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Charles darwin's theory of evolution raised problems for which theistic argument?

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Final answer:

Darwin's theory of evolution raised problems for the teleological argument by providing a naturalistic explanation for the diversity of life that contradicts the notion of intelligent design and purposeful creation by a deity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution raised problems for the teleological argument or the argument from design, which is a theistic argument suggesting that the complexity of life and the universe shows evidence of design and therefore a designer, often identified as God. Darwin's theory, which proposed that species evolve over time through natural selection rather than divine intervention, challenged the idea that the universe was created by an intelligent designer specifically with a purpose in mind. It suggested a naturalistic explanation for the diversity of life, including humans, based on random mutation and natural selection, which conflicted with the notion that every species was created with an explicit purpose. This had profound implications for traditional theism, as it undermined arguments that used the complexity of life to infer the existence of an all-knowing, benevolent creator. Darwin's theory, therefore, posed a direct challenge to the teleological view and other related theistic conceptions of a static, purposeful universe.

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User Clemens Kofler
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Final answer:

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution raised problems for the teleological argument, which argues for the existence of a divine creator based on the design and purposefulness of the natural world.

Step-by-step explanation:

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution raised problems for the teleological argument, which argues for the existence of a divine creator based on the apparent design and purposefulness of the natural world. Darwin's theory directly contradicted the idea that species were created with a specific purpose in mind and instead suggested that adaptations and variations were the result of random processes without a predetermined plan. This challenged the notion of an intelligent designer and the belief in a purposeful creation.

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User Robert Gould
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