the design argument

Question 1

what kind of argument is the design argument

Answer 1

• a posteriori
• inductive
• analogical

Question 2

what is Paley’s watch analogy

Answer 2

• when walking along, stubbing your toe against a rock wuld not raise the question of how it became to be there unlike a watch
• observation would point to the watch’s complexity
• this could not have occured by chance, an intelligent watchmaker must have designed it

Question 3

what are the examples Paley uses to support his argument

Answer 3

• the eye is superbly adapted for vision
• the fins and gills of fish are perfect for living in water
• bird’s bones, wings and feathers are perfect for flight
• there is regularity in the universe of planetary orbits and on earth of the seasons

Question 4

what are humes two criticisms of the design argument

Answer 4

• rejection of the idea of design
• the watchmaker analogy is anthropomorphic

Question 5

what is humes rejection of the idea of design

Answer 5

• watchmaker analogies are innapropriate as they are deliberately chosen to encourage the idea of a designer
• living organisms like vegetables would be more acceptable as they do not require a designer

Question 6

what is humes criticism that design arguments are anthropomorphic

Answer 6

• humans have no knowledge of how universes are made
• the designer is not necessarily the god of Christian monotheism

Question 7

weaknesses of the design argument

Answer 7

• claims made by theism about the nature of a designer God go way beyond the evidence
• problem of evil suggests an incompetent, malevolent or indifferent designer
• universe could have designed itself by chance

Question 8

strengths of the design argument

Answer 8

• swinburne argued that the existence of a single omnipotent god is the simplest explanation
• paley says evil may be unavoidable for god to bring about good
• evolution requires explanation
• anthropic principle

Question 9

arguments why the design argument cannot offer proof of god

Answer 9

• only deductive arguments can give absolute proof. the design argument is inductive
• paleys observations to support his argument can be explained naturally, gravity explains the regular rotation of the planets

Question 10

arguments that the design argument does offer proof of god

Answer 10

• most things we accept to be true are based on inductive arguments
• the laws of nature require an explanation

Question 11

why does the design argument have value for religious faith

Answer 11

• it is consistent with biblical teaching that there
  is a guiding hand directing nature
• shows faith to be reasonable
• belief that, belief in
  
  • paleys argument gives evidence to support
    belief that god exists
  • his description of the universe supports
    belief in god

Question 12

why doesnt the design argument have value for religious faith

Answer 12

• fideists believe that rational arguments have no part to play in faith
• Paley’s argument doesnt successfully address the issue of evil