The Design Argument Analysis

THE ONTILOGICAL ARGUMENT: A method of proof which uses intuition and reason alone; examines the concept of God, and states if we can conceive of the greatest possible being, then it must exist.

Teleological is the main argument for God’s existence. There is order and purpose for everything and these things work well together because ALL things were designed by God’s perfect order. The argument that we were all made in His image meaning we are made by design and God is our designer. As a gun is to a gunsmith; so is a human to God is a teleological example. He is our creator (designer) just as the gunsmith makes firearms.

The design argument is also referred to at the Teleological Argument stemmed from the Greek work ‘Telos’ meaning end or purpose. It is an ‘A posterior’ argument (from experience) based on our empirical senses and it is synthetic meaning that it is from observation. The argument is also inductive meaning there a number of possible conclusions. The main basis of the Teleological argument is based on a designer commonly known as ‘the classical God of theism’ (hereafter referred to as God)

The analogy just doesn’t work. Second, some say that the theories of the big bang and evolution better explain the complexity in the universe. Third, some say that even if the teleological argument is true, it does not prove the existence of the Christian God.

In Paley’s “Teleological Argument”, he argues that just like an object in the world has an intelligent designer behind it, the universe most have an intelligent designer as well. This created must had been God. That there’s a “designer force” and that “designer force” is God. He argue that the supernatural force created the way we act today, that the supernatural force( god) organized the way the universe works, which makes an intelligent design( Paley 53).

The Design Argument is an argument that says there is a “God” who is the creator of all things. Within this argument, it is stated that things have to be designed – the main example being used is a machine. Cleanthes compares the universe to a machine. They both have many different parts that all work together, but how? The Design Argument says that “God”, or some deity, designed these different elements and pieces in a way so that they can all work together. For a machine to work, all of the pieces must fit together purposefully. When you think about the creator of a machine, for example an engineer, you would most likely think of some intelligent person who created the pieces to make them all fit and work together. Because the world is similar to a machine, by analogy, it too must be created by something intelligent – but on a much grander scale than us.

Although explicated on many occasions and by many different authors, the teleological argument for the existence of God provides the best springboard from which to launch contemporary convictions of faith. In the revised edition of his earlier The Existence of God, Richard Swinburne constructs a solid outline that reveals the exact structure of the teleological argument. He presents both forms of the teleological argument , holds each under the light of skeptical review and then provides insight and defense that allows for careful philosophical review.

The Argument from Design In William Paley’s “Argument from Design” he seeks to prove God’s existence by comparing the world and universe we live in to a machine, specifically a watch. The goal of the design argument is to prove the existence of an omniscient, omnipotent, and wholly good God through the watch analogy. The analogy tries to say that if we look at the creation of the universe like that of a watch, we can infer that it has a purpose and a designer. While this seems to be valid, there are some flaws in Paley’s argument that I will point out.

Essentially, the argument is “for the existence of God, based on design, order, and apparent purpose of the universe” (Roots of Wisdom, 178). Thomas Aquinas made significant contributions to both the Cosmological and Teleological Arguments, however the majority of his efforts show signs of concentration within the Teleological premise. Never the less, this precise study of God’s existence harbors more of a rational persuasiveness then compared to the other methods and through this intention lies the distinct possibility to eventually provide specific scientific validation God not only exists but also created the universe and all of its matter and mechanics. Much like Aquinas, built upon the ideas of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle in regards to the Teleological Argument, William Paley readdressed and further developed the subject as did many others following Williams, ultimately morphing the argument into what is now considered Creation Science and Intelligent

Our textbook Philosophy: An Introduction to the Art of Wondering, states that the “teleological argument for the existence of God is based on the apparent order and design of nature and cosmos, and on the purposive nature of evolution” (Christian, 2012, p. 611). The cosmos can be explained currently with mathematical calculations, principles that are physical and chemical in nature, and psychobiological processes (Christian, 2012, p. 611). “Living organisms have distinctive metabolic and life-cycle rhythms…. Subatomic studies have revealed the complex configurations of energy patterns…. Cosmic processes run through ordered sequences resembling birth, life, and death” (Christian, 2012, p. 611). Thus, the teleological case follows a path or fate, such that occurrence of life transpired from a potential edict from some higher intelligence, namely God.

The elements of design were created by Arthur Wesley Dow to help people see, describe, and create visual qualities in a systematic way. It consists of 7 elements: line, shape, form, colour, value, texture and space.

There are things in the universe and on the planet that point to an intelligent design and that God is that Intelligent Designer. There are many unique items within animals, plants, and human beings. These items are just too unique and complex to have just happened. The intelligent design of these items points to an Intelligent Designer not just chance.

I believe that that the Cosmological argument gives good reason to believe in the existence of God. The Cosmological argument focuses on everything having a cause except one thing that started it all, this starter is known as the “Prime Mover”. The Prime Mover is the one that starts everything without anything having a previous effect on it. With that people have assumed that the logical answer to who the prime mover is, is God. This to me seems the most logical of arguments because although there is the idea of eternity and an eternal cycle there has to be a starting point. I do not believe the argument is successful.

Throughout the course of this essay we shall examine two of the major philosophical arguments for the existence of God. The arguments that we are going to focus on shall be the Design argument and the Ontological argument. We shall compare, evaluate and discuss both the Design (or teleological) argument for the existence of God and the Ontological Argument for the existence of God, as well as highlighting philosophical criticisms of both theories too. By doing so, we shall attempt to draw a satisfactory conclusion and aim gain a greater understanding of the respective theories and their criticisms of each theory.

Watching the stars, knowing the tremendousness of the universe, watching the miracles of nature, watching the wonder of a nightfall, all point to a Maker God. In the event that these were not adequate, there is likewise evidence inside of us of the presence of God.