more from William James

Single Idea 18977

[catalogued under 28. God / B. Proving God / 3. Proofs of Evidence / c. Teleological Proof critique]

Full Idea

To the grub under the bark the exquisite fitness of the woodpecker's organism to extract him would certainly argue a diabolical designer.

Gist of Idea

The wonderful design of a woodpecker looks diabolical to its victims

Source

William James (Pragmatism - eight lectures [1907], Lec 3)

Book Reference

James,William: 'Pragmatism - eight lectures' [Dover 1995], p.43


A Reaction

What an elegant sentence! The huge problem for religious people who accept (probably reluctantly) evolution by natural selection is the moral nature of the divine being who could use such a ruthless method of design.