Teoria do design inteligente e argumento do desígnio: duas denominações, um enredo

Abstract

The present study is an investigation of two propositions, the Theory of Intelligent Design (TDI) and the Argument from Design (AD), with the main aim of comparing the similarities and differences between AD and TDI, demonstrating that TDI is yet another form of natural theology, or the use of theological arguments dressed up as science. Both TDI and AD claim that it is possible to perceive the Designer, or an intelligent mind from the observation of some elements. The order in the world, or in nature, or in complex creations or creatures such as the human body, the eyes, or in the cellular structure itself, these examples are complex and after observation and analysis, both TDI and AD could only be planned by an intelligent mind. In the first chapter we present the emergence of organized creationism, its main strategies and events to prevent the teaching of the theory of biological evolution in schools. In the second chapter we present the emergence of TDI, its strategies for its teaching around the world, its main theorists, its connection with organized creationism, and its presence in Brazil. In the third chapter we work on AD, presenting it as a proposition of natural theology and William Paley as one of its main defenders. We also present part of David Hume's theory, which serves as a theoretical reference for refuting AD. In the fourth chapter we analyze TDI Brazil, such as its selection criteria, headquarters, the events it promotes from 2017 to 2021, its attempt to insert itself into education and the analysis of discourses in defense of TDI. After this course we observed that both TDI and AD defend the same propositions and it would be inaccurate to consider TDI a science, when compared to AD which is a theological argument, TDI would be an argument of natural theology.