Design Argument🧰

Question 1

Inductive reasoning

Answer 1

Bottom up approaching
Uncertain conclusion
Based on probability and experience

Question 2

A posteriori argument

Answer 2

Relies on external evidence to come to conclusion

Question 3

Interpretation of experience

Answer 3

Experience is the best authority when it comes to knowledge

If you experienced something it must be true

Question 4

What does the design Argument seek to explain?

Answer 4

Order
Benefit
Purpose
Suitability of human life

Question 5

Fifth way: The argument from intelligent design

Answer 5

The universe could not happen by chance, since most subjects do not have the intelligence to work towards an end purpose; must be directed by something intelligent

Question 6

Design qua Purpose

- Paley’s Argument

Answer 6

The universe appears to have been designed to fulfil some purpose

Question 7

AO2: Design qua Purpose

Answer 7

• The purpose of something may not be clear
• something’s do not have a purpose
• not everything fulfils it’s purpose

Question 8

Design qua Regularity

- FR Tennant

Answer 8

Universe appears to behave according to some order of rules

- gravity could not exist without a designing principle

Question 9

AO2: Design qua Regularity

Answer 9

• what we think are rules are not perfect

* the Big Bang could have created regularity

Question 10

Richard swinburne said

Answer 10

Probability of design is greater than chance

Question 10

Ockham’s razor

Answer 10

Simplest explanation is the right one

Question 12

FR Tennant

Answer 12

• A chaotic universe could not exist
• Universe designed to support life
• Evolution supports human development
• Humans are aesthetic; therefore designed
• Anthropic universe ‘finely tuned’ for development

Question 13

AO2: Ockham’s razor

Answer 13

• How can God be the simplest answer
• Simplest explanation can not explain the complexity of universe
• Not enough proof to say God created world

Question 14

Advantages of the design argument

Answer 14

Argues that the universe has a creator: God
This is the simplest explanation for creation - Ockham’s razor
Rejects the view of infinite regress

Question 15

Disadvantages of the design argument

Answer 15

It uses analogy to describe the universe and its designer
It anthropomorphises God - giving human qualities
It is assumed that there is a designer just because we see the design - Big bang?
Dawkins - offering mythological explanations when science does not have all the answers

Question 19

Aesthetic

Answer 19

Things we can appreciate

• literature
• music
• art

Question 20

Anthropic

Answer 20

Universe finely tuned for human development

Question 21

AO2: Paley’s analogy

Answer 21

Hume - Anthropomorphises God
  = divineness removed
  = imperfect designer
  = limits his power
  = could be numerous gods 
Darwin - Evolution 
  = apparent design due to natural random processes