[Alamo-Girl]

How exactly does one have "design" in the absence of a "designer"?

The two possibilities I mentioned:

1. If the whole universe is conscious and directing its own evolution of biological life.

2. If biological life on earth was seeded by other civilizations in the cosmos (panspermia).

[general_re]

1. If the whole universe is conscious and directing its own evolution of biological life.

That merely make the universe its own designer - it doesn't mean there is no designer.

2. If biological life on earth was seeded by other civilizations in the cosmos (panspermia).

If it was an intentional act on the part of those civilizations, that makes them the designers - again, this doesn't mean there is no designer. And if it wasn't an intentional act on their part, what sense does it make to call it "design" in the first place? "Design" implies an act of will, not an accident ;)

[Nebullis]

1. If the whole universe is conscious and directing its own evolution of biological life. 2. If biological life on earth was seeded by other civilizations in the cosmos (panspermia).

I'm sure we can all spot the designer in both of those possibilities. I think you mean to say that this designer is not, necessarily, the God of the Bible.