design /teleological argument

• Evidence given by Paley

  • The world is complex
  • The world exhibits quiet order
  • Some objects in the world show clear evidence that they were designed because they exhibit complexity and regularity
• God is defined as the designer of the universe
• Paley's reasoning

  1. Inductive reasoning is used

  2. Premise: Things in the universe show evidence of being designed. Conclusion: The universe must have a designer (God)
• Criticisms of Paley's theory
• Types of reasoning used

  • Inductive reasoning
• Examples of evidence from the natural world used by Paley

  • The eyes of creatures, bird's wings, and fish gills all show, according to Paley, that the world was designed
• William Paley expanded on the design/teleological theory created by Aquinas
• Criticisms

  • Paley hasn't necessarily proved the existence of the "God of Classical Theism
  • The problem of evil suggests that the world is not designed, or that the designer is somehow limited, malevolent, or impotent
  • The universe is an organism that could have grown itself, a watch is a machine that needs a designer, but the world is not like a machine
  • Paley anthropomorphises the universe, using human traits to understand it when it is non-human
  • The universe could have developed by chance (supported by the Big Bang/Evolution)
  • Who assigns the purpose?
• The universe shows evidence that an omnipotent, omniscient being must have brought it into existence
• Paley used the watchmaker analogy to show why the world must have a designer
• Paley believes that questions about God's existence, nature, and attributes can be answered without referring to scripture or any other form of special revelation by using reason, science, history, and observation
• William Paley propagated the famous watchmaker analogy
• Paley's reasoning is based on evidence from the natural world to show that it must be designed
• Paley uses evidence from the world around us which suggests that it is most likely that the world is designed
• It is down to personal belief whether one is convinced that the universe made itself or something else made it
• The argument provides as much evidence for God as atheism does against God
• The argument is simple and straightforward to follow
• The argument is supported by the cosmological argument
• Paley anthropomorphises the universe - uses human traits to understand it when it is non-human
• The argument is not necessarily incompatible with evolution and the Big Bang; both of these processes could be part of the design of the universe
• The use of analogy (the watchmaker) in this argument makes it comprehensible to us and moves from something within our experience to try to explain something beyond it (the creation of the universe)
• The universe could have developed by chance (supported by the Big Bang / Evolution)
• The argument helps faith by using evidence from the world around us to prove that it is most likely that God exists
• The argument uses logic and reasoning to support the ideas, e.g., the watch analogy
• Inductive reasoning begins with experience which may be universal (i.e., everyone has had it) or it may at least be testable
• We cannot say without a doubt that Paley's argument is strongest
• The argument simply explains why God exists
• The argument fits in with human reason, encourages and deepens the study of nature, suggests purpose in the universe, and strengthens faith
• The Design Argument by Paley is inconclusive as there will always be those who reject the evidence in favor of Hume's
• Evidence used by Paley

  • Planes and seasons
  • Fingernails, bird's wings
  • The watchmaker analogy
• Has the philosopher proven anything?
• The world is most likely designed
• Evidence from the world around us supporting the world is designed

  • Eyes, planets and seasons, fish gills, bird's wings
• The watchmaker analogy shows it is logical to assume that the world does not have a designer
• Paley's Design Argument is inductive
• Paley's Design Argument does not amount to scientific proof
• There is no clear way of assessing the degree of probability of Paley's argument
• It cannot be said without a doubt that Paley's argument is correct
• When answering the question 'Does Paley's argument prove that there is a divine creator?', it is down to personal belief
• The argument helps faith by using evidence from the world around us to show that it is most likely that God exists