TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT
   an inductive argument from observations about the presence of purpose and apparent design in the UNIVERSE to a designer or GOD who created order in the universe. The best known example of this argument is PALEY'S ANALOGY of the watch which begins by assuming that someone who has never seen a clockwork watch before accidentally discovers one. Paley goes on to say that after careful examination of the design and operation of the watch, any reasonable person would conclude that the watch was man made, therefore, he reasons, anyone who carefully observes the UNIVERSE must ultimately reach the conclusion that it displays characteristics indicating the presence of a mind behind its design. Although strongly attacked by David HUME, this FORM of argument has been revived recently by a number of statisticians and astrophysicists.

Concise dictionary of Religion. 2012.

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  • Teleological argument — A teleological or design argument[1][2][3] is an argument for the existence of God. The argument is based on an interpretation of teleology wherein purpose and intelligent design appear to exist in Nature beyond the scope of any such human… …   Wikipedia

  • Teleological Argument —    Argument for God’s existence based on the appearance of design in the world …   Who’s Who in Christianity

  • teleological argument — Metaphys. the argument for the existence of God based on the assumption that order in the universe implies an orderer and cannot be a natural feature of the universe. Also called argument from design, teleological proof. * * * …   Universalium

  • teleological argument — noun A type of argument for the existence of God, advanced by a number of philosophers, including and , which maintains that the design of the world reveals that objects have purposes or ends and that such an organized design must be the creation …   Wiktionary

  • teleological argument — See design, argument from or to …   Philosophy dictionary

  • teleological argument — /ˌtiliəlɒdʒɪkəl ˈagjəmənt/ (say .teeleeuhlojikuhl ahgyuhmuhnt) noun the argument for the existence of God based on the assumption that order in the universe implies an orderer and cannot be a natural feature of the universe …  

  • teleological argument —    see argument from/to design …   Christian Philosophy

  • teleological argument — noun : argument from design …   Useful english dictionary

  • teleological argument —  Телеологическое доказательство …   Вестминстерский словарь теологических терминов

  • teleological — argument teleology …   Philosophy dictionary

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