Transcript Darwin`s View on the Teleological Argument

Darwin’s View on the Teleological
Argument
Versions of the
Teleological Argument
Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
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British scientist, who laid the foundation of modern evolutionary
theory with his concept of the development of all forms of life
through the slow-working process of natural selection.
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His work was of major influence on life and earth sciences and on
modern thought in general.
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His book, ‘On the Origin of the Species by Means of Natural
Selection.’ Which was published in 1985, challenges the argument
for design.
He provided an alternative explanation for the design of the world,
without reference to creation by God.
Natural Selection & Survival of the
Fittest
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Darwin called the principle by which species develop natural
selection.
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The fittest, healthiest members of the species survive, and their
characteristics become a part of the character species.
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He argued that random variations, which gave the best
advantage to a plant or an animal in the struggle for survival,
resulted in the survival of the fittest member of the species.
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Random variations in a species become a feature of that
species where they promote the survival of that species.
Natural Selection Continued.
Organism produce more offspring that can survive.
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There are variations between these individual offspring.
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Some of these variations turn out to be favourable as the organisms struggle
to survive in its particular environment.
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These offspring therefore survive better than their siblings who do not have
the variation. Theses successful variants are more attractive to potential
mates, and variations become an established characteristic of the species.
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The offspring with that variation therefore are more successful, and
produce more offspring themselves. Meanwhile the less successful
offspring (those without the variation) die.
Thomas Malthus
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Darwin drew on the work of Thomas Malthus (1766-1834).
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He had argued that the world has a built - in regulator which
controls the population levels of living creatures.
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Malthus proposed ‘The Malthusian principle of population
control .’
According to Malthus, a species will thrive in ideal conditions for
survival. The population will then being to grow. When the
environment begins to struggle to support the population, disease
and pestilence spread. The population level begins to suffer as
famines and epidemics begin to reduce in number.
Conclusion
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Darwin argued that the apparent design is in
fact the result of a natural and random process.
The ‘The Origin of the Species’ led many
people to claim that a belief in God was no
longer necessary to explain the way in which
the natural world has developed.
Strengths of Darwin’s theory
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Evolution evaluates and gives reason as to the
cause for extinct species, such as Dinosaurs.
It allows and accepts constant change in the
environment through many centuries, whereby
the strongest species may adapt.
It is to this day the most widely spread and
traditional argument against the existence of
God.
Weaknesses of Darwin
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With regards to survival of the fittest, if this be the
case. Darwin saying that humans born with
disabilities or abnormalities are unviable? Should
they cease to exist?
A concrete criticism of this theory comes from David
Hume, “when we infer any particular cause from
effect, we must proportion the one to the other, and
can never be allowed to ascribe to the cause any
qualities but what are exactly sufficient to produce
the effect”. The argument here is that even if we can
postulate a designer, we cannot infer our way to the
God of Christianity.
… continued
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Swinburne feels that this argument is flawed
because it denies science the ability to explain
by “postulating on reasonable grounds that the
cause of an effect has certain characteristics
other than those sufficient to produce the
effect.”