philosophy design arguments

Teleological Arguments

telos = purpose or end

argument from analogy

take two objects with many known features ask: do those objects share feature ‘f’?

what do you need to ask in an analogical argument?

are the features relevant to answering the question?

Analogy of the Design Argument

comparing man-made machines (watch) to natural world (eyeball)

features in common: intricate complexity, parts working together for a certain function

question: do they also share the feature of having an intelligent designer?

Analogical Argument from Design #1

man-made machines are products of intelligent design (e.g. watches, computers)

Analogical Argument from Design #2

Many natural parts of the universe resemble machines (parts working together in complex ways to perform a function)

Analogical Argument from Design #3

like effects have like causes

Analogical Argument from Design #4

therefore, the universe (or at least many of its natural parts) is probably the product of intelligent design

Analogical Argument from Design #5

therefore, the universe was probably designed by God

Cleanthes in Hume argument

experimental theist - Design Argument, believes in God

Philo in Hume argument

skeptic, not a theist (doesn’t believe in God)

Demea in Hume argument

faith-based theist (design argument doesn’t work but has faith in God)

Hume’s critique

1. is the analogy weak? (need strong analogies to draw conclusion)

   • questions premise (2)

   • if analogy is weak, then argument fails at premise 4 (can’t get to premise 4)

2. if the analogy is strong, then the argument fails to get from 4 to 5 (intelligent creator does not equal God)

   • can’t pick and choose features of the cause

cause of machines (and therefore, cause of natural world)

group, intelligent, embodied, finite, mortal, imperfect

Abductive Argument from Design #1

the universe exhibits intricate order and apparent purposefulness

Abductive Argument from Design #2

the best explanation of #1 Is that the universe is the product of intelligent design

Abductive Argument from Design #3

therefore, probably the universe was designed by God

arguments from the best explanation

• always relative to competing evidence

• must consider all possible explanations

  • conclusions are always (potentially) reversible (new evidence)

support for premise 2 of Abductive Argument

possible explanations of the order of the universe:

1. God

2. unlawlike random chance (can’t make predictions, not a good explanation)

3. Darwinian natural selection (lawlike explanation, order emerges as a result of forces of natural selection, hypothesis simple, predictive)

Ockham’s Razor (principle of simplicity)

don’t multiple entities beyond necessity

while God is a better explanation that random chance, it pales it comparison to natural selection

scientific theory

a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world

guessing theory

a mere assumption of guess based on limited info/knowledge

evolution = ___ theory

scientific!

(represents facts, well-supported, can’t be doubted)