Indicate which of the proposed reconstructions best captures the argument in the following passage from Steven Jay Gould, “ The Panda ’ s Thumb. ” Orchids manufacture their intricate devices from the common components of ordinary flowers, parts usually fitted for very different functions. If God had designed a beautiful machine to reflect his wisdom and power, surely he would not have used a collection of parts generally fashioned for other purposes. Orchids were not made by an ideal engineer....
A.
(1) Orchids are made up of common components of ordinary flowers. (2) Those components of ordinary flowers are usually fitted for different purposes (in ordinary flowers than in orchids). (3) If God had designed a machine to reflect his wisdom and power, then he would not have used components generally fashioned for different purposes. ____________________________ ∴ (4) God did not design orchids to reflect his wisdom and power. (from 1-3)
B.
(1) Orchids are made up of common components of ordinary flowers. (2) Those components of ordinary flowers are usually fitted for different purposes (in ordinary flowers than in orchids). ____________________________ ∴ (3) Orchids are made up of components that are usually fitted for different purposes. (from 1-2) (4) If God had designed a machine to reflect his wisdom and power, then he would not have used components generally fashioned for different purposes. (5) Orchids are a kind of machine. ____________________________ ∴ (6) God did not design orchids to reflect his wisdom and power. (from 4- 5)
C.
(1) Orchids are made up of common components of ordinary flowers. (2) Those components of ordinary flowers are usually fitted for different purposes (in ordinary flowers than in orchids). ____________________________ ∴ (3) God did not design orchids. (from 1-2) (4) If God had designed a machine to reflect his wisdom and power, then he would not have used components generally fashioned for different purposes. (5) God designs things to reflect his wisdom and power. ____________________________ ∴ (3) God did not design orchids. (from 4-5)