Aquinas' Design Argument

Aquinas' Design Argument

1. INDUCTIVE

   • a posteriori
   • based on probability
   • formed from previous experience
   • not the only logical conclusion

2. ARGUMENT TO DESIGN

   • design qua purpose
   • aquinas' 5th way to prove God
   • also known as the teleological argument

3. GUIDING HAND

   • if we were to look at a bow and arrow, we would see it working towards a purpose and know that somebody must have set it off working towards the purpose
   • everything in the world seems to be working towards a purpose
   • There must be a guiding hand setting everything off towards its target: this guiding hand is God

4. AQUINAS

   • italian dominican friar
   • 13th century
   • summa theologica
   • "to one who has faith, no explanation is necessary... to one without faith, no explanation is possible"