The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast

Episode 167: Hume on Intelligent Design (Philosophize This! Crossover) (Part One)

Jul 3, 2017
This discussion features Stephen West, host of the Philosophize This! podcast, who dives into David Hume's Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion. They explore whether nature's complexity indicates a designer and debate the strength of this argument. Key topics include Hume's skeptical views on traditional theism, the problem of evil, and the distinction between rationalism and empiricism. West and the hosts tackle how natural design arguments intertwine with evolution and discuss the pitfalls of applying causation to God's existence.
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ANECDOTE

Podcasting Camaraderie Story

  • Stephen West describes podcasting camaraderie where shows aren't competitors but complementary.
  • He recounts listening to Partially Examined Life before starting his own Philosophize This! podcast.
INSIGHT

Skepticism Shifts, Not Solves, Explanations

  • Philo pushes skepticism: observed order doesn't explain its source and may just be inherent to matter.
  • He warns that positing a designer simply shifts the mystery to that designer.
INSIGHT

Problem Of Evil Undermines Design-Based Benevolence

  • The problem of evil attacks theism: a poorly made world challenges a benevolent creator.
  • Cleanthes must argue nature is more good than bad to defend a good God from experience.
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