Explain the teleological argument and Hume’s criticisms of it (AS question) - 25 marks

INTRO: define and explain relevant concepts and outline the ideas that will be talked about e.g.: The Teleological argument was famously put forward by St. Thomas Aquinas and William Paley amongst others in attempts to demonstrate the existence of God. ‘Telos’ is Greek for ‘end’ or ‘purpose’, revealing the main idea of the teleological argument – it looks at the world and sees purpose, regularity, complexity etc. Regarding them as indicators for the existence of an intelligent designer (God) giving such things in nature purpose. “What could be more clear or obvious when we look up to the sky and contemplate the heavens, than that there is some divinity or superior intelligence?” – Cicero said this (44BC Rome) supporting the main idea of the teleological argument as he points out that the universe appears to have been designed. The teleological argument is also referred to as the design argument as it observes the world and concludes that it has design-like properties as a cause of an intelligent designer, doubting that complexity within nature e.g. the complexity of a single cell, can occur by chance, but must have been intended for a purpose. A design implies a designer. It is an a posteriori argument (knowledge comes from experience) and uses analogies to explain the existence of God. David Hume in ‘Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion’ puts forward many criticisms of the teleological argument, doubting its individual premises and the argument as a whole. Such criticisms are accompanied by those of scientific empiricists such as Darwin. MAIN ESSAY: answer both parts of the question (explain the argument AND Hume's criticisms of it); ensure crticial analysis throughout; clear and detailed layout e.g.: In regards to the teleological argument in general, Hume still rejects that this proves the existence of the God of classical theism. Even if each of the premises were valid and the argument was successful, it still doesn’t prove the existence of an omniscient/omnipotent God. It only proves the existence of an extremely powerful God with an awesome amount of knowledge. Hume also puts forward the problem of natural evils in the world – natural evils e.g. disease/cancer/death that exist indicate a less perfect designer/ more than one designer with varying goals. The argument presents a limited human view of God (anthropomorphic God), leading us to question whether the designer is an infant God, incompetent God or many Gods working together. If the analogy between a watch and the universe holds, then the fact that a watch must be made by more than one watchmaker indicates multiple Gods. The argument is toppled when the problem of an infinite series of designers is introduced: if human-like intelligence requires a designer and the argument implies that humans have a designer, the God (with human-like intelligence) must also have a designer. This creates an infinite series of designers and perhaps proves the entire argument invalid. CONCLUSION: briefly summarise whay has been said in the essay with confidence.