Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Des Critcism4 - Humemill
Des Critcism4 - Humemill
Strengths
Firstly the argument has great appeal. The universe and all of it’s beauty
continue to amaze and perplex us. It seems quite right therefore that the
DA has continued to have attention paid to it in the contemporary period.
Consider the quotation from the great German philosopher and theologian
Immanuel Kant in ‘The Critique of Pure Reason’ : “This proof always
deserves to be mentioned with respect. It is the oldest, the clearest, and
the most accordant with the common reason of mankind”. (18 th C).
The premises are easy to understand. Many recognise them as valid (even
if they are atheists). Even the great critic David Hume said: ‘ A purpose, an
intention, a design, strikes everywhere the most careless, the most stupid
thinker’. Indeed it is an posteriori argument – draws upon experience and
it’s analogical form means that we can relate to is in some way. Poets and
hymn writers all praise the ‘craftsmanship of nature’.