University of Tehran Press Philosophy of Religion 2008-7063 21 4 2025 03 17 A Critical Analysis of Richard Dawkins' "Simplicity Argument" Against Atheism A Critical Analysis of Richard Dawkins' "Simplicity Argument" Against Atheism 317 330 101014 10.22059/jpht.2025.382398.1006074 FA Alireza Norouzi Department of Theology and Islamic Studies, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran 0000-0002-0807-1327 Seyed Mojtaba Mirdamadi Department of Theology and Islamic Studies, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran Journal Article 2024 09 27 Charles Darwin, as a biologist, did not seek philosophical conclusions from the theory of "evolution of species." However, his view later became the basis for the atheistic interpretation of creation by some, such as Richard Dawkins. In Dawkins' view, "natural selection" alone, without the assumption of an intelligent origin, through a longitudinal and cumulative process, forms complex forms of life, and this explanation presents a simpler account of the order of existence compared to the theory of divine creation. Therefore, according to the principle of the best explanation, this view should be accepted. He called this statement "the argument for simplicity." This article, using the method of conceptual, propositional and systematic analysis, makes it clear that Dawkins' argument for simplicity is based, first, on a set of logical and philosophical fallacies. He expects an explanation of why and what caused the formation of the natural order from an explanation of how it was formed, and it is clear that such an imposition will logically lead nowhere. Secondly, Islamic texts, philosophical rules, and self-knowledge indicate that cumulative random evolution is not only not the best explanation but also the most unlikely explanation, and even an impossible explanation. Charles Darwin, as a biologist, did not seek philosophical conclusions from the theory of "evolution of species." However, his view later became the basis for the atheistic interpretation of creation by some, such as Richard Dawkins. In Dawkins' view, "natural selection" alone, without the assumption of an intelligent origin, through a longitudinal and cumulative process, forms complex forms of life, and this explanation presents a simpler account of the order of existence compared to the theory of divine creation. Therefore, according to the principle of the best explanation, this view should be accepted. He called this statement "the argument for simplicity." This article, using the method of conceptual, propositional and systematic analysis, makes it clear that Dawkins' argument for simplicity is based, first, on a set of logical and philosophical fallacies. He expects an explanation of why and what caused the formation of the natural order from an explanation of how it was formed, and it is clear that such an imposition will logically lead nowhere. Secondly, Islamic texts, philosophical rules, and self-knowledge indicate that cumulative random evolution is not only not the best explanation but also the most unlikely explanation, and even an impossible explanation. https://jpht.ut.ac.ir/article_101014_61522aeff59e940a0f2870fd15175296.pdf