The Teleological Argument
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Extras
Fibonacci and PHI as design?
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The Classics
Aristotle
Four causes, from potential to actuality, this youtube clip helps make heads and tails of Aristotle's influence on the argument from design (but excuse the incredibly American accent). You can also check out my accompanying power point linked below.
Lesson catch up:
Aquinas
Aquinas' 5th way, his final argument for the existence of God as proposed in his Summa Theoligca. Arguing from Design Qua Regularity, he uses the example of the aparent order and regularity in the universe (the movement of the planets, the tide, the seasons) to argue that something to direct and govern such order is required, like an archer is required to direct an arrow.
Lesson catch up:
Paley
The most famous design argument whereby Paley compares the universe to a watch and likewise that such complexity could result from chance alone. As a watch needs a watchmaker a universe needs a universe maker right?
Lesson catch up:
Hume's CriticismsThat wiley Scottish Empiricist pre-empted Paley by publishing his criticisms of the teleological argument 22 years before Paley published his watchmaker argument. Hume highlighted 5 main criticisms of the argument, but are they successful in their refute?
More on Hume Lesson catch up:
The Challenge of Evolution
Darwin's theory of Evolution appears to throw a spanner in the works for the argument from design. Could it really all be down to chance and the fight to survive? There are lots of interesting resources to relate to this aspect of the debate, including those from Dr Richard Dawkins himself. Check out 'The Blind Watchmaker' video clips (and on a side note don't you agree that he pulls off those 70s short shorts rather well? )
BBC learning zone- Evolution of the eye formed by natural selection BBC learning zone- Gap in the fossil records for Evolution? Below is a great video short that clarifies why Darwin's revolutionary idea was and still can be seen by some as controversial. Not to be missed! Lesson catch up:
The Aesthetic Argument and the Anthropic Principle
The modern teleological arguments. The Aesthetic argument as promoted by F R Tennant uses the existence of beauty and human ability to appreciate beauty to imply design. Do you agree? Can Evolution explain the existence and appreciation of beauty?
The Antrhopic Principle on the other hand (as outlined by Richard Swinburne) argues from the fact of human existence to the conclusion that such existence could only occur if the universe had been finely tuned/ designed to do so. What do you think the chances are that the universe could support human existence so incredibly well? Alister McGrath clarifies what the Antrhopic Principle is...a bit better than Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory I must say... Lesson catch up:
WJEC As Level revision materials
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