What are key differences between the ontological, teleological, and cosmological arguments? Identify the philosopher who you think best supports his or her argument. Explain your answer briefly.
The ontological, teleological, and cosmological arguments are three classical arguments for the existence of God in the field of philosophy of religion. Each argument addresses the question of the existence of God from a different perspective.
1. The ontological argument: This argument is based on the concept of God as the greatest being that can be conceived. It suggests that if we can conceive of a being that possesses all perfections, then that being must exist. The key difference with this argument is that it seeks to prove the existence of God through reasoning alone, without relying on empirical evidence.
One of the most famous proponents of the ontological argument is the philosopher St. Anselm of Canterbury, who formulated it in the 11th century. Anselm argues that God is a being than which none greater can be conceived, and such a being must exist in reality in order to be considered the greatest.
2. The teleological argument: This argument is also known as the argument from design. It posits that the complexity and order observed in the natural world imply the existence of an intelligent designer, namely God. The teleological argument points to the intricate design found in living organisms and the fine-tuning of the universe, suggesting that they cannot be the result of random chance.
The philosopher William Paley is often associated with the teleological argument. In his work "Natural Theology," published in 1802, Paley compares the complexity of living organisms to that of a watch, arguing that just as a watch implies the existence of a watchmaker, so too does the design in nature imply the existence of an intelligent creator.
3. The cosmological argument: This argument proceeds from the existence of the universe and seeks to establish the existence of a first cause or necessary being that brought the universe into existence. It contends that since everything in the universe has a cause, there must be an ultimate cause that initiated the chain of causality. This ultimate cause is often identified as God.
Among the proponents of the cosmological argument, Thomas Aquinas is a notable philosopher. Aquinas, in his work "Summa Theologica," presents his famous "Five Ways," which include arguments based on motion, causation, contingency, and degree. He argues that there must be a first, unmoved mover or a first, uncaused cause to explain the existence of the universe.
In summary, the ontological argument focuses on the concept of the greatest conceivable being, the teleological argument emphasizes design and order in nature, and the cosmological argument examines the existence of a first cause. St. Anselm, William Paley, and Thomas Aquinas are associated with these arguments respectively and are some of the philosophers who provided strong support for each argument.