Design argument Flashcards
proved based on experience
a-posteriori
proved independently of experience (e.g calculations)
a-priori
explain the basics of the design argument
complexity indicates intelligent design, therefore a world as complex as ours must have a designer- G-d
Aquinas on design
-regularity: the regularity we see (e.g the planets rotation) must be due to a designer
-purpose: complexity and intelligent activity of the way things fit together
Describe Paley’s analogical argument in terms of purpose
Analogy:
If you walk in a park and kick a stone, it has no meaning- it may have been there forever.
If you kick a watch it is different as it has a purpose, it is a complex design of parts which has a purpose and function
Applying:
In the same way we can see the complexity of the universe and the way all its parts fit together, there must be a designer
Describe Paley’s analogical argument in terms of regularity
The regularity and purposefulness of the way everything is (e.g solar system is perfectly placed and timed) therefore there must be a designer
Arthur Brown’s support for Paley
The ozone layer prevents death for living things and is just the right thickness to be a correct defence
Design argument according to the midrash
-Rabbi Akiva was asked by a heretic for proof that G-d created the world.
-He answered him by asking for proof that a tailor had made his clothes.
-Just as a garment testifies the existence of a tailor so does the world testify the existence of G-d.
2 views on criticism for Paley
religious- everything we don’t know is attributed to G-d
scientific- science will eventually find it
What was Hume’s book called
Dialogue concerning natural religion
What did Hume say in his book
-challenged the assumption that the universe had a beginning
-even if there was order and purpose, it could be due to a lesser god or an apprentice god
-there are so many imperfections in the world how could it be done by a Perfect Being
List Hume’s arguments
1: humans don’t have sufficient knowledge
2: comparing the universe to a machine is poor analogy
3: if He is transcendent of humans how can we make a human analogy
4: even if there was a designer why G-d?
5: maybe it’s all chance
Explain Hume’s first argument
-humans don’t have sufficient knowledge to conclude that were there to be a design there would only be one designer
-humans are limited in their knowledge of things which can be designed (e.g they can design ships)
-to identify the design of the universe, humans would first have to experience different worlds and designs
Explain Hume’s second argument
Hume considered the universe to be a vegetable/inert object which grows without any outside involvement
Explain Hume’s third argument
The world could still be made by many different beings as opposed to one G-d even in the vast machine analogy
Explain Hume’s fourth argument
the designer could be an uncaring remote being who has long abandoned earth
Explain Hume’s fifth argument
even if there is order who says it isn’t by chance
What was Hume’s hypothesis called
The Epicurean Hypothesis
What was The Epicurean Hypothesis
-the initial state of the universe was chaos, particles in random motion
-due to the universe being eternal it was inevitable that ordered state would eventually develop
John Stuart Mill
-agreed with Hume
-design evidence proves there is not a god
-if there was He is not omnibenevolent, or He is not omnipotent
Conclusion
- the more humans distance themselves from the benefit of G-ds creations, the they bring suffering upon themselves
