Arguments for the Existence of God - William Paley

• Order of philosophers for the existence of God

  King David of Israel

  Socrates

  Cicero

  Aquinas

  Newton

  Hume

  Paley
• What type of argument is Paley's argument?

  Inductive a posteriori
• What is qua purpose?

  Relating to the purpose of something
• What is qua regularity?

  Relating to the regular motion of something
• What is the complexity v simplicity argument?


  Complexity cannot arise from simplicity. For a watch to be so complex and have many components that are specifically put together to function, it has to have a designer. Whereas something as simple as a rock has no function and therefore does not have a designer. Paley argues that the universe is similar to the watch as it has many different components too so it too has a designer. That designer is God
• Qua purpose - the eye

  The human eye is made up of different complex components and the coming together of these different parts could've not come about by sheer chance alone due to the complexity of the eye. Similarly to the watch, there must be a designer of the eye. If it was put together in a different manner it wouldn't see at all or only provide partial sight; falling short of its purpose.
• Qua purpose - animal teats

  His argument suggests that animals such as cows, horses and sheep have a small number of teats and paps because of their small number of young. Whereas cats and dogs have many teats or paps because they have a large number in their litter. This is too specific to come about by chance so it proves that the universe has a designer
• Qua regularity - gravity

  Argument based on newton's laws of motions and gravity making the movement into a 'classical' view of physics. Suggests that the universe is like a machine, working like clockwork in predictable patterns. Paley suggests that the rotation or ellipses of planets are so regular as to provide the opportunity for life on earth. He focuses on gravity and suggests that without the continuity or regularity of gravity then we would have a very different universe. Theoretically it would be possible to have the laws of the universe in any state but only within narrow boundaries would we find stability of ellipses such as our planets. This regularity did not come about by chance but has been directed to be the case by some higher power: God.
• Why is Paley's argument inductive a posteriori?

  It is based on observations (eg complexity of the biological world)