Nature’s Teleological Order and God’s Providence: Are they compatible with chance, free will, and evil? (Philosophische Analyse / Philosophical Analysis Book 61)

The book defends that there is both teleological order (design) and chance in non-living and in living systems of nature including man. This is done by giving exact definitions of different types of order and teleological order on the one hand and of different types of chance on the other. For their compatibility it is important to notice that any definition of chance presupposes some kind of order relative to that we can speak of chance. Thus also in evolution which is some growth of some order and for which a detailed definition is given in chpt.13 chance and degrees of freedom play an essential role. A further purpose of the book is to show that both the existing order and the existing chance in nature are compatible with a global teleological plan which is God’s providence. However concerning the execution of God’s plan not everything is done or caused by himself but “God created things in such a way that they themselves can create something” (Gödel, MAX PHIL). A reason for that is that God is neither all-causing nor all-willing although he is almighty. This is connected with the result of chpts.15 and 16 that also human freedom and evil are compatible with God’s providence. Contents Preface 1 Whether there can be providence at all? 1.1 Arguments Contra 1.1.1 First argument 1.1.2 Second argument 1.1.3 Third argument 1.2 Argument Pro 1.3 Proposed Answer 1.3.1 Definition of 'providence' 1.3.2 Possibility of Providence 1.3.3 Remark on terminology 1.3.4 Result of chapter 1 1.4 Answer to the Objections 1.4.1 (to 1.1.1) 1.4.2 (to 1.1.2) 1.4.3 (to 1.1.3) 2 Whether providence can be attributed to God? 2.1 Arguments Contra 2.1.1 First argument 2.1.2 Second argument 2.2 Argument Pro 2.3 Proposed Answer 2.3.1 Result of chapter 2 2.4 Answer to the Objections 2.4.1 (to 2.1.1) 2.4.2 (to 2.1.2) 3 Whether providence is concerned with creation? 3.1 Arguments Contra 3.1.1 First argument 3.1.2 Second argument 3.1.3 Third argument 3.2 Argument Pro 3.3 Proposed Answer 3.3.1 Result of chapter 3 3.4 Answerto the Objections 3.4.1 (to3.Ll) 3.4.2 (to 3.12) 3.4.3 (to3.L3) 4 Whether there is order in the change of things? 4.1 Arguments Contra 4.1.1 First argument 4.1.2 Second argument 4.2 Argument Pro 4.3 Proposed Answer 4.3.1 Change by movement 4.3.2 Thermodynamic change 4.3.3 Quantummechanical change 4.3.4 Result of chapter 4 4.4 Answerto the Objections 4.4.1 (to 4.1.1) 4.4.2 (to 4.1.2) 4.5 Conclusion 5 Whether there is teleological order in nonliving things? 5.1 Arguments Contra 5.1.1 First argument 5.1.2 Second argument 5.2 Argument Pro 5.3 Proposed Answer 5.3.1 Things and systems 5.3.2 Change and reversibility 5.3.3 Order 5.3.4 Becoming 5.3.5 Teleological order 5.3.6 Values and goals in nonliving systems 5.3.7 Result of chapter 5 5.4 Answerto the Objections 5.4.1 (to 5.1.1) 5.4.2 (to 5.1.2) 5.5 Conclusion 6 Whether there is chance and randomness in nonliving things? 6.1 Arguments Contra 6.1.1 First argument 6.1.2 Second argument 6.1.3 Third argument 6.2 Argument Pro 6.3 Proposed Answer 6.3.1 Extreme positions 6.3.2 Randomness in arithmetic and geometry 6.3.3 Kinds of chance and randomness concerning dynamical laws of nature 6.3.4 Kinds of chance and randomness concerning statistical laws of nature 6.3.5 Complexity and randomness of sequences 6.3.6 Kinds of chance and randomness w.r.t. structure and order 6.3.7 Kinds of chance and randomness w.r.t. teleological order 6.3.8 Results of chapter 6 6.4 Answer to the Objections 6.4.1 (to 6.1.1) 6.4.2 (to 6.1.2) 6.4.3 (to 6.1.3) 7 Whether there is teleological order in living things? 7.1 Arguments Contra 7.1.1 First argument 7.1.2 Second argument 7.2 Arguments Pro 7.2.1 First argument 7.2.2 Second argument 7.3 Proposed Answer 7.3.1 Living system (Biosystem) 7.3.2 Order and teleological order in living systems 7.3.3 Values in living systems 7.3.3.1 Primary, secondary and basic good of a living system 7.3.3.2 Goods and values 7.3.4 Values concerning the history of Is 7.3.5 Higherlevel teleological order 7.3.6 Higher human values 7.3.6.1 Different kinds of higher values 7.3.6.2 Values and norms 7.3.7 Projected teleological order 7.3.8 Result of chapter 7 7.4 Answerto the Objections 7.4.1 (to 7.1.1) 7.4.2 (to 7.1.2) 7.5 Conclusion 8 Whether there is chance and randomness in Irving things? 8.1 Arguments Contra 8.1.1 First argument 8.1.2 Second argument 8.2 Argument Pro 8.3 Proposed Answer 8.3.1 The question of randomness of the DNAsequence 8.3.2 The question of randomness and chance in the emergence of the DNAsequence 8.3.3 The question of the randomness of mutation 8.3.4 Randomness and chance in the emergence of higherlevel biological systems 8.3.5 Randomness concerningthe HardyWeinberg equilibrium 8.3.6 Chance and randomness concerning goals and teleological order 8.3.7 Conclusion concerning chance and randomness 8.3.8 Results of chapter 8 8.4 Answer to the Objections 8.4.1 (to 8.1.1) 8.4.2 (to 8.1.2) 9 Whether providence is compatible with both order and chance? 9.1 Arguments Contra 9.1.1 First argument 9.1.2 Second argument 9.1.3 Third argument 9.1.4 Fourth argument 9.1.5 Fifth argument 9.2 Argument Pro 9.3 Proposed Answer 9.3.1 Providence is compatible with any kind of order which is realized in the universe 9.3.2 Providence is compatible with any kind of chance which is realized in the universe 9.3.3 Result of chapter 9 9.4 Answer to the Objections 9.4.1 (to 9.1.1) 9.4.2 (to 91.2) 9.4.3 (to 9.1.3) 9.4.4 (to 9.1.4) 9.4.5 (to 9.1.5) 10 Whether everything that happens comes under God's providence 10.1 Arguments Contra 10.1.1 First argument 10.1.2 Second argument 10.1.3 Third argument 10.1.4 Fourth argument 10.1.5 Fifth argument 10.2 Argument Pro 10.3 Proposed Answer 10.3.1 Definition of'providence' 10.3.2 Omnitemporal and temporal states of affairs (Df 10.1 (b)) 10.3.3 Both states of affairs, those which hold for all times and those which hold for sometime, come under God's providence 10.3.4 Result of chapter 10 10.4 Answer to the Objections 10.4.1 (to 10.1.1) 10.4.2 (to 10.1.2) 10.4.3 (to 10.1.3) 10.4.4 (to 10.1.4 and 10.1.5) 11 Whether everythingthat comes under God's providence is known by God 11.1 Arguments Contra 11.1.1 First argument 11.1.2 Second argument 11.2 Argument Pro 11.3 Proposed Answer 11.3.1 Does God know all laws and constants of the universe? 11.3.2 Does God know all states, events, processes and initial conditions in the universe? 11.3.3 God's knowledge of contingent future events 11.3.4 Results of chapter 11 11.4 Answerto the Objections 11.4.1 (to 11.1.1) 11.4.2 (to 11.1.2) 12 Whether everythingthat comes under God's providence is willed or permitted by God 12.1 Arguments Contra 12.1.1 First argument 12.1.2 Second argument 12.2 Argument Pro 12.3 Proposed Answer 12.3.1 God permits order and teleological order 12.3.2 God is not allwilling 12.3.3 God's will is always fulfilled 12.3.4 God wills order and teleological order 12.3.5 God wills and permits chance and randomness 12.3.6 Result of chapter 12 12.4 Answerto the Objections 12.4.1 (to 12.1.1 and 12.1.2) 13 Whether everythingthat comes under God's providence is caused by God or by creatures 13.1 Arguments Contra 13.1.1 First argument 13.1.2 Second argument 13.1.3 Third argument 13.1.4 Fourth argument 13.2 Argument Pro 13.3 Proposed Answer 13.3.1 The universe as a whole 13.3.2 The universe of orderand chance 13.3.3 Selforganization 13.3.4 Natural selection 13.3.5 Development 13.3.6 Evolution 13.3.7 Transition from species A to variation A' 13.3.8 Transition from species A to species B 13.3.9 Heredity 13.3.10 What cannot be caused by creatures (internal causes of the universe) on principal grounds must be caused by God and his providence 13.3.10.1 Leibniz's answer 13.3.10.2 Can the laws or theories of physics be complete? 13.3.11 Result of chapter 13 13.4 Answer to the Objections 13.4.1 (to 13.1.1) 13.4.2 (to 13.1.2) 13.4.3 (to 13.1.3) Everlasting universe 13.4.4 (to 13.14) Selfcontained universe 14 Whether everything that comes under God's providence is directed to some goal or integrated into a network of goals 14.1 Arguments Contra 14.1.1 First argument 14.1.2 Second argument 14.1.3 Third argument 14.2 Argument Pro 14.3 Proposed Answer 14.3.1 Are biological processes teleological? 14.3.2 Are nonbiological processes teleological? 14.3.3 Can all living systems be integrated into a network of goals extrinsic to the living system? 14.3.4 Can all nonliving systems be integrated into a network of goals? 14.3.5 Can all obtaining states of affairs be integrated into a network of goals? 14.3.5.1 Carbonbased life 14.3.5.2 Evolutionarily stable strategy 14.3.5.3 Queen Elizabeth I's goal 14.3.5.4 Children's understanding of goals 14.3.6 Functional explanation 14.3.7 Reasons for integration into a network of goals 14.3.8 Result of chapter 14 14.4 Answerto the Objections 14.4.1 (to 14.1.1) 14.4.2 (to 14.1.2) 14.4.3 (to 14.1.3) 15 Whether nature's order and God's providence are compatible with free will 15.1 Arguments Contra 15.1.1 First argument 15.1.2 Second argument 15.1.3 Third argument 15.1.4 Fourth argument 15.1.5 Fifth argument 15.1.6 Sixth argument 15.2 Argument Pro 15.3 Proposed Answer 15.3.1 Determinism and indeterminism 15.3.2 Confusions concerning determinism, causality and prediction 15.3.3 Attacks on men's free will decision: Neuronal Determinism 15.3.4 Degrees of freedom on different levels 15.3.5 Definition of free mil and of freewill decision 15.3.5.1 Presuppositions of free will 15.3.5.2 Definition of'free will' 15.3.5.3 Definition of'free will decision' 15.3.6 Compatibility of nature's order and freewill 15.3.7 Compatibility of providence and freewill 15.3.7.1 God's knowledge and freewill 15.3.7.2 Men's freewill and God's will or permission 15.3.7.3 Men's freewill and the causation by God or by creatures 15.3.7.4 Men's free will and the direction to some goal 15.3.8 Conclusion 15.3.9 Result of chapter 15 15.4 Answer to the Objections 15.4.1 (to 15.1.1) 15.4.2 (to 15.1.2) 15.4.3 (to 15.1.3) 15.4.4 (to 15.1.4) 15.4.5 (to 15.1.5) 15.4.6 (to 15.1.6) 16 Whether God's providence is compatible with evil 16.1 Arguments Contra 16.1.1 First argument 16.1.2 Second argument 16.1.3 Third argument 16.1.4 Fourth argument 16.1.5 Fifth argument 16.1.6 Sixth argument 16.2 Arguments Pro 16.2.1 First argument 16.2.2 Second argument 16.3 Proposed Answer 16.3.1 Is there evil at all? 16.3.2 The "relativity" of evil 16.3.2.1 Three general types of evil 16.3.2.2 Commentary to the "relativity" of evil 16.3.2.3 Privatio bonil 16.3.3 Specific types of evil 16.3.3.1 Basic evil 16.3.3.2 Necessary evil 16.3.3.3 Higher evil, legitimate and illegitimate 16.3.3.4 Moral evil 16.3.4 Is providence compatible with the specific types of evil? 16.3.5 God's providence is not incompatible with moral evil 16.3.6 God's providence is not incompatible with legitimate higher evil 16.3.7 Is God's providence compatible with necessary evil? 16.3.8 Is God's providence compatible with evil that is beyond human control? 16.3.9 Three further possible explanations 16.4 Answerto the Objections 16.4.1 (to 16.1.1)267 16.4.2 (to 16.1.2)267 16.4.3 (to 16.1.3)268 16.4.4 (to 16.1.4) Good accompanied by evil 16.4.5 (to 16.1.5)271 16.4.6 (to 16.1.6)271 Bibliography List of definitions List of theorems List of names List of subjects

Die Reihe bietet ein Publikationsforum für innovative Arbeiten zu allen Themengebieten der analytischen Philosophie. Die Bände in dieser Reihe erscheinen in deutscher oder englischer Sprache.