The Existence Of God 2 — страница 2

  • Просмотров 192
  • Скачиваний 5
  • Размер файла 15
    Кб

must be something which is to all beings the cause of their being, goodness, and every other perfection; and this we call God.? The fifth and final way states that God is the intelligent creator of intelligence, ?Therefore some intelligent being exists by whom all natural things art directed to their end; and this being we call God?. There are many criticisms against the Cosmological argument. Firstly, Hume states that the arguments put forward reveals that the universe logically demands a causal explanation, but this may lie within the nature of the universe itself with regards to scientific evidence. Hick also disagrees with the argument as it fails explain the cause of God. Kant says it fails as to speak of causation outside of time and space has no meaning, because causation

requires time and space. Another argument against the cosmological argument comes from Mill. He draws his conclusion from experience, noting that experience teaches that all events are caused. God, as a cause that was not itself caused cannot be conceived, so experience does not logically support the first cause, therefore this concept of God does not exist. The Teleological argument from the Greek word telos, meaning ?end or ?purpose? is also referred to as the Design Argument. It is based on the contention that there is evidence that supports purpose and design in the universe and in life itself. William Paley (1743-1805), came up with the analogy of a watch found in a field, which required a designer, that of a watchmaker. He explains that there is no logic to claim that it

was not designed and carefully crafted in order to have a purpose. So in contrast, it is said that the complex order and design of the universe is obviously the work of an intelligent architect, to which we call God. Hume strongly critised Paley?s Design Argument. He came up with five reasons to why it fails to prove the existence of God. Firstly, it does not give a reason to believe the world actually serves some purpose, despite it is clear that parts of it do. Hume also develops the idea of organic analogy that challenges the mechanical analogy which suggests an intelligent designer made the world. Hume shows that through organic analogy, there is no need for a designer as elements of the universe such as the flora and fauna, come into being through generation and evolution,

so therefore the same could be said about the universe. The Design Argument only accounts for a ?designer? with infinite intelligence. The designer might be intelligent, but is certainly not omniscient nor omnipotent, capable of designing but not necessary capable of creating. Hume?s fourth argument puts forward the examples of evil and suffering in the world, as they contradict the posed ?order and purpose? put forward by the Design Argument. Hume basically asks the question; if God is perfect then why does evil exist? The last argument of Hume coincides with scientific evidence, as well as the idea that the universe came into being as the result of purely chance. Together the ontological, cosmological and teleological arguments provide three thoroughly examined arguments for

the existence of God. The criticisms of each perspective have also been carefully scrutinized to disprove God?s existence. Though the existence of God is a very controversial issue for theists and atheists alike, these three perspectives and criticisms towards God?s existence provide good insights into this major issue in contemporary philosophy.