Topics for Final.

For the final, I’ll choose one of the following topics; you have no choice. Typically, a good answer is about 2 pages long.

1. Recently, the biological argument from design has been revamped by M. Behe. Precisely state his argument and Miller’s reply. Has this confrontation of ideas happened before? Who do you think is right, and why?

2. Briefly state Plantinga’s argument for the view that ontological naturalism is incompatible with the theory of evolution. Do you agree? Explain.

3. Many scientists, from Galileo (at times) to S.J. Gould, adopt NOMA. What is NOMA? Do you agree with it? Explain.

4. For Newton and his followers, science could be used for apologetic purposes. For others, such attempts lead to a God-of-the-Gaps. What do you think? Explain.

5. Do you think a scientifically minded believer should turn from orthodox Christianity to some form of Deism? Explain.