Design Argument

Question 0

What is the design argument?

Answer 0

The argument that the world was designed by God

Question 1

Who created an analogy with a watch?

Answer 1

William Paley

Question 2

What can the design argument also be known as?

Answer 2

The teleological argument

Question 3

What is an a posteriori argument?

Answer 3

An argument based on the evidence of our observation of the world

Question 4

Name three supporters of the design argument for

Answer 4

Tennant
Swinburne
Behe

Question 5

Name 4 critics of the design argument

Answer 5

Mill
Hume
Dawkins
Darwin

Question 6

What is Tennant’s aesthetic principle?

Answer 6

The universe has natural beauty beyond that which is necessary to live which shows the handicraft of God.

Question 7

What is Tennant’s anthropic principle?

Answer 7

The conditions of the universe are too perfect to be created by chance, it had to be designed.

Question 8

What does Aquinas argue in his fifth way?

Answer 8

For the existence of God by evidence of beneficial order in the universe (things work towards a purpose)

Question 9

Who created the intelligent design argument?

Answer 9

Michael Behe

Question 10

What is intelligent design?

Answer 10

Certain features are best explained by an intelligent design but it doesn’t try to identify the intelligent cause it just says that one must exist

Question 11

Who created the angle of probability?

Answer 11

Swinburne

Question 12

What is the angle of probability?

Answer 12

Evidence of design increases the probability of the existence of God

Question 13

Name three of the 7 features that Swinburne said increase the probability of God designing the universe

Answer 13

1 - the very existence of the universe
2 - the fact the universe is ordered
3 - the existence of consciousness
4 - human opportunities to do good
5 - pattern of history
6 - evidence of miracles 
7 - religious experience

Question 14

What is Mill’s main critique of the design argument?

Answer 14

Evil and suffering

Question 15

Give an example of poor design

Answer 15

Pointless existence of appendix in humans // pointless existence of wings in flightless birds such as ostriches

Question 16

How many criticisms does Hume have?

Answer 16

5

Question 17

Give two of Humes criticisms

Answer 17

1 - the analogy of the watch is unsound
2 - why one God why not many?
3 - bad design (natural disasters etc)
4 - the world is not like a machine
5 - we think the world is organised but in fact it's just chaos

Question 18

Which scholar uses science to criticise the design argument?

Answer 18

Darwin

Question 19

How did Darwin destroy the concept of purposeful design and the world’s beauty as God’s work?

Answer 19

Through survival of the fittest

Question 20

Who argues from the notion of purpose?

Answer 20

Richard Dawkins

Question 21

What is the notion of purpose?

Answer 21

The universe has no purpose, it is a human conceit

Question 22

Who said “purpose lies within humans, not outside”?

Answer 22

Richard Dawkins

Question 23

Gives two weaknesses of the design argument

Answer 23

(Use booklet for answers)

Question 24

Give two strengths of the design argument

Answer 24

(Use booklet for answers)