# Design Without a Designer?

**URL:** <https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/design-without-a-designer/11227>\
**Category:** Conversation\
**Tags:** Science, Design\
**Created:** [July 23, 2020, 3:03pm UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/design-without-a-designer/11227 "2020-07-23T15:03:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 16

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**Author:** ![Ashwin\_s](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.peacefulscience.org/ashwin_s/32/4017_2.png) [@Ashwin\_s](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/Ashwin_s)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 4:50am UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/design-without-a-designer/11227/16 "2020-07-24T04:50:37Z")

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> [@RonSewell](#):
>
> It is not unusual in a nature documentary to hear statements such as “the cheetah is designed for speed” and then go on the discuss the various adaptations surrounding that. This is a legitimate usage in English, and no _designer_ is inferred.

Actually, it depends on who is making the comment.  
When a theist makes the comment, he is making a reference to God as the designer.  
When an atheist is making the comment, he is co-opting the word design to express something it cannot. Design implies a designer with agency.  
That’s why scientists sometimes end up talking about nature as if it had agency… talking about it creativity and such.

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