Teleological arguments The word teleological originates from the Greek ‘telos’ meaning end or purpose. It infers the existence of God from a particular aspect or character of the world‚ namely the presence of order‚ regularity and purpose‚ and thus‚ is most commonly known as the design argument; it postulates the idea of a designer for all that has been designed. As its name suggests‚ the teleological argument attempts to seek the ultimate end or purpose. Furthermore‚ the teleological argument holds
Premium
a) Explain Aquinas Cosmological Argument The Cosmological Argument is a posteriori argument (knowledge gained after experience) which attempts to prove that there is a rational basis for the belief in God. This argument is synthetic as it uses senses and is distinctive as it uses evidence of the universe to prove that God exists. The argument attempts to prove that God exists by evaluating the scale and nature of the cosmos. In order for this argument to succeed it has to be inductive and produce
Premium Cosmological argument Causality Existence
010 Leibniz and the Existence of God The existence of God has always been a controversial subject though despite what others thought Leibniz did believe in the existence of God. Leibniz goes on attempting to explain God using a priori and a posteriori arguments and also proving God using monads. Leibniz’s a priori explanation of God is that the concept which everyone has of God is that of a most perfect being‚ a greater being cannot be conceived. Therefore God must really exist; otherwise
Premium Ontology Metaphysics Existence
The Existence of God and Evil The problem of evil has been around since the beginning. How could God allow such suffering of his “chosen people”? God is supposedly all loving (omni-benevolent) and all powerful (omnipotent) and yet He allows His creations to live in a world of danger and pain. Two philosophers this class has discussed pertaining to this problem is B.C. Johnson and John Hick. Johnson provides the theists’ defense of God and he argues them. These include free will‚ moral urgency‚
Premium God Good and evil Virtue
Environmental Ethics Gaia Hypothesis (eco-holism) James Lovelock argues that we are part of planet earth and not masters of it. He argued for the existence of ’Gaia’ - a living system which controls the earth and keeps everything constant. Lovelock says that Gaia keeps the planet at a constant state of management. Lovelock says we shouldn’t be anthropocentric (focussing solely on ourselves) but biocentric‚ and says that Gaia restores balance to the imbalance caused by humans. The earth is‚ Lovelock
Premium Life Evolution Natural environment
Summary St. Thomas Aquinas devised five ways in which God is proven to be real; the first of which states that God is proven due to the motion of objects and bodies. Aquinas describes motion as “the reduction of something from potentiality to actuality”‚ giving the example that something like fire‚ which is actually hot‚ can change and move that which is cold but “potentially” hot (like a piece of wood)‚ but that it itself cannot be “potentially” hot. This argument relies on three basic claims: First
Premium Metaphysics Aristotle Existence
Aristotle Name: Aristotle Occupation: Philosopher Birth date: c. 384 BCE Death date: c. 322 BCE Education: Plato’s Academy‚ Lyceum Place of birth: Stagira‚ Chalcidice‚ Greece Place of death: Chalcis‚ Euboea‚ Greece Synopsis Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle was born circa 384 B.C. in Stagira‚ Greece. When he turned 17‚ he enrolled in Plato’s Academy. In 338‚ he began tutoring Alexander the Great. In 335‚ Aristotle founded his own school‚ the Lyceum‚ in Athens‚ where
Free Aristotle
Arguments for God’s Existence • Cosmological Argument: Every effect has a cause. The Universe exists and since something cannot come from nothing‚ then God exists. • Theological Argument: Since the universe is ordered and has a useful arrangement then‚ the universe must have a free and intelligent cause. • Anthropological Argument: Since man was created in the image of God‚ he possesses characteristics of God. A blind force could never create man. • Moral Argument: Man has a sense of Morality or
Premium Existence Metaphysics God
once said by a respected man St Thomas Aquinas. Referred to‚ as the doctor of the church‚ St Thomas was a theologian and philosopher. A theologian is someone who spends his or hers life thinking bout Gods life. They figure out things about god through prayer and study. St Thomas was sent to a monastery when he was only five years old. At the age of nineteen Thomas decided to join the Dominican order even though his family went against his believes. St Thomas Aquinas taught theology‚ but what is
Premium Aristotle Thomas Aquinas Metaphysics
The existence of God has been a question since the idea of God was conceived. Descartes tries to prove Gods existence‚ to disprove his Evil demon theory‚ and to show that there is without a doubt something external to ones own existence. He is looking for a definite certainty‚ a foundation for which he can base all of his beliefs and know for a fact that they are true. Descartes overall project is to find a definite certainty on which he can base all his knowledge and beliefs. A foundation that
Premium Epistemology Truth Evidence