Design Argument Flashcards
List the premises of Paley’s Design Argument
- A watch has complex and purposefully functioning parts
- Must have been designed
- Must have been designed by a designer
- The universe is comparable to the watch
- Designer must have a mind distinct from what it designed
- Universe must have been designed by something distinct from it
Therefore, the universe was designed by a perfect designer; God
Outline Paley’s Criticisms and replies to his Design Argument
- People generally don’t really know much about watchmaking so we have no basis for inferring it had been designed
- In response, a bronze mechanism was found near a Greek island in 1902. Although we can’t know how it was made, we can understand that it was designed
- The watch may be flawed in some way, and by the analogy that means the universe could be flawed and imperfect, suggesting the designer isn’t perfect
- In response, Paley says flaws don’t denounce the possibility of design
List Hume’s four criticisms of the Design Argument
- World-Making
- Weak Analogy
- Design Through Random Process
- Design Does Not Show God Exists
Explain Hume’s ‘World-Making’ criticism of the Design Argument (include response)
- We do have experience of watchmaking
- But we DO NOT have experience of world-making so we cannot reasonably suppose that the universe was designed
- In response, Paley could say we don’t need experience of the whole process of design to infer a designer
- However, Hume could press his point by saying watches are components of the universe anyway and is not a good comparison to make
Explain Hume’s ‘Weak Analogy’ criticism of the Design Argument
- Good analogies will show use how two things are similar in relevant respects and use objects familiar to us to encourage understanding
- Hume says Paley’s analogy is weak, as the two components are vastly dissimilar, and most of us have little knowledge of watchmaking
- It is also said that complex machines are designed through trial and error, and that the analogy could imply the existence of many botched attempts at a universe. Maybe we live in a failed attempt.
Explain Hume’s ‘Design Through Random Process’ criticism of the Design Argument
- It is possible that the universe originated by chance
- Darwin’s theory also argues against the need for a designer, as adaptation and survival-of-the-fittest is the reason we are capable of surviving. Not design.
Explain Hume’s ‘Design Does Not Show God Exists’ criticism of the Design Argument (include response)
- Complex machines are usually the result of a team effort, so maybe there’s a team of Gods?
- Designers are probably more like humans, foolish and morally weak. Maybe they are of both sexes and reproduce just as we do
- Considering the amount of evil, maybe the designer(s) is not omnipotent or benevolent
-In response, Brian Davies says that for if human designers created the universe then they are bound by the same laws that all humans are, therefore saying that humans created humans (and the universe) is illogical
Outline Kant’s objections to the Design Argument
Kant believes the design argument is worthy of respect, although it still fails.
- Firstly, the argument does show evidence of purpose and design, but not that God created the universe, only that he designed it. He also says that materials are needed to construct things, which is a flaw in the argument.
- Secondly, the argument may prove an intelligent designer, but does not prove a perfect God. It is an EMPIRICAL and INDUCTIVE argument. God’s divine attributes are not proved in the argument.
Briefly outline Swinburne’s Design Argument
-We can infer something has been designed if they: tend toward a particular goal or display some kind of order or regularity
Explain Swinburne’s concept of “Regularities of Succession”
- Laws of nature; things in nature act with order and predictability. Everything can be calculated or explained scientifically, for Swinburne, this proves the existence of God.
- Swinburne titles two explanations of this orderliness, science or God. Science can’t explain WHY there is order, therefore the universe and it’s laws were created and sustained by an intelligent being
Outline and explain the strengths of Swinburne’s Design Argument (his replies to Hume)
- World Making
- Swinburne says Hume is wrong to criticise the design argument on those basis, as scientific proceedings/discoveries come from theories - Design Through Random Process
- Evolution cannot show why the universe operate according to certain laws. ‘Regularities of Succession’, does; as this explains where the laws of nature come from - Design Does Not Show God Exists
- The argument may not prove the God of classical theism exists, but it does prove a being who has many of his qualities, and the being closest to that who is implied IS the God of classical theism
