Why There Almost Certainly Is A God: Part II: The Teleological Argument

Today we shall be looking at an argument that is much maligned but is actually one of the strongest arguments for the existence of God. Otherwise known as the design argument, the teleological argument proceeds from the fact that there exists a strong appearance of design in the universe and argues that there must therefore exist a cosmic designer. 

It is thought by most that evolutionary theory was the death knell of design arguments, but this is simply not the case. For one thing, as our knowledge has grown, we have discovered goal-directed behaviour in biological systems. Dubbed 'teleonomy', these examples are cited as examples of the appearance of goal-directed behaviour in the absence of design, but the absence of design is not argued for, it is simply assumed.

Secondly, and more importantly, evolutionary theory is limited to the field of biology. It has nothing to say about the appearance of design in chemistry and physics. Indeed, the best examples of design in nature come to us from the field of astrophysics, where it has been discovered that the very laws and constants of nature themselves are extraordinarily fine-tuned. 

If the value of the constant of gravity were altered only slightly in either direction, then the universe would not have been life-permitting. What is more, the initial conditions of the universe likewise are extraordinarily fine-tuned. The probability of the low entropy condition of the early universe arising by chance has been calculated by the likes of Roger Penrose as being 1 in 10^10^123. 

This probability is so astronomically low that you would have a better chance of hitting a bullseye the size of a proton on a dartboard the size of the observable universe. There are three possible explanations for the appearance of design: chance, physical necessity, or actual design. 

The argument is simply that the appearance of design in the universe cannot be due to chance or physical necessity, leaving actual design as the only result left. 

1. The universe is finely-tuned for life.

2. This fine-tuning is due to chance, physical necessity, or design.

3. The fine-tuning is not due to chance or physical necessity,

4. Therefore, the fine-tuning is due to design.