Sample Essay Question

Give the argument from design for the existence of God. What is one objection to this argument? Do you think this problem is devestating for the argument? Why or why not?

The argument from design can be set out as follows:

1. The universe contains seemingly arranged and organized entities (plants and animals)

2. Arranged and organized entities are best explained by an intelligent designer.

3. Therefore, an intelligent designer is responsible for the universe.

4. That intelligent designer is God.

Therefore God exists

This is an argument from best explanation, so we have to ask ourselves whether an intelligent designer is the best explanation for the existence of plants and animals on our planet. One might argue that evolution is a better explanation since it can better explain certain features of animals and plants such as the fact that some animals have nonfunctioning parts (such as teeth on whales.) These parts might have had some function in the past, but, through evolution, are no longer necessary. For example, perhaps whales once ate larger fish (now I think they mostly eat plankton) and later evolved to change their diet.

I do think this objection is devastating for the design argument. The design argument proponent might say that there is a reason (perhaps one we can't understand) why God would include these kinds of parts on animals, but any kind of explanation like this would, by necessity, be rather complicated. Therefore, I think Ockham's razor would push us in favor of an evolutionary explanation rather than God for the existence of complicated entities.