Teleological Arguments for God’s Existence

Paley’s argument from Spatial Order and Purpose

Paley’s argument from Spatial Order and Purpose

1.      A watch has certain complex features of spatial order and purpose (for example, it consists of parts, each of which has a function, and they work together for a specific purpose).

2.      Anything which exhibits these features of spatial order and purpose must have been designed.

3.      From 1 and 2: Therefore, the watch has been designed by a designer.

4.      The universe possesses features of spatial order and purpose, except on a far more wondrous scale.

5.      From 4 and 2: Therefore, the universe has been designed, except the designer of the universe must be a wondrous designer.

6.      Therefore, God exists.

is god the best or only explanation

worldly architect; random processes; evolution

parametres of Swinburne’s design argument

only proves existence of a very powerful, free, non-embodied, rational agent; too weak to make a definite conclusion, vulnerable to criticism that using an analogy is weak; distinguishes between spatial and temporal orders.

Swinburne’s design argument

1.      Regularities of succession occur both as natural phenomena (as a result of natural laws) and as a result of free human action.*

2.      Regularities of succession in the human world can be properly and fully explained by the rational choices of a free agent.

3.      This (point 2) is because free agents have the intelligence, power, and freedom to bring about regularities of succession.

4.      Regularities of succession that are the result of natural laws (for example, gravity) cannot be explained by reference to other natural laws.

5.      However, by analogy with point 2, regularities of succession in the natural world can be fully explained by the rational choices of a free agent.

6.      The universe, and its natural laws, is immense and complex.

7.      Therefore (from points 5 and 3) regularities of succession in the natural world are best explained by a free agent who has the immense intelligence, power, and freedom needed to bring about such order in the universe.