‘Paley’s arguments are weaker than the criticisms of them’. Discuss.

Question 1

Paragraph 1- Paley c + p

Answer 1

-design qua purpose observe in natural objects best explained by design
-watch analogy- if walking across heath and come across rock could think it’s always been lying thereabout if come across watch suggests it hasn’t
-parts intricately composed to produce motion which meticulously regulated to hours and minutes of day
-complexity arranged t perfume purpose
-complexity and purpose could come ab by chance must have been a designer. things in universe that indicate purpose- birds wing designed for purpose of flight, lacteal system in mammals
-C + P in watch indicate watchmaker so C + P in universe indicate universe designer. for Paley designer is God.

Question 2

P1- criticism of watch analogy

Answer 2

-apparent purpose is chance- look purposeful but evolved
-Finches in Galapagos (CD) evolved beaks to survive on different islands
-result of chance, random mutations w/ survival adv so appear designed

Question 3

response to evolution

Answer 3

-F.R. Tennant Anthropic principle
-combine evolution and design argument
-world finely balanced to allow life, if sun was further away life couldn’t exist
-favourable conditions for humans to evolve suggest designer

Question 4

Paragraph 2- analogies

Answer 4

-Hume analogies can lead to mistaken conclusions
-choosing machine already decided outcome wanted
-machines have makers so when p projects this on universe inevitably concludes universe has mare
-universe not machine, Hume argues cabbage more appropriate to compare as living organism which is growing/changing
-complex in design but no cabbage maker
-logical fallacy making leap from God from watchmaker
-scales analogy- can observe design in world but cannot observe weight on the other side

Question 5

critique of analogy argument

Answer 5

A. Brown- Ozone layer just right for life so must be designer

Question 6

response to Ozone argument

Answer 6

-fallacy of composition
-just bc things in universe have designer doesn’t necessarily follow universe as a whole does

Question 7

Paragraph 3- EH

Answer 7

-epicurean hypothesis
-given infinite time and particles universe would come into existence
-equally likely to occur by chance
-order and regularity point to fact there’s order and regularity in universe not that there’s a designer
-no overall purpose or planned design
-apparent purpose result of chance so no need for designer.