Design argument

• Paley's argument is a posteriori, inductive, and analogical
• A posteriori


  Empirical in nature, based on sense experience
• Inductive


  Based on probability and not on knock-down proof, the conclusion is not necessarily true
• Analogical


  Based on a comparison between the features of two different things
• Paley's argument uses the approach of natural theology, making no appeal to special revelation
• Paley's argument is based on three observations of the world: complexity, purpose, and regularity
• Paley's analogy compares finding a watch to finding a stone, suggesting the watch requires a designer
• Illustrations given by Paley to support his argument

  • The eye is superbly adapted for vision
  • The fins and gills of fish are perfect for living in water
  • Birds' bones, wings and feathers are perfect for flight
  • There is regularity in the universe of planetary orbits and on earth of the seasons
• William Paley: 'The marks of design are too strong to be gotten over. Design must have had a designer. That designer must have been a person. That person is GOD.'
• Hume rejected the idea of design, suggesting the apparent order could be due to chance
• Hume argued that the mechanistic analogy is anthropomorphic and that little can be said about any designer
• Hume considered the existence of evil as evidence of a flawed design, incompatible with an omnipotent and omnibenevolent creator
• Weaknesses of Paley's Design Argument

  • Claims made by theism about the nature of a designer go way beyond the evidence
  • Existence of evil suggests incompetent, indifferent or malevolent designer-or no designer at all
  • Apparent order, purpose and design are just chance
  • The argument cannot offer proof of God, only inductive probability
• Strengths of Paley's Design Argument

  • Swinburne argued that the existence of a single omnipotent God is the simplest explanation
  • Paley said evil might be unavoidable for God to bring about good
  • Evolution itself requires explanation, which is not incompatible with theism
  • The argument does offer proof of God, based on inductive reasoning
• Belief that


  Acceptance of propositions about something
• Belief in


  An attitude of commitment and trust
• The rationalist approach emphasises the role of reason, while the fideist approach claims reason is inappropriate for justifying religion
• Pope John Paul II: 'Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth.'