Philosophy 100, Fall 2006					

Philosophy of Religion Handout




The Likelihood Principle:

	If the evidence is more likely on hypothesis 1, than it is on hypothesis 2, 
	then the evidence supports hypothesis 1 more than hypothesis 2.



The Argument from Design (Design vs. Chance version):

	1.	Our evidence is likely on the Design Hypothesis.

	2.	Our evidence is not likely, on the Chance Hypothesis.

	3.	If our evidence is more likely on the Design Hypothesis than it is on 
		the Chance Hypothesis, then our evidence supports the Design Hypothesis 
		more than the Chance Hypothesis.

	4.	Our evidence supports the Design Hypothesis more than the Chance 
		Hypothesis.



Two hypotheses about the origin of the watch:

	The Design Hypothesis: some intelligent being made the watch.

	The Chance Hypothesis: the watch is the product of chance processes.



Definition: To say that an outcome is a product of a chance process is to say that it was one of a number of equally probably outcomes.



Three hypotheses about the origin of the eye:

	The Design Hypothesis: some intelligent being made the eye---one far more 
	powerful than any human.

	The Chance Hypothesis: the eye is the product of chance processes.
	
	The Evolution Hypothesis: the eye is the product of evolution by natural 
	selection.
	
	
	
The Argument from Design (Design vs. Evolution version):

	1.	Our evidence is likely on the Design Hypothesis.

	2.	Our evidence is not likely, on the Evolution Hypothesis.

	3.	If our evidence is more likely on the Design Hypothesis than it is on 
		the Evoltion Hypothesis, then our evidence supports the Design 
		Hypothesis more than the Evolution Hypothesis.

	4.	Our evidence supports the Design Hypothesis more than the Evolution 
		Hypothesis.