Essay plan containing arguments and counter-arguments for the design argument. I used this plan when writing an essay in class, for which I got 26/30 marks (A grade)
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Philosophy and Ethics: Chapter 1.3: Exam question plan
‘There is no design in the universe.’ Discuss. (30 marks)
AGREE DISAGREE
Epicurus. John Stuart Mill
Darwin ‘On the Origin of Species’ – Evolution Aquinas ‘Summa Theologica’– took inspo from
through natural selection, changes in genes creates Aristotle’s four causes (his work was just being
gradual change in species as they adapt to their rediscovered in Europe Middle Ages) and he was
environment allowing them to survive. No creator looking to harmonise Aristotle’s ideas with
God, no purpose given by a divine power, just down Christianity. Fifth Way – there is order and purpose
to chance. in the universe which comes from the will of God.
Dawkins ‘The Blind Watchmaker’ – ‘the complex, Most natural/living things lack knowledge (eg, our
improbable Appearance of Design’ ‘temptation to heart), but are consistently working towards a
attribute appearance of design to actual design is a goal/end/telos, we are directed by an intelligent
false one’ Evolution is a much better explanation. being (God). Analogy of the archer and the arrow.
We are just survival machines for DNA, no other ‘some intelligent being exists by whom all natural
purpose. Empirical evidence (DNA, fossils) things are directed to their end; and this being we
call God.’ World not created by chance – ‘not
fortuitously, but designedly’
David Hume ‘Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion’ William Paley ‘Natural Theology’ (1802) – the watch
– Scottish philosopher, book published 20 years analogy; someone comes across a watch on a heath,
before Paley’s. Objections to Paley – aptness of would not think it just happened there by chance,
analogy, the epicurean thesis, argument from effect but that it was created by a designer, it is complex
to cause. By using a watch as a comparison, Paley and intricate, compared to the human body (eg,
already proved his point, would the conclusion be eye), so there must be a divine intelligence that
different if he used a rock/cabbage instead made it. We don’t have to see it being made,
(remember fallacy of composition) The universe doesn’t have to be perfect, and we don’t have to
could exist by chance, particles in random motion, understand it fully. ‘Like effects have like causes.’
and may just give the appearance of design. Similar Supported by biblical evidence Romans 1:20 – ‘his
effects can be created by different causes (eg, the invisible attributes… have been clearly perceived,
scales, with one side covered, we can only guess the ever since the creation of the world, in the things
cause, but not know for certain, even if we have that have been made.’ Things are made with
some knowledge of possible causes), there may be purpose by a caring God, who puts effort and detail
designer but its not necessarily God – could be into things. Lots of development in science when he
multiple Gods, an impersonal God (deism) ‘this was active (18th century), influenced by Newton who
world… was only the first rude essay of some infant said the world is a machine-like system
deity, who afterwards abandoned it’
--- Socrates – ‘with such signs of forethought in the
design of living creatures, can you doubt they are
the work of design?’
--- Christians believe in the design argument. John 1:3 –
‘All things were made through him, and without him
was any thing made that was made.’
Psalm 19 – ‘The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands’
But everything happens ‘against all odds.’ There has F.R Tennant – the Anthropic Principle. The universe
to be some sort of result/outcome, not that crazy is fine tuned for human life to exist and thrive (eg,
that it happens to be a universe that supports gravity, gases in the atmosphere), against all odds,
human life. points to a creator.
--- Swinburne – the simplest and most economical
explanation is that God created the universe
(Occom’s razor) Probability theory. Temporal order:
arrangement of events in time
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