Question

Despite Darwin's and Hume's criticisms of teleological accounts of nature, it is in fact difficult to look at natural phenomenon without assuming that there are natural purposes or goals (such as the ear and the function to hear). Is this observation enough to support the teleological proof of God's existence?

Answer 1

The theological account of nature believes in the empirical arguments for the existence of God.It identifies various features that constitute evidence of intelligent design and infers  God’s existence as the best explanation for these features ( such as  the ear and the function to hear).

It assumes that Darwinian theory to  implies that every precursor to a fully functional system must itself perform some function that makes the organism more fit to survive. Accordingly, the argument is more plausibly construed as showing that the design explanation for such complexity is more probable than the evolutionary explanation.

Hume argues that since we lack an evidence of the God creating this universe , the teleological proof of God's existence cannot be supported. He goes on saying that just as an artifact is designed by seversal artisans , similarly it would require many deities to combine their skills to form this universe. Therfore, he forfeits the existence of perfectly intelligent God.

While design inferences have a variety of scientifically legitimate uses, it alone cannot support the God’s existence.