Single Idea 5993

[catalogued under 28. God / B. Proving God / 3. Proofs of Evidence / b. Teleological Proof]

Full Idea

Cleanthes tried to prove the existence of God, arguing that the ascending scale of living creatures requires there to be a perfect being.

Gist of Idea

The ascending scale of living creatures requires a perfect being

Source

report of Cleanthes (fragments/reports [c.270 BCE]) by Teun L. Tieleman - Cleanthes

Book Reference

'Encyclopedia of Classical Philosophy', ed/tr. Zeyl,Donald J. [Fitzroy Dearborn 1997], p.145


A Reaction

Not a very good argument. Even if you accept its basic claim, it is not clear what has to exist. A perfect tree? If the being transcends the physical (in order to achieve perfection), does it cease to be a 'being'?