AQA A-Level Religious Studies - The Design Argument

Whose design argument must we focus on?

William Paley

Where is Aquinas' design argument found?

In his Fifth Way

What is Aquinas' fifth way?

• Everything in nature follows natural laws

• This allows them to fulfil their purpose or end goal (TELOS)

• They can't do this on their own so must be directed by a supremely intelligent being

• This is God

Aquinas fifth way quote

"Hence it is plain that not fortuitously, but designedly, do they achieve their end"

What is an inductive argument?

An argument whose true propositions give reasonable grounds for accepting the truth of the conclusion (it is probably true)

What does a posteriori mean?

depending on sense experience

Is the design argument a posteriori or a priori?

A posteriori

Is the design argument deductive or inductive?

Inductive

What are the three observations about the world Paley bases the argument from?

Its complexity, its regularity and its purpose

What is the summarised version of the argument that Paley formulated from his observations?

• Some objects show clear evidence of design because they exhibit complexity and regularity so must be made for a purpose

• The universe appears to exhibit complexity and regularity so again must be made for a purpose

• Therefore it is likely that the universe was designed

What is the analogy Paley uses in his argument?

• Walking along a heath and finding a stone vs finding a pocket watch and then asking yourself how they came to be

• For a stone you could assume it had been there forever, but with the watch it must have a designer and be there purposefully as it has complex parts that all work together

Where was Paley's analogy published?

Natural Theology

What is natural theology?

The view that questions about God's attributes, nature and existence can be answered without referring to scripture or any other form of special revelation.

What criticisms did Paley anticipate?

• The watch is broken makes argument weaker

• You couldn't work out what the parts did

• There just happens to be a principle of order in material things which had somehow brought the watch into their present form

What were Paley's responses to his anticipated criticisms?

We would still know that the broken watch was designed (and is we couldn't work out what it did), Paley sees and principle of order as nonsense, other than that found in the mind of a watchmaker

What are the premises and the conclusion of Paley's anaogical argument?

1. A watch has many complex parts, each with a function that all work together for a specific purpose

2. So the watch must be designed

3. Similarly, the universe has parts that function together for a purpose

4. So the universe must have been designed by a universe maker

5. The universe is greater than any watch so the designer is beyond human

6. CONCLUSION: The designer is God

What examples of design in the world does Paley use?

The eye and its adaptations, fish and their fins and gills, birds and their feathers and bones, the awe-inspiring planets and stars

Who criticised the design argument?

David Hume

What errors must be avoided when talking about Hume's criticisms of the design argument?

Hume was not commenting on Paley's argument - Hume died before Natural Theology was published, Paley did have knowledge of Hume's criticisms

What are Hume's 5 criticisms of the design argument?

1. Even if the universe was designed, there is no evidence it was the God of Christian Theism

2. The existence of evil and suffering suggests a limited designer

3. Analogies between the way the world work and between machines are unsound (vegetable analogy)

4. To make an analogy between human designers and the designer of the universe is anthropomorphism

5. The universe could be in a completely organised state by chance

What is Hume's analogy that he uses to criticise the design argument?

That the world is more like a vegetable than a machine as it does not need a designer

What are the five weaknesses of the design argument?

1. Even if the universe appears to be designed, attributing it to the God of modern Christian theism may be excessive.

2. The existence of evil in the world questions the designer's omnibenevolence and omnipotence.

3. Hume's claim that the universe resembles a vegetable supports the theory of evolution over intelligent design.

4. Our understanding of creation is anthropomorphic as it comes from limited human experience.

5. If nature can create itself, this raises the possibility that the universe could have originated without a designer.

What are the six strengths of the design argument?

1. Paley may be right to argue that the designer is God as it is the simplest answer

2. Evil may be unavoidable to bring about good

3. Evolution does not discredit the argument because evolution can not explain itself and it is compatible with a belief in God

4. Paley does draw the conclusion that the designer is metaphysical and transcendent

5. Paley's argument that "nature shows intention" becomes stronger when supported by the Anthropic Principle

6. It is a simple inductive argument

What does Paley refer to as a designer rather than God in Natural Theology?

Intelligent designer

What is Occam's Razor?

Accepting the simplest answer

What is the Occam's Razor in relation to the Teleological Argument?

Accepting that the designer is God - it could have been a multitude of other things but using Occam's Razor suggests that positing one simple cause (God) is more reasonable.

Dawkins quotes against Paley

• "Gloriously wrong"

• "The heavens are utterly and blindly indifferent to humanity and everything else"

Swinburne quote in favour of Paley

"Simplicity is always evidence for truth"