Explain and illustrate two criticisms of the claim that the world is a product of design.
1. That the world is not ordered – there is evidence of poor design e.g volcanoes (natural
evil)
2. The world does not show purpose, it is more like a plant than a machine.
3. The epicurean hypothesis – monkeys and type writers.
4. Kant – total refutation of design argument.
The first criticism of the design argument that I will consider is the Epicurean claim that the
universe could well have come about through chance. This argument claims that given enough
time (infinitely long!) that the conditions for apparent design will come about. An example to
demonstrate this is the claim that in a box of watch parts which is shaken for long enough that the
parts will come together (eventually) in such a way that they show apparent order but without a
designer. Therefore this argument undermines Paley’s version f the deign argument based on
apparent purpose in the world.
The second criticism I will consider is that of Kant’s total refutation of the design argument.
Kant claims that we impose order on the world through our innate conceptual schemes. Kant
claims that there are twelve categories which structure our experience and make it possible.
Examples of these schemes are of cause and effect, time, number and unity. Given that we have
these two schemes in place it is impossible that we view the world in anything but an ordered
way. This argument therefore undermines Swinburne’s formulation of the design argument
which argues that the appearance of order in the world can only be explained by reference to a
supernatural being.
(b) Assess the claim that God exists. (30)
Motivate the claim then criticise it then conclude.
Thesis:
In this essay I will argue that God does not exist as a real object. I will
base this on the failure of the design argument, the inability to reconcile God and
evil and finally that the claim God exists is best understood in an anti-realist
framework.
 Design qua purpose – Paley.
o That the world is not ordered – there is evidence of poor design e.g
volcanoes (natural evil)
o The world does not show purpose, it is more like a plant than a
machine.
o The epicurean hypothesis – monkeys and type writers.
 Design qua regularity – Swinburne
o How do we explain God
o Kant – total refutation of design argument.
o God of classical theism- can we arrive at a GOO god with Swinburne
– (Hume explanation goes far beyond the need to explain)
 Even if Swinburne can show the existence of a GOO god through the design
argument the concept of a GOO god is logically incompatible with the
existence of Evil.
o Augustinian
o Iranean
o Soul making and the afterlife
 Both of the above arguments deal with ‘God exists’ as if it were a hypothesis
to be argued about. Both Hick and Wittgenstein would argue that this is not
the case.
o For religious people life is an encounter with God as they experience
God in their ordinary interactions. This depends on the claim of
seeing as. Therefore of existing is directly given by experience, not
dependent on argument.
o Problems.
o Religious claims need to be understood within the context of language games, not
in isolation. (Wittgenstein)