PHILOS 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Antiscience, Intelligent Designer, Dog Breeding
Document Summary
Mechanism: both conceptualized physical/material reality according to a mechanistic paradigm: nature = mindless machinery of life (195); there is a logic to it, but no intelligence. Matter governed by physical laws of nature; newtonian physics, natural. Philosopher daniel dennett: the evolutionary mechanism works like an algorithm. Argument based on analogy: natural selection is like a tournament. Unlike descartes: darwin"s views, taken to their rational conclusions, do not support the existence of a nonphysical/immaterial reality, e. g. god, gods, souls, minds, ghosts. God = infinite immaterial substance; creator of humans (body + mind) Mind (soul) criteria: reason & language body (inc. brain) Finite immaterial substance (consciousness); not extended in time and space. Darwin"s monism explains reality without need of a creator god. Matter extended in time and space, governed by physical laws of nature; Matter governed by physical laws of nature; newtonian physics. Suggested debate criterion: darwin"s argument uses occam"s razor (or.
