William Paley’s design argument

What is the design qua Purpose

Paley’s argument that the combination of complexity and purpose, which we observe in natural objects/ beings, is best explained by a designer

What analogy does Paley use to compare to the world?

A watch

Why does he use the watch analogy?

There is something about a watch which suggests it had not always been lying there. It is composed of parts that are intricately formed to produce regularity and order

What is the quote Paley uses for the watch analogy?

‘Every manifestation of design, which existed in the watch, exists in the works of nature’

What does Paley point out in the universe?

It is complex and purpose, much like the intricate parts in a watch. This is why Paley results in a maker of the world, as a watch has a watchmaker and they are both intricately designed

What does Hume object regarding Paley’s analogy?

Hume argues that it doesn’t follow from the similarity of two effects that they must have had similar causes. Just because the effect of the universe and the effect of a man-made object like a house(Hume’s example) or a watch(Paley) are like each other in that they both have complexity and purpose, it doesn’t have the same cause

How else can we add to this?

Two effects which are alike(analogous) might in fact have very different causes

What else is the problem with this argument?

Human machines obviously have a designer and a purpose but biological things, do not have an obvious purpose or designer