Design Argument Flashcards
Outline Paley’s argument for design?
He stumbles on a rock that uses it as an example of something that could occur by chance. He then finds a watch
A watch has complexity purpose and order which imply it has a designer or watchmaker.
Palsy used this example to symbolise the world which he argues is so complex and has purpose so it must have a designer/creator.
This must be God
What counter arguments does Paley consider himself?
Not seeing the watchmaker make the watch
He says we can see things like ancient art and know it was designed even though we did not see it. He applies this to the designing of the world
Faults within the watch
If the watch is faulty it does not undermine its purpose and perfection of God as even if parts don’t work we can see what it was supposed to do.
Paley also dismisses the idea that the universe could be one out of possible combinations (could happen randomly)
He questions how “any man in his senses could think it”
What is the Dawkins quote you could chuck in to support Hume/Darwin?
“The only watchmaker is the blind laws of physics”
What is Hume’s first argument against the design argument?
The argument does not demonstrate the existence of a perfect being. This would contradict the idea that the designer was God.
In concluding that the universe must have a designer, Paley makes the assumption that ‘like effects have like causes’
There are imperfections in the world and unnecessary suffering.
This contradicts the idea of the world being designed by an omnibenevolent, omnipotent and omniscient being as if God has these attributes of perfection, he would not cause imperfection. For example, an omnibenevolent God would not cause suffering as it contradicts the initial concept of God.
This undermines the conclusion of the design argument that the universe was designed by God.
Hume outlines God may be anthropomorphic and imperfect. He argues natural disasters show inadequacy of God. (Undermines omnipotence)
What’s Hume’s second argument?
It is possible that the appearance of destiny occurred through natural processes therefore there would be no need for a designer
This is often referred to as the Epicurean hypothesis after Epicurus who proposed that the universe exists because of random movements of atoms.
Hume argues that animals do not show evidence of design as if they did not adapt to their environments they would not survive.
If animals are not designed then it brings into question whether everything else in the universe is designed
Philip admits the difficulty in explaining why we have extra organs (2 eyes)
How can Darwinian teachings support Hume’s second argument
Evolution can explain why we have extra organs (2 eyes) as natural selection would explain how 2 eyes make creatures better adapted to their environments that 1
Evolutionary teaching enhances the idea that the appearance of design occurred through natural processes as it provides further evidence and develops the theory of Hume making it more convincing and more damaging to Paley
What does Hume say about arguments from analogy ?
They weak af
They are only reliable when the two things being compared have relevant similarities
What would be a reliable example of an argument from analogy and why?
When you smash your thumb with a hammer you feel pain.
This is justified even though I do not feel your pain.
I can confuse this from analogy because we are similar in at least one important way - we share similar human physiology
What does Kant say about the design argument?
The watchmaker argument only argues that there is a designer/architect rather than a creator.
Watchmakers create watches from pre-existing materials so it could be said that God did not create the materials that he designed the world with.
At least, we are not entitled to come to that conclusion from the example to the watchmaker.
This argument therefore cannot show that the architect has the same divine attributes of the traditional God of theism which could be used against the idea that God actually exists.
What 3 limits does Swinburne give for Paley’s argument ?
1 argument cannot prove the existence of the God of classical theism. It shows the existence of a powerful
Free
Non embodied
Rational absent responsible for regularity and order in the universe
2 arguments that rely on analogy are vulnerable to criticism. The analogy between human productions and the universe may be considered too weak to support the conclusion
3 Paley’s argument relies on regularities of co-presence (arrangements of objects in space) so are vulnerable to the criticism of evolution.
So swinburne’s argument is based on regularities of succession (the way objects behave in time
What are the two types of regularity and order?
Spartial order/regularities of co-presence = the way objects behave in space
Temporal order/regularities of succession= the way objects behave in time
What is swinburne’s argument?
Regularities of succession occur both as a result of natural laws and as a result of free human action
2 they can be explained but the rational choices of a free agent
I.e. When I told my friend to turn up on time, they did
3 this is because they have the ability and intelligence to bring about regularities of succession
4 regularities of succession that are natural laws like gravity cannot be explained in reference to other natural laws
5 they can be explained by the rational choices of a free agent
6 the universe and its natural laws are immense and complex
7 therefore regularities of succession in the natural world can only be fully explained by a free agent
Why does Swinburne included criticisms for the design argument ?
By showing the limitations, he can focus on the parts of the arguments that actually work
What are Swinburne’s 4 responses to Hume’s criticisms?
2 conceded
2 arguments back
“We have no experience of world making”
- Swinburne says both theories have been tested and respected
2 “it is possible that appearance of design occurred through natural processes”
This is aimed at arguments based on “regularities of co-presence”
Random processes can bring about occasional spatial order but cannot be applied to natural laws. Therefore it does not effect his argument
3 “the argument does not demonstrate the existence of a perfect being”
Swinburne is prepared to concede this.
He does say however that it does prove the existence of an immensely powerful free rational disembodied agent. Who shapes the universe
4 “arguments from analogy are weak”
He is prepared to concede that analogy between human productions and the universe may be considered too weak to support the conclusion
What are the criticisms of Swinburne’s design argument ?
Weak analogy
- between human behaviour and natural laws
Mysterious nature of natural laws
Natural laws remaining regular over time are a mystery
- Swinburne develops a “God of the gaps” theory as it does not follow that the only explanation for the regularity of the universe is due to them being held in place by a rational, powerful, dis-embodied free agent
