1. Responses to the Design argument

2. David Hume
Richard Swinburne – the argument from probability
F.R. Tennant – the aesthetic argument
The anthropic principle - F.R. Tennant
Improbable order
– objections to the watch analogy

3. Recap on the design argument
Hello! I’m Thomas Aquinas
I’m William Paley!
What problems could there be with the design argument?

4. Arguments against the design argument
– objections to the watch analogy
Design-like properties are evident in nature – really?
The premise that design is evident in nature cannot be deductively justified
Saying that a designer exists does not mean that God exists
Saying that a designer exists may lead you to question how the designer came into existence – a previous designer?

5.
David Hume
Challenges to the analogy
similar effects do not imply similar causes
Just because parts of the universe show design, does not mean that the rest of the universe will too
There may be better analogies – intelligence may not be the cause of the universe
We have no experience of design of a universe – or anything similar
The watch analogy is an anthropomorphic argument – we have made God like a human – God cannot be perfect as the universe is not perfect……there is evil in the world – does this mean that God is evil?
God could be caused – as designers are usually caused – therefore not revealing the original creator at all
There could be other explanations for the apparent order – necessity of order in order to exist

6. Darwin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjBPUt0-Ylw
Rejection of belief in God was due to the death of his daughter rather than his evolutionary theory
Natural selection
Random variation
No need to resort to a designer or orderliness – chance can produce an orderly and complex result

7. Richard Dawkins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDdn0UPDjmk
Watch argument is a superficial argument - bad argument by analogy and bad by logic
Many people think the only alternative to chance is design – however what about Darwin, natural selection and evolution?
If suggesting design – where does the designer come from?

8. Richard Swinburne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y52I3aNbMYg
Cumulative evidence
Orderliness of the universe – governed by scientific laws
Makes sense that a God should have created it in this way

9. F.R. Tennant https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Rot6v1mcPw
The Anthropic principle – the cosmos is developed for human life
The fact that the perfect conditions for human life exist is proof of the existence of a designer God
It seems rational that the world was created by God as it is so incomprehensible
Its too unlikely just to be chance
Human beings cannot have formed in a random way – they are too complex
Evolution and the Big Bang were designed by God
God reveals himself through the beauty of the world – the Aesthetic principle proves the existence of God - as this is not necessary for survival of the fittest.

10. Plenary
Produce a summary page on the arguments for and against the design argument for the existence of God. This will help you when you get to the assessment point

11. Assessment point
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the Design argument for the existence of God? (30)
Look at the assessment criteria
Look at the questions you should ask yourself before writing
Look at the sentence stems to help you