a.) Explain Aquinas’ teleological argument.
Thomas Aquinas, a 13th Century theologian and philosopher presents his teleological argument in his famous work “Summa Theologica”. Aquinas’ teleological argument presents itself in the Fifth of Aquinas’ five ways for the existence of God. Aquinas’ five ways are loosely based around Aristotle’s forum causes; Aquinas derives form Aristotle the concept of ‘telos’ or purpose that is key to the teleological argument.
Aquinas’ argument is ‘qua regularity’, which means it is based on and argues for the regularity, order and structure of the universe. Aquinas drew inspiration from objects all around him, and his theory was based on observation. This is why it is known as an ‘a posteriori’ argument. Aquinas observed that humans each have a ‘telos’ or purpose (taken from Aristotle’s causes). Humans are directed towards this goal or purpose throughout their lives from a seemingly transcendent motivation. Aquinas recognised this motivation towards an end goal as God’s actions on humans. He proposed that the telos of most humans is the achievement of perfection in any way shape or form. This perfection is mirrored in the perfection of God our creator. Therefore, God uses his own perfection to guide humans, his own creation, towards their goal of perfection through the use of free will and reason.
Aquinas then applies his theory of ‘telos’ to other things in nature, like plats and animals. He recognised that a plants’ telos is to grow and bear fruit. He observed the regularity at which plants produced fruit, and bloomed in the spring and died in the winter, but unlike humans, they had no brain or consciousness to direct them towards their purpose. Aquinas therefore concluded that all things in nature are governed transcendently by God. This is known as the ‘qua regularity’ argument, because it argues for the recognition of regularity and order in nature. For example, we know that the sun will rise tomorrow, because it has...