An Introduction to Design Arguments (Cambridge Introductions to Philosophy)
Cambridge University Press, 2/27/2014
EAN 9780521183031, ISBN10: 0521183030
Paperback, 352 pages, 24.4 x 17 x 2 cm
Language: English
The history of design arguments stretches back to before Aquinas, who claimed that things which lack intelligence nevertheless act for an end to achieve the best result. Although science has advanced to discredit this claim, it remains true that many biological systems display remarkable adaptations of means to ends. Versions of design arguments have persisted over the centuries and have culminated in theories that propose an intelligent designer of the universe. This volume is the only comprehensive survey of 2,000 years of debate, drawing on both historical and modern literature to identify, clarify and assess critically the many forms of design argument for the existence of God. It provides a neutral, informative account of the topic from antiquity to Darwin, and includes concise primers on probability and cosmology. It will be of great value to upper-level undergraduates and graduates in philosophy of religion, theology, and philosophy of science.
Preface
1. Introduction
2. Preliminaries
3. Arguments from antiquity
4. Medieval arguments
5. The golden age of natural theology
6. Unusual design arguments
7. Hume
8. Paley
9. Darwin
10. Loose ends
11. The modern likelihood argument
12. Intelligent design I
irreducible complexity
13. Intelligent design II
specified complexity
14. What is complexity?
15. Supernatural agents and the role of laws
16. A brief survey of physical law
17. Fine-tuning I
positive arguments
18. Fine-tuning II
objections
19. Conclusion.