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Discussion
Discussion
Imagine you came across these stones. Would you conclude that they had been placed there on purpose?
Background
Background
Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (1058 - 1111) was a Muslim scholar, law specialist, rationalist, and spiritualist of Persian descent. He was born in Tus, Khorasan (now part of Iran). He was one of the greatest Islamic Jurists, theologians and mystical thinkers. Al-Ghazali learned various branches of traditional Islamic religious sciences. He was also involved in Sufi practices from an early age.
Al-Ghazali’s most famous work is “The Incoherence of the Philosophers” (Tahafut al-falasifa), where he criticizes philosophers such as Ibn Sina (Avicenna) and Al-Farabi.
The Jerusalem Epistle (al-Risala al-Qudsiyya) is a small theological tract that lays out the basics of the Muslim faith. It also contains a very influential version of design argument for the existence of God.
An argument from design
An argument from design
In the Jerusalem Tract, Al-Ghazali argues that the fact that the universe is a 'well-ordered system' is enough evidence to suggest that it has been designed by a deity_
It should be apparent to anyone with the minimum of intelligence … if he looks at the wonders in God's creation on earth and in the skies and at the wonders in animals and plants, that this marvellous, well-ordered system cannot exist without a maker who conducts it, and a creator who plans and perfects it. Indeed, human nature itself seems to testify that it is subjected to the Creator's direction, and directed according to His management. Hence God most high said: “Is there any doubt regarding God, the Originator of the heavens and the earth?”
The Jerusalem EpistleThere are many similar arguments like this for the existence of God. They generally have this kind of form:
The universe appears to be a well-ordered system that exists to achieve purposes or a purpose
Things that are well-ordered and exist to achieve purposes require an intelligent designer
∴ The universe must have an intelligent designer.
These kinds of arguments are called teleological or design arguments.
Teleology is (logos) the study of (Telos) purpose.
Discussion
Discussion
We can think about each of the main premises in turn:
Is the universe a well-ordered system? Are there any examples of things that contradict this premise?
Does the appearance of order necessarily entail a designer?
Are there any other reasons why the world might appear designed?
Is it not possible that something has a purpose that it was never intended to have? (For example, a chemist once tried to create a new kind of glue. But the glue he made was rubbish. He then looked around for a purpose for this rubbish glue and post-it notes were invented.) When Aristotle discussed the purpose (or final cause) of things, he was often talking about 'naked' purpose - i.e. what a kind of thing characteristically can do is what it tends to do.
Tasks
Tasks
Explain Al-Ghazali's design argument for God.
Explain one objection to his argument?
Evaluate his argument.
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