Plantinga, Dawkins, and Naturalism

I like what philosopher Alvin Plantinga says against Richard Dawkins' defense of naturalism – the belief that everything came naturally into existence apart from any purpose or design. Here’s how he summarizes Dawkins’ argument:

1. “We know of no irrefutable objections to its [naturalism] being biologically possible that all of life has come to be by way of unguided Darwinian processes

2. All of life has come to be by way of unguided Darwinian processes.”

Just in case we have missed the illogic of Dawkins’ conclusion, Plantinga illustrates its absurdity with a parallel example. He tells his wife that he has won the Nobel Prize for physics. Incredulous, she asks him how he knows this. He answers, “Well, I haven’t heard any irrefutable evidences against it!”

This is absurd to the max! Even if there weren’t any irrefutable evidences, this wouldn’t justify his assertion. However, if you want the prize enough, you might be able to convince yourself that it’s a reality.