory of evolution is therefore fully compatible with the concept of Godof God

CAUSATION

CAUSATION

The attack on CausalityThe attack on Causality

The cosmological and teleological arguments both rely on the concept The cosmological and teleological arguments both rely on the concept of causalityof causality

Cosmological argumentCosmological argumentIf every event has a cause there must be a first causeIf every event has a cause there must be a first cause

Teleological argumentTeleological argumentIf there is complexity/purpose there must be an intelligent causeIf there is complexity/purpose there must be an intelligent cause

In both arguments God is used as a transcendent (outside of time and In both arguments God is used as a transcendent (outside of time and space) first causespace) first cause

CAUSATION

Criticisms against the teleological and cosmological argumentCriticisms against the teleological and cosmological argument

David Hume (pp. 270-271)David Hume (pp. 270-271)

Is there any need for a beginning of a series of causes?Is there any need for a beginning of a series of causes?

It cannot be proved It cannot be proved a priori a priori that every event has a causethat every event has a cause

Suggests that the concepts of beginning, middle, end may be Suggests that the concepts of beginning, middle, end may be entirely human: we can always imagine an earlier evententirely human: we can always imagine an earlier event

Unless we observe or experience anything to the contrary; we Unless we observe or experience anything to the contrary; we cannot claim that the world has a first cause or an external causecannot claim that the world has a first cause or an external cause

Both arguments felicitously apply the concept of causation to the Both arguments felicitously apply the concept of causation to the concept of Godconcept of God

See Hume, David. Dialogues concerning Natural Religion (New York: Hafner, See Hume, David. Dialogues concerning Natural Religion (New York: Hafner, 1960)1960)

CAUSATION

Criticisms against the teleological and cosmological argumentCriticisms against the teleological and cosmological argument

Immanuel Kant (pp.272-273)Immanuel Kant (pp.272-273)

Both arguments mistakenly extend the concept of causality beyond its Both arguments mistakenly extend the concept of causality beyond its valid spherevalid sphere

Kant views the concept of causality as a necessary feature of human Kant views the concept of causality as a necessary feature of human experienceexperience

But! causality only applies to the world of the senses; both But! causality only applies to the world of the senses; both arguments fallaciously try to extend this concept beyond its valid arguments fallaciously try to extend this concept beyond its valid realmrealm

We cannot claim that an infinite series of causes is impossible; we We cannot claim that an infinite series of causes is impossible; we cannot make this claim from experience or extend this principle cannot make this claim from experience or extend this principle beyond experiencebeyond experience

The concept of causality cannot apply to GodThe concept of causality cannot apply to God