AWE AT NATURAL BEAUTY AS DEFEASIBLE EVIDENCE FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD,

In this paper, we present an abductive argument for the existence of God from experience awe at natural beauty. If God’s creative work is a viable explanation why beauty, and there no satisfactory naturalistic origins such experiences, then have defeasible evidence that exists. To evaluate argument's tenability, assess merits two main frameworks can be marshaled to answer question human beings Wilson's biophilia hypothesis, Keltner Haidt's prototype approach awe. We show shortcomings both accounts in explaining relevant experiences argue reliance these on adaptationist reading our aesthetic appreciation nature entails commitment questionable hidden premises: affordances themselves figure subject's perceptual experience, adaptive value. maintain “empirical” premise tenable conclude with directions future research regarding “theological” premise.