Intelligent Design: Lesson Plan

Intelligent Design: Appeal to Purpose - Philosophy of Religion Series | Academy 4 Social Change

Topic

Intelligent design, also known as the teleological argument, is an argument fo r the existence of God that contends that the order and patterns present in the universe are evidence for God’s existence.

Possible subjects/classes Time needed

● Philosophy 30-40 minutes ● Religion

Video link: https://academy4sc.org/topic/intelligent-design-appeal-to-purpose/

Objective: What will students know/be able to do at the end of class?

Students will be able to... ● Articulate Paley’s watch and watchmaker argument by analogy. ● Explain how the argument from intelligent design attempts to prove God’s existence. ● Describe Wittgenstein’s objection to the argument from intelligent design.

Key Concepts & Vocabulary

Teleological, Omnibenevolence, Sound Argument

Materials Needed

Worksheet

Before you watch

Quick write: Have students quickly jot down some aspects of the natural world that amaze them and why. Ask them to consider whether they seem intended or purposeful.

While you watch

Intelligent Design: Appeal to Purpose - Philosophy of Religion Series | Academy 4 Social Change

1. What is another name for the argument by intelligent design? 2. What philosopher created the watch and watchmaker analogy? 3. What philosopher argued that the “order” of the world may not be intended?

After you watch/discussion questions

1. How might this ordering of the world be uniquely purposeful? 2. How can the theory of evolution detract from or add to the argument from intelligent design? 3. Do you think that everything in nature was created with a purpose? 4. What might theists be unintentionally committed to when they compare the intelligence of humans to the intelligence of God? (Hint: Humans also make mistakes! Their creations and intelligence are fallible.)

Activity Ideas

● After watching the video, ask students to reconsider their list of natural features they find amazing. Have a class discussion around the following questions: Could any of these things overcome Wittgenstein’s objection against order in the world? Do these things strike them as amazing because they are ordered or because of another reason? ● Have students get into small groups and recreate Paley’s argument by analogy with two different objects. Ask them to choose a natural feature or object to use as an argument by analogy. They should consider why this object is ordered and therefore resembles a specific human creation. For example, they could consider how the similarities between the complexity of human anatomy and iPhones reflect similarities in their creators. After 10 minutes, each group can share their analogy with the class. ● Students should talk with their neighbors about Paley’s argument by analogy for 5-10 minutes. Put the following questions on the board to discuss: Is there order in the world? Can an atheist appeal to evolution as an explanation for natural order? Are there conceptual problems between comparing the intelligence of humans to the intelligence of God? Is the idea of an intelligent creator the same as the concept of God?

Sources/places to learn more

1. Crashcourse. “Intelligent Design: Crash Course Philosophy #11.” Youtube, 25 April 2016, youtube.com .

Intelligent Design: Appeal to Purpose - Philosophy of Religion Series | Academy 4 Social Change

2. Hume, David. “Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, Part II.” Hume Texts Online, 1779, davidhume.org. 3. Philosophy Vibe. “The Teleological Argument (Argument for the Existence of God).” Youtube, 5 November 2017, youtube.com. 4. Ratzsch, Del and Koperski, Jeﬀrey. “Teleological Arguments for God’s Existence.” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Summer 2020, plato.stanford.edu. 5. Swinburne, Richard. The Existence of God. Clarendon Press, 2004.