The Eyes Don’t Have It

I have recently encountered faith-based arguments that claim that the complexity and functionality of the human eye is evidence of a divine designer, a creator.  And I had to laugh.  If this is the best design a creator can come up with then it is a pretty dumb creator. 

Every human eye has a blind spot.  The blind spot exists because the optic nerve enters the eye at the rear in one single pipe.  Other animals do not have such a blind spot.  The octopus, for example, has the optic nerves entering from a variety of sources so that there is no blind spot.  In humans, this is a design flaw.

The human eye eventually will have a detached retina.  Other animals do not experience that as they age.  In humans, this is a design flaw.

Other animals perceive a much wider range of light.  Humans perceive a narrow little zone.  (See below.)  In humans, this is a design flaw. 

So, if the complexity of the human eye is evidence that a god designed it we must question the actual design.  Richard Dawkins says that if a modern day engineer were handed the human eye design he would send it back for revision.

But not even that is the most compelling argument against creative design, or intelligent design, or whatever the faith-based people call it.  If the hypothesis is that such complexity in our bodies and in our universe can only be accomplished and explained by a supernatural creator, then clearly the question must be answered, who designed the supernatural creator if complexity requires a creator?

The human eye has evolved as have all the other eyes on the planet.  It is a remarkable organ, but we can trace its development over time as we can with other animals.  The eyes have complexity, but they lack proof of a creator.  If one accepts that the eye is proof of a creator, then one accepts an imperfect creator.  The eyes don’t have proof.