On Hume & Intelligent Design
As some of you may know, pierot is currently doing a theology degree, and as such there tend to be theology text books around the house, and I've been periodically reading them. And they are really interesting.
The main thing I'm realizing is how very little I actually know about religion. I am currently reading about Intelligent Design, and although I don't believe in it, I love some of the philosophy that has gone into it - Lucilius Balbus writing about 'the distinctness, variety, beauty, and order of the sun, moon, and all the stars' or Paley writing about his watch, and the vivid way they describe the amazing world we live in. And I'm thinking that intelligent, beautiful philosophical arguments deserve so much more than 'it's all crap, innit?'.
Thankfully, David Hume is there for me, with the most awesome (if terrifying) critique of design theory ever. Any man who can put together a coherent philosophical argument featuring giant spiders, the phrase 'copulating animals' and a suggestion of insane infant deities really deserves...I don't know...my attention at the very least, if not some sort of peculiar philosopher's shrine.
The main thing I'm realizing is how very little I actually know about religion. I am currently reading about Intelligent Design, and although I don't believe in it, I love some of the philosophy that has gone into it - Lucilius Balbus writing about 'the distinctness, variety, beauty, and order of the sun, moon, and all the stars' or Paley writing about his watch, and the vivid way they describe the amazing world we live in. And I'm thinking that intelligent, beautiful philosophical arguments deserve so much more than 'it's all crap, innit?'.
Thankfully, David Hume is there for me, with the most awesome (if terrifying) critique of design theory ever. Any man who can put together a coherent philosophical argument featuring giant spiders, the phrase 'copulating animals' and a suggestion of insane infant deities really deserves...I don't know...my attention at the very least, if not some sort of peculiar philosopher's shrine.