PHILOS 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 32: De Natura Deorum, Anglicanism, Scottish Enlightenment
Document Summary
Two types of design arguments: regularity and purpose. 1) regularity - emphasize the directionality of processes in the natural world. 2) purpose - things in the world appear to fit in a way for purpose. De natura deorum ( on the nature of the gods") He mentions an orrery or a clock. How can we doubt that all this is affected not merely by reason, but by a reason that is transcendent and divine?". Aquinas argues based on evidence of regularity. We looked at three of thomas"s famous five ways": they were cosmological arguments. He observes behavior of natural bodies" which appear to work in a regular fashion in order to accomplish their aims and he concludes that this is evidence of the existence of an intelligent being who regulates things. A church of england (anglican) clergyman, he was fascinated by science, especially the complexity of organs and systems of humans and animals.
