1. Teleological arguments for God’s existence
Chapter 5
Teleological arguments for God’s existence

2. Teleological argument
Derived from the Greek terms telos (end or goal) and logos (reason or rational account).
First developed by ancient Greek and Indian philosophers, the argument takes a variety of forms.
The common theme among them all is that the means/ends order which exists in the natural world is best explained by purposeful design.

3. William Paley’s design argument
Artifacts (such as a watch), with their means to ends configurations, are the products of (human)design
Works of nature, such as the human hand, resemble artifacts
Thus, the works of nature are probably the products of design
Furthermore, the works of nature are numerous and complex
Therefore, the works of nature were probably produced by a grand designer – one much more powerful and intelligent than a human designer

4. Objections Hume Darwin The analogy used is not strong
The world is finite and defective, so the Designer must be
The universe might be the result of mere chance
Darwin
Evolution
Living organisms are the products of natural processes, not of a Designer

5. A fine-tuning argument
Robin Collins argues that cosmic constants of the cosmos seem to be “balanced on a razor’s edge” for the existence of life:
The strength of the big bang
The strength of the strong nuclear force
The strength of gravity
The size of the neutron
The strength of the electromagnetic force

6. The fine-tuning argument
The fine-tuning of the universe happened either by chance, necessity, or intelligent design
The fine-tuning of the universe did not happen by chance or necessity
Therefore, the fine-tuning of the universe happened by intelligent design

7. Objections The many universe hypothesis The weak anthropic principle
Our universe – one of many – is fortuitously life- permitting
The weak anthropic principle
We should not be surprised that the universe is life-permitting; we could not come to this realization of it were not
Who designed the Designer?
The mind of the Designer must display the evidences of design as well, and so would need an explanation

8. The intelligent design argument
If the universe is complex and specified, then it is reasonable to conclude that it is the result of design
The universe is complex and specified
Thus, it is reasonable to conclude that the universe is the result of design
Dembski
Explanatory filter
Specified complexity
Behe
Irreducible complexity
Mousetrap analogy
Bacterial flagellum

9. Objections
The intelligent design argument rests on contentious philosophical assumptions rather than on scientific inference
Challenges to alleged examples of irreducible complexity

10. Questions for discussion
Does it make sense to affirm the existence of a grand intelligent designer of the universe given that much of what we find on planet earth, for example, does not seem to reflect “optimal design”? Explain your answer.
Create your own argument from analogy. What are its strengths? What are its weaknesses? Do these strengths and weaknesses apply to the design argument from analogy?
Are evolution and creation(design) compatible? Explain your answer.