Teleological argument for God's Existence

I was made aware that I didn't write a blog today, so I thought I would put in an essay that I wrote for a philosophy class this semester on the ever so popular teleological argument of God's existence.

The Teleological Argument (or design argument) may be the most appealing argument attempting to prove God’s existence. By definition, teleological means exhibiting or relating to design or purpose, especially in nature. By observing nature, many different philosophers have concluded that nature is a very complex machine with all of it’s components working in harmony. Furthermore, a parallel can be drawn between the fabrication of nature and human artifice, the latter obviously being on a much smaller scale.

William Paley draws this parallel by comparing the existence of the universe to that of a watch. The small complex parts of the watch work intricately with each other in complete unison for it’s purpose. If a watch were found lying on the ground, one would not assume that it had always been in existence, yet the universe is often thought of in this way. In order for the watch to exist, there had to be a watchmaker. Similarly, the universe requires a creator.

No one would claim that a watch came into existence due to a chance formulation of various components of different shapes and sizes, which happened to form into an independent object. Yet, many believe that the universe has come into being by the chance occurrences of matter exploding into space (Big Bang Theory); or, moreover, that life came into existence by the slight odds of different minerals combining to create the first single celled organism (Theory of Evolution, Darwin).

Paley continues that, although he may have never met a man capable of making a watch, he has no doubt that there is indeed a watchmaker. Many have no faith in God’s existence though a Supreme Being would be the only one capable of creating the universe as intricate as it is.

Although God created the universe, it may not always operate perfectly. Paley emphasizes this when he admits that the watch may not function correctly all of the time. The watch may malfunction, but the purpose of the watch is still evident. If the watch were to have mysterious parts, which were (currently) inexplicable, it would not lead to the conclusion that the watchmaker never existed. There would still have to be a watchmaker, and therefore there has to be a God.[1]

Saint Thomas Aquinas believed that God’s existence could be proved in five different ways. The first four proofs are cosmological, but his fifth proof is teleological. Aquinas argued that there exist in the world many things, such as natural bodies, which lack an intellect. These natural bodies always behave in the same manner to achieve the best result for their actions. Because these inert bodies lack intelligence, they cannot behave in these ways of their own volition, some unknown force must drive their behavior, and this force is known as God.[2]

Another aspect to the design argument is that the world is imperfect, yet it still is in harmony.

“Observe too, says PHILO, the curious artifices of nature, in order to embitter the life of every living being. The strong prey upon the weaker, and keep them in perpetual terror and anxiety. The weaker too, in their turn, often prey upon the stronger, and vex and molest them without relaxation.”[3]

Here Hume demonstrates that, although the world may be viewed in a pessimistic light, all things have a purpose whose end is unknown. For example, people may dislike insects, as they are annoying, but they serve as food to the birds, and birds to animals farther up the food chain. So, although the world may seem imperfect, the world is in harmony and exhibits balanced design. PHILO goes on to further illustrate that the design behind nature’s very existence seems to support a theory of a human-like intelligence.

Some argue that the world was designed with great thought in regards to all the creatures on the planet. They compare the creation of the universe to that of a watch. It is evident that there has been an intelligence, which created the universe with all its intricacies. Even the laws, which govern the exanimate bodies, must have been created by something; they could not have always been in existence. As Saint Thomas Aquinas stated, “…whatever lacks intelligence cannot move towards an end, unless it be directed by some being endowed with knowledge and intelligence; as the arrow is shot to its mark by the archer.”[4] Since the universe exists in harmony, God must exist.


[1] William Paley, STATE OF THE ARGUMENT from Natural Theology 77-82

[2]Saint Thomas Aquinas, Whether God Exists? - from The Summa Theologica, 63-64

[3] David Hume, “Part X” from Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, 194
[4] Saint Thomas Aquinas, Whether God Exists? from The Summa Theologica, 27