Question 1

Expressions of the teleological argument can be found in Plato and the Bible.

Accepted Answer

The teleological argument, which posits that the universe's order and complexity are best explained by reference to a purposeful creator, finds expressions in the works of Plato, particularly in his dialogues such as "Phaedo" and "Timaeus," as well as in the Bible, where the design and purpose of creation are often attributed to God's will and plan, notably in books like Psalms and Romans.

Question 2

The teleological argument for the existence of God is an example of an a posteriori argument.

Accepted Answer

The teleological argument is based on the observation of the order and purpose in the world, suggesting that this implies the existence of a designer, which is an inference made after (posterior to) experiencing or observing the world.

Question 3

One of William Paley's arguments quoted in the text is that humans were made to search for purpose, thus there must be a God to provide that purpose.

Accepted Answer

False&#10;

Question 4

David Hume wrote his critique of the teleological argument as a direct response to Paley's published argument.

Accepted Answer

David Hume's critique of the teleological argument was published in his work "Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion" in 1779, which was before William Paley published his famous version of the teleological argument in "Natural Theology" in 1802. Hume's critique was not a direct response to Paley, but rather a general critique of the design argument for the existence of God.

Question 5

Hume criticizes the teleological argument by saying that we cannot argue from the parts to the whole.

Accepted Answer

Hume criticizes the teleological argument, suggesting that observing order in parts of the universe does not necessarily imply a purposeful design for the universe as a whole. He argues that such inferences are unwarranted without direct observation of the universe's creation or designer.

Question 6

The teleological argument is an argument from analogy.

Accepted Answer

The teleological argument, also known as the argument from design, often uses analogy by comparing the complexity of the universe to human-made objects, suggesting that just as these objects have designers, so too must the universe.

Question 7

Hume argued that the universe could be just as likely compared to an animal or a plant, than to a machine.

Accepted Answer

David Hume, in his Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, suggests through his character Philo that the universe might more closely resemble a giant organism (like an animal or a plant) than a machine, challenging the mechanical worldview and the analogy of the universe to a complex machine designed by a divine watchmaker.

Question 8

Hume claimed that the teleological argument leads to the conclusion that the world's designer is imperfect.

Accepted Answer

Hume argued that if the world is imperfect, then by analogy, the designer (God) inferred from the teleological argument would also be imperfect, as the design reflects the designer.

Question 9

A crucial feature of Hume's argument is that he denies that there is any evidence of design whatsoever.

Accepted Answer

Hume does not deny that there is evidence of design; rather, he questions the sufficiency and reliability of this evidence to prove the existence of a designer, especially one with the attributes commonly ascribed to the God of classical theism.

Question 10

Anthropomorphism is the attempt to use evolutionary theory to explain the origins of the human species.

Accepted Answer

Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities, not an attempt to explain the origins of the human species.

Question 11

William Paley's argument seeks to show that&#10;A) at each and every moment, the universe requires a divine cause to sustain it in its continued existence.&#10;B) the universe is similar to a human artifact in that it is a mechanism that requires a designer.&#10;C) God has revealed his moral laws in physical nature.&#10;D) the universe is infinite and therefore requires an infinite cause.

Accepted Answer

The answer of William Paley's argument seeks to show that&#10;A)...

Question 12

Paley compares the universe to&#10;A) a beautiful painting.&#10;B) a watch.&#10;C) a well-designed sailing ship.&#10;D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of Paley compares the universe to&#10;A) a beautiful...

Question 13

Which one of the following objections does David Hume raise against the teleological argument?&#10;A) We have no other universe with which to compare this one.&#10;B) It supports the conclusion that God is absurdly anthropomorphic.&#10;C) There is evil in the world.&#10;D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which one of the following objections does...

Question 14

According to the text, the Darwinian theory does not altogether destroy the argument from design because the theist can respond that&#10;A) evolution is just a theory, not a fact.&#10;B) evolution cannot explain the human mind.&#10;C) the process of evolution is the means God used to achieve his purpose for the world.&#10;D) evolution cannot explain our purpose for being on earth.

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the text, the Darwinian theory...

Question 15

Richard Swinburne argues that the teleological argument&#10;A) can be combined with other arguments to support the probability of God's existence.&#10;B) can be put in a deductive form to show that God necessarily exists.&#10;C) is really another version of the cosmological argument.&#10;D) absolutely fails as a logical argument.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Richard Swinburne argues that the teleological argument&#10;A)...

Question 16

The &#34;ten leaky buckets&#34;argument claims that&#10;A) there are ten flaws in Darwin's argument.&#10;B) there is no designer of the universe, because it contains too many flaws.&#10;C) even though the ten buckets are not perfect, they would still demonstrate evidence that they were the product of design.&#10;D) ten bad arguments do not make a good argument.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The &#34;ten leaky buckets&#34;argument claims that&#10;A) there...

Question 17

Set out, in a series of numbered statements, your formulation of the teleological argument. Which premise do you think is the most plausible? Why? Which premise do you think is the weakest? Why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Set out, in a series of numbered...

Question 18

Explain three of Hume's objections to the teleological argument. Explain how Paley might respond to these objections.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain three of Hume's objections to the...

Question 19

Explain the Darwinian objection to the argument from design. How might a theist accept Darwin's theory and still maintain the plausibility of the argument from design?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the Darwinian objection to the argument...

Question 20

Discuss the debate over the attempt to use several arguments to make a cumulative case for theism. Which side do you think is correct?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the debate over the attempt to...

Deck 6: The Teleological Argument for the Existence of God