Strengths of the Design Argument

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What did Paley believe?
World worked like a machine- made up of parts all working towards the benefit of the whole.
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How did this 'machine' [the world] work?
It worked in a methodical and constant way that could not be the result of sheer chance, towards and end or goal.
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(INDUCTIVE LEAP)
This is proof of an intelligent design.
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Paley's view was that if we found a stone, we might just think it had always been there. However if we came across a watch, we would think differently because:
It has a purpose; it works in a specific way; it has regularity and order; Therefore it must have been designed.
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EXAM TIP
Don't just tell the story. Instead add useful detail to the story. i.e Paley accepted that the watch analogy could serve only to demonstrate that there was a designer, and that it does not tell us anything about the nature of the designer.
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Was Swinburne in support of the Design Argument?
He argued strongly in support of the Design argument.
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What did Swinburne claim?
That the universe fits perfectly for the development of human life- its what you would expect from a loving creator. God is best explanation for this creator because of his providential nature of the universe.
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What's the providential nature of the universe?
It contains everything necessary for human survival (air, water, food) within it.
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How many features did Swinburne say increased the likelihood of the universe being designed?
Seven
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1.-
The existence of the universe.
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2.-
The existence of order in the universe.
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3.-
The existence of consciousness.
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4.-
Human opportunities to be morally good.
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5.-
The patterns of history.
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6.-
Miracles.
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7.-
Religious experience.
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What's possible to argue? (evolution, natural selection)
God created the laws that govern natural selection- because through them animals and humans would evolve.
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What is natural selection?
The biological process by which certain animals become more or less common due to genetic characteristics and changes.
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Swinburne quote in favor of God in natural selection, science etc:
'The very success of science in showing us how deeply orderly the natural world is, provides strong grounds for believing that there is an even deeper cause of that order.'
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What does Swinburne argue?
Everything works together in an orderly way ('regularity of co-presence'); The orderly pattern of the universe is very simple ('regularity of succession'); The easiest and most simple explanation for the universe is that it has a cosmic designer.
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EXAM TIP:
When quoting scholar refer to name of scholar to re-enforce your answer, not simply blank quote.
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Who was F.R Tennant?
English Theologian 1866-1957; supported Design argument.
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What did Tennant claim?
The existence of an intelligent designer not just in order but in beauty of universe. (nature, music, art and literature) Aesthetic principle.
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What is the Aesthetic principle?
The beauty in the world is proof of an intelligent design.
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What was Tennant's second claim?
The Universe is more than just orderly; it possesses a natural beauty beyond that which is necessary to live.
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Tennant quote:
Nature is not just beautiful in places; it is saturated with beauty- on the telescope and microscopic scale. Our scientific knowledge brings us no nearer to understanding the beauty of music. From an intelligibility point of view, beauty seems to be-
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Continued...
-superfluous and to have little survival value.
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Who was John Polkinghorne?
A British theologian 1930.
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What did he argue?
The beauty of natural laws suggest they did not just happen by chance. The universe is not fixed and unchanging, but that God interacts with creation by 'conducting the improvised performance of the unvierse' The very existence and nature of the -
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Continued points of Polkinghorne-
-physical universe is proof of the existence of a designer. This is anthropic principle.
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What are the natural laws?
The laws of nature, upon which science is based, that govern the way the universe seems to operate.
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What is Anthropic principle?
The world was designed to support human life.
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Who is Stephen Hawking?
Theoretical physicist (1942-present)
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What did he argue?
Evolution could allow for the existence of God as an intelligent designer because evolution could be the mechanism through which God's creation took place.
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What are the main weaknesses of the Design argument?
It is based on the human notion of design. However, the universe was not created by humans so we cannot know that it was designed. The assumption that the universe works in an orderly way.
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Who is David Hume?
Scottish philosopher 1711-1776 (critic)
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What was his first two points of argument?
Paley's watch analogy was unsound, since we have no certain knowledge of the universe in the way that we do have certain knowledge of the watch. The universe is unique and cannot be compared to anything else, certainly not a watch.
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What are his third and fourth points of argument?
Whilst we must agree that parts of the universe appear to have a purpose, how can we know for certain? This leads to anthropmorphism, where in this case- God's qualities and characteristics are identified with those of humans.
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What is antrhopmorphism?
Attributing human characteristics to concepts, objects or other animals.
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What are the 5th and 6th points of his argument?
If God is compared with a human designer, then it serves only to limit his powers. If the universe is designed, then it is very poorly designed.
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What is the 7th point of Hume's argument?
No supreme designer would have created a universe with so much suffering. Hume observed: 'The world is very faulty and imperfect...it is the work only of some inferior deity.'
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EXAM TIP:
end questions with good argument and evidence: Hume's views by saying that the presence of order in the universe could be explained without God. There may be grounds for saying that the designer is a highly intelligent being- doesn't have to be god
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Who is Charles Darwin?
English naturalist 1809-82- formulated the theory of evolution- which offered an alternative explanation to the Design argument.
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Why did Darwin claim evolution proved the D argument was wrong?
Life developed in evolutionary steps. Living things change and adapt to fit in with their environment. The environment was not made by God for living things. (Because they have to change for it) There is too much suffering in the world for it to-
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Continued darwin views:
-have been made by a loving god. (natural disasters)
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Why Darwin may be wrong:
He fails to answer the question why there is life at all. There are gaps in fossil records meaning there are not enough empirical evidence to support Darwin's theory.
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Who is Richard Dawkins?
British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins (1941) criticised the Design Argument.
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What did Dawkins believe?
The Universe evolved as a series of chances. The design of the universe does not show its purpose. In television programme 'the root of all evil' Dawkins claimed that creation has nothing to do with God and that we are 'grotesquely lucky to be here'.
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EXAM TIP:
Dawkins is popular use him! Quote: Natural selection...has no vision, no foresight, no sight at all. If it can be said to play the role of the watchmaker in nature, it is the blind watchmaker.'
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What's an important challenge to the Design argument?
Evil and suffering. (However is topic in next question, so don't spend too much time on this.)
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Mill quote:
If God was indeed creator he must be either limited in power or not all-loving. 'If the Maker of the world can do all that he will, he wills misery and there is no escaping that conclusion.'
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What is the sum-up, conclusion of the Design argument?
Although the design argument has existed for thousands of years, it offers no actual proof and is based on many assumptions. It succeeds in proving that the universe is very probably ordered, so that the universe may have been designed.
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EXAM TIP:
Always save a good quote for last. Kant- This proof always deserves to be mentioned with respect. It is the oldest, clearest and the most accordant with the common reason of mankind'.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

How did this 'machine' [the world] work?

Back

It worked in a methodical and constant way that could not be the result of sheer chance, towards and end or goal.

Card 3

Front

(INDUCTIVE LEAP)

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Paley's view was that if we found a stone, we might just think it had always been there. However if we came across a watch, we would think differently because:

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

EXAM TIP

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

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