The Design Argument: Evaluation

Question 1

Strength of design argument: based on empirical evidence

Answer 1

the argument is grounded in observable features of the world Makes it scientifically engaging and increases its credibility

Question 2

Strengths of the Design Argument: intuitive and analogical reasoning

Answer 2

Paley’s watch analogy taps into every day reasonignNatural human response to infer an intelligent designer from complexity and purpose

Question 3

Strengths of the Design Argument: support from modern science

Answer 3

Fine Tuningphysics has revealed precises conditions necessary for life Low probability of these constatsts being just right by chance -> Swinburne

Question 4

Strengths of the Design Argument: compatibility with religiouse belief

Answer 4

supports classical theism

Question 5

Weaknesses of the Design Argument: Poor Design

Answer 5

the world is full of flaws, like natural disaster Hume:It must have been designed by an infant to senile god

Question 6

Weakness of the Design Argument: Darwin and Natural Selection

Answer 6

evolution by natural selection shows complexities in the world without an intelligent designer Nature can therefore create the appearance of design through random mutation and survival pressure

Question 7

Weakness of the Design Argument: Hume

Answer 7

comparing the universe to man made objects is flawed We never observed the universe being made, so we cant infer a designer like we can a watch

Question 8

Weakness of the Design Argument: doesn’t support the classical god of theism

Answer 8

doesn’t prove the designer is Omniscient, Omnipotent, or Omnibenevolent Could be a lesser entity