The Design Argument Flashcards
(24 cards)
Design argument
complexity/beauty in the natural world is evidence of an intelligent creator, God
Cicero’s example
sundial and water clock came about by design, so the world, which embraces everything including these, must have a purpose
Rabbeinu Behaye’s theory
the world is designed by a designer because it is so subtle in design and manifests its depth and complexity infinitely beyond our comprehension
Aquinas’s theory
Things which lack knowledge act for an end, and they always act in the same way to obtain the best result. Hence, it is clear that they achieve their end, not fortuitously (by chance), but designedly.
Features of Paley’s design argument
- inductive
- based on a posteriori knowledge
- an example of Natural Theology
- abductive
- analogical
- an example of design qua purpose
- an example of design qua regularity
Paley’s design argument
A watch is intricate and complex, with parts that have a specific function. Therefore, it must have a designer. The world/nature is even more intricate and complex, so it too must have a designer.
Why Paley’s argument is inductive
the conclusion is supported but not guaranteed. It is probable the world was designed, and the designer was God, but not certain
Why Paley’s argument is a posteriori
the results are dependent on experience
Why Paley’s argument is an example of Natural Theology
It arrives at a conclusion for God’s existence from ordinary experience available to everyone
Why Paley’s argument is abductive
the simplest conclusion is drawn from the available evidence. This conclusion provides the best explanation for complexity in nature
Why Paley’s argument is analogical
Paley uses the analogy of a watch to explain that the universe was designed
Why Paley’s argument is an example of design qua purpose
the universe was seemingly made for a specific purpose
Why Paley’s argument is an example of design qua regularity
(MINOR PART OF ARGUMENT)
some marks of design are in how the universe is set out/ordered (e.g. the way the solar system is set out shows order and regularity)
Empiricism
the view that the most important knowledge comes from sense data
David Hume
Scottish empiricist, scepticist and naturalist philosopher
Hume’s criticisms of the design argument
- the analogy between ‘manmade artefacts’ and ‘natural objects’ cannot be reliably drawn
- even if we do draw the analogy, if we follow it strictly, we risk anthropomorphism
- there are other explanations for the appearance of design which do not require a designer (vegetable analogy, finite matter/infinite time)
- a designer would be even more complex, and even more in need of explanation, than the world itself
The analogy between ‘manmade artefacts’ and ‘natural objects’ cannot be reliably drawn
The universe is single, individual and without parallel, so we cannot compare it with manmade objects, which have been made many times. Because these two types of entities are so dissimilar, we cannot compare them.
Even if we do draw the analogy, if we follow it strictly, we risk anthropomorphism
- all designed objects have had human designers
- therefore, it would be easy to make the mistake of assigning human characteristics to God
- because some human creations involve multiple designers (e.g. ships), then following the analogy too closely could lead to idea of the world being designed by multiple deities
finite matter/infinite time
A finite number of particles is only susceptible to finite transpositions. Provided with infinite time, every possible combination would be realised. This includes combinations with appearance of design.
Darwin’s theory of evolution in response to the design argument
Darwin’s theory of evolution defeats Paley’s argument because he believes that complexity comes through mutations and natural selection, and an intelligent designer is not required
The fine-tuning argument
the conditions of the universe are precisely calibrated to allow for the existence of life
The anthropic principle
[F.R. Tennant’s argument] the universe is structure in a way that is conductive to human existence and rationality
The aesthetic argument
[Tennant] the aesthetic qualities of the universe (e.g. beauty, moral goodness) are not necessary for survival or evolution, yet they are abundant in the world. This points to a purposeful and intentional creator who imbues creation with beauty.
Occam’s razor
if you have two competing ideas to explain the same phenomenon, you should prefer the simpler one
