Hume's Design Argument

Question 1

Hume’s design argument

Argument

Answer 1

P1)The fitting of the means to end in nature resembles artefacts of human design
P2) Similar effects have similar causes
P3) The cause of the artefacts of human design are intelligent beings who intentionally produce that design
C1) Therefore, the cause of nature is an intelligent being who intended it’s design

Question 2

Hume’s design argument

Form

Answer 2

Inductive analogy

• It cannot be a definite/guaranteed conclusion. The argument suggests that ‘God exists” is the most reasonable explanation for appearance of design
• Analogy is used to show God exists and resembles a human mind

Question 3

Hume’s design argument

Reasoning

Answer 3

• The world seems to function like ‘one big machine’ can be divided again and again past human knowledge
• Each part seems adjusted to each other precisely= intricate fittings of means to ends
• This is similar to products of human design, produced by thought, wisdom and intelligence= fittings of means to ends
• The effects resemble one another, we can infer (by the rules of analogy- like effects have like causes) the cause is also alike
• Implies an ‘author of nature’ with a similar mind to man= wise and intelligent (though with larger facilities to create the world)
• From the argument APOSTERORI proves there is a God and he resembles human mind/intelligence