Teleological Argument for God’s Existence Is Untrue

Teleological Argument for God’s Existence Is Untrue

Does god existence? What is god? To answer these questions, teleological argument for God’s existence is a famous and popular one. In the first section of this essay, I will explain the detail of a teleological argument for God’s existence and find out the meaning of “God” in a teleological argument. Then, in the second section, I will explain the points made in two passages of Hume’s Dialogued and how they are related to the teleological argument. Finally, in the last section, Gould’s criticism of the teleological argument will be displayed. As a result of this discussion, I know that a teleological argument for God’s existence does not sound, and the argument is rejected.

(i) Explanation of a Teleological Argument for God’s Existence

A teleological argument of God’s existence consist of four parts:

• Nature and her parts exhibit evidence of design. For example, the coordination of parts towards a supposed end or goal.
• Therefore, nature is designed.
• If something exhibits design, then there must be, or have been, a designer of these parts.
• God is the most plausible candidate for the designer

A teleological argument begins with the experimental observation. It suggests that “like effect, like cause”. Nature and her parts like a watch, their parts coordinate intelligently and perfectly toward a goal. Such an intelligent setting usually comes from an intelligent designer. Like a watch have a designer, therefore, Nature and her parts have a designer.

Many people accept this logic. People learn by comparing. They try to find out answers that they don’t know from their observation, from past experience, and existing clues. By comparing old problems with new problems, people try to find out the reasons of the new problems and use the successful solution of old problems to fix new problems. This strategy works well many times, and it strengthens people’s confidence.  If a cause leads to an effect, it is reasonable that same cause leads to same effect. Moreover, it is very likely same effects come form same causes. Therefore, a teleological argument goes one more step forward, like effect comes from like causes.

Meaning of God. 

The meaning of god in a teleological argument is a most powerful and intelligent designer. Same logic is used to prove the existence of God. Nature and her parts exhibit high intelligent toward a goal, and they achieve its goal so excellent. Moreover, it is no doubt that nice watch only comes from a nice designer. Performances of nature and her parts are much nicer than a nice watch. Therefore, the designer of nature and her parts should be much more intelligent and powerful than a watch designer. Only God is such powerful and intelligent. Therefore, if there is a designer for the nature, it should be the God.

(ii) Explanation the points made in two passages of Hume’s Dialogued

In the two passages of Hume’s Dialogued, Hume uses the same logic of teleological argument to question the meaning and existence of God.

The points of the passages are:

1. The world is an animal. If we observe the universe, each parts of the universe have its own goals, and every part of the universe consist a whole universe. An animal has different organs toward their goals, and every organ all together consist an animal. Using a teleological argument, the world is similar to an animal. Therefore, the world is an animal. The God could be the soul of the world.

This passage points out that a teleological argument can bring out many logical problems. If similar effect comes from similar cause, the world could be an animal. The God could be a soul that rules and controls the animal. The god may be a non-physical existence and with free will.