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Animal mind and the argument from design

M S Blumberg¹, E A Wasserman

¹Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242.

The American Psychologist

|March 1, 1995

Summary

The argument from design, once used to prove God, is now applied to animal behavior to suggest a mental designer. This approach faces similar philosophical and empirical challenges as past design arguments.

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Area of Science:

Philosophy of Science
Evolutionary Biology
Animal Behavior

Background:

The argument from design historically posited a divine creator based on biological complexity.
Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection provided a naturalistic explanation for organic complexity.
Contemporary behavior studies observe animal complexity and environmental fit, drawing parallels to historical design arguments.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze the modern application of the argument from design in animal behavior.
To critically evaluate the mentalistic approach, which posits an internal designer for animal actions.
To highlight the recurring philosophical and empirical issues associated with design-based explanations.

Main Methods:

Historical analysis of the argument from design in philosophy and biology.
Comparative critique of theological and mentalistic design arguments.
Examination of the conceptual and empirical weaknesses of positing a conscious designer within animals.

Main Results:

The argument from design has transitioned from theological to psychological explanations for animal behavior.
The mentalistic argument for a conscious designer faces similar logical and evidential hurdles as earlier design arguments.
Evolutionary mechanisms offer a robust alternative to design-based explanations for complex animal actions.

Conclusions:

The mentalistic argument from design in animal behavior is philosophically and empirically problematic.
Naturalistic explanations, such as evolutionary mechanisms, remain the most parsimonious and scientifically supported approach.
Revisiting the history of the argument from design reveals persistent challenges in explaining biological complexity without recourse to supernatural or internal intentional agents.

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