The Teleological and Cosmological arguments are arguments a posteriori – from experience using our senses. Michael Palmer puts it like this: ‘if all our natural knowledge – as opposed to the knowledge that comes through revelation – comes from the information gained by our senses, it must be possible, if God exists, to demonstrate his existence by a similar procedure, from the most familiar and ordinary facts of our experience. Thus the failure of the a priori proof of the ontological argument leaves us with the question of whether God’s existence can be established a posteriori’. (A Question of God page 30). Below is the specification, hyperlinked to make t easier to navigate the suggested reading. PB

2. The Existence of God: Teleological Argument

Learners will study contrasting arguments about the existence or non-existence of God.

2.1 Content

• the teleological argument
• challenges to arguments from observation

2.2 Knowledge

• details of this argument including reference to:
– Aquinas’ Fifth Way
– Paley
• details of Hume’s criticisms of these arguments for the existence of God from natural religion
• the challenge of evolution

2.3 Issues as the basis of exam questions

Learners should have the opportunity to discuss issues related to arguments for the existence of God based on observation, including:
• whether or not teleological arguments can be defended against the challenge of ‘chance’
• whether or not there are logical fallacies in this argument that cannot be overcome
• whether a posteriori or a priori is the more persuasive style of argument

2.4 Suggested scholarly views, academic approaches and sources of wisdom and authority

For reference, the ideas of Aquinas, Paley and Hume listed above can be found in:
• Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, I.2.3
• Paley, Natural Theology Chapters 1 and 2
• Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion Part II

Learners will be given credit for referring to any appropriate scholarly views, academic approaches and sources of wisdom and authority, however the following examples may prove useful:
• Dawkins, R. (1991) The Blind Watchmaker, Penguin, Chapter 1
• Palmer, M. (2002) The Ques on of God, Routledge, Chapters 2 and 3