Reading Response #3

UPDATE: Reading Response #3 is due at the beginning of class on Wednesday, July 29th, for the Mt. Laurel class, and Tuesday, August 4th, for the Willingboro class. Here is the assignment:

What best explains the seeming complexity, order, and functionality of naturally occurring objects in and aspects of the universe? In other words, explain and evaluate the abductive version of the Design Argument for God's existence.

• First, briefly explain the abductive version of the Design Argument. Describe the relevant evidence that needs to be explained. List the possible explanations of that evidence. And choose the best explanation among those explanations.
  
• Then, evaluate this argument. Is an intelligent designer the best explanation of this evidence? Or is there another, better explanation? Tell me your opinion. Do you think the abductive version of the design argument is a good argument or a bad argument? Why? Be sure to defend your opinion with reasons.

The response is loosely based on the design argument section of the textbook (section 4.2). However, it's NOT based on William Paley's version of the design argument specifically. Instead, it's based on your understanding of the abductive version.

NOTE: We haven't discussed the abductive version in class yet and it isn't in the textbook. I'm asking you to try to figure out the abductive version on your own. Like the other reading responses, you won't be graded on your opinion. You'll be graded on how well you DEFEND your opinion.