What Is Darwin's Argument Against Design
Explain Darwin’s theory of Evolution and how it presents arguments against design and a designer. (30) A01
To answer this question productively, I must first, of course, explain both Darwin’s theory of evolution and the Design or teleological argument (D.A). Both offer a fairly comprehensive explanation of how the world came to be what it is today.
We will first start with the theory of evolution. Charles Robert Darwin, was born on the 12th of February 1809, and is the founder of evolutionary theory. He initially planned to follow a medical career, and studied medicine, but later switched to divinity. In 1831, he joined a five year scientific expedition on the survey ship, HMS beagle. While on the ship, Darwin read Lyell’s ‘Principles of Geology’ which suggested that the fossils found in rocks were actually evidence of animals that had lived many thousands or millions of years ago. But, Lyell’s argument was instated and reinforced in Darwin’s own mind when the ship reached the Galapagos Island. Here he observed the rich variety of animal life and this is where the inspiration for his theory came. Darwin noticed that each island supported its own form of finch; they were closely related between islands but had key differences. On Darwin’s return, he …show more content…
Aquinas and Paley both argue that nature is too complex and orderly and has in-built goals- which are inexplicable. They infer that there must be an intelligent designer- God. But thanks to Darwin, evolution provides an alternative explanation for the ordered, complexity and purpose of our world and the universe. There is a perfectly explicable natural process at work, which clearly explains the complexity, variety and apparent design of the living world. If taking Darwin’s theory, plants and animals have evolved step by step without the need for a designer. Neither purpose nor design is implicit in
To answer this question productively, I must first, of course, explain both Darwin’s theory of evolution and the Design or teleological argument (D.A). Both offer a fairly comprehensive explanation of how the world came to be what it is today.
We will first start with the theory of evolution. Charles Robert Darwin, was born on the 12th of February 1809, and is the founder of evolutionary theory. He initially planned to follow a medical career, and studied medicine, but later switched to divinity. In 1831, he joined a five year scientific expedition on the survey ship, HMS beagle. While on the ship, Darwin read Lyell’s ‘Principles of Geology’ which suggested that the fossils found in rocks were actually evidence of animals that had lived many thousands or millions of years ago. But, Lyell’s argument was instated and reinforced in Darwin’s own mind when the ship reached the Galapagos Island. Here he observed the rich variety of animal life and this is where the inspiration for his theory came. Darwin noticed that each island supported its own form of finch; they were closely related between islands but had key differences. On Darwin’s return, he …show more content…
Aquinas and Paley both argue that nature is too complex and orderly and has in-built goals- which are inexplicable. They infer that there must be an intelligent designer- God. But thanks to Darwin, evolution provides an alternative explanation for the ordered, complexity and purpose of our world and the universe. There is a perfectly explicable natural process at work, which clearly explains the complexity, variety and apparent design of the living world. If taking Darwin’s theory, plants and animals have evolved step by step without the need for a designer. Neither purpose nor design is implicit in