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#73 Peter Byrom: Dawkins' argument from complexity
Oct 10, 2023
Peter Byrom explores Dawkins' argument from complexity, including his exchange with Francis Collins. The podcast also discusses the complexity of God's design, analyzes Dawkins' circular reasoning, and explores Dawkins' attitude and openness. It concludes by discussing the shift in focus from existential questions to identity and political issues.
38:38
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Quick takeaways
- Dawkins' argument from complexity is criticized for its weakness and reliance on circular assumptions rooted in materialism.
- Dawkins confuses complexity of structure with complexity of function, failing to justify why a powerful God would need to be complex and improbable.
Deep dives
Dawkins' Use of Complexity Argument
Dawkins heavily relies on an argument from complexity in his debates and public appearances. However, this argument has been criticized for its weakness. Despite the criticism, Dawkins continues to use this line of reasoning, even after refusing to debate William Lane Craig in 2011, which drew negative attention from both atheists and philosophers. Dawkins tends to conflate complexity of structure and complexity of function, assuming that a powerful God must necessarily have a complex structure. He often fails to justify why God would need to be complex and improbable. His argument seems to be based on the circular assumption that materialism is true and that there is no supernatural explanation for the universe.
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