PHLA10H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Cosmological Argument, Cosmological Constant, Ontological Argument
Document Summary
Three main traditional arguments for the existence of god: the cosmological argument, the design argument and the ontological argument: aquinas" first, second and third ways are cosmological arguments. Aquinas" fifth argument is the argument from design. What is it to act for an end : it is to have a goal in action. Humans are capable of goal-directed behaviour because they have minds: ex. The heart has the function of pumping blood; an ipod has the function of playing music: also known as teleological (from the greek telos), everything has a function. How big is the realm of ends: artifacts, organisms are other examples of goal-directed systems, aquinas (following aristotle) thought the universe and the realm of ends were identical, meaning even inanimate objects like rocks have goals. Note the birthday fallacy: we conclude everything for an end that lacks a mind; there is a single designer for all of them. Note aquinas" point of view: everything is teleological.
