Design Argument

Posteriori definition

Arguments based on sense experience

Natural Theology definition

Questions existence of God using evidence from science and history rather than scripture

What was Willan Paley apporach to the Design Argument

His argument is a posteriori (based on sense experience) he also uses inductuctive reasonings

Paley's 3 observations

Complexity, (complexity of biological organisms) regularity, (regularity of the obits of comets, moons and planets) purpose, (everything is made to contribute to a enate purpose)

Paley's inductive argument

-Some objects show complexity and regularity, indicating design and purpose.

-The universe also exhibits complexity and regularity, it too must have a purpose.

Paley's Analogy

If you find a stone on the ground, you might assume it has always existed. But if you find a watch, with its intricate parts working together for a purpose, you wouldn't assume it just appeared by chance—you'd conclude it had a designer Likewise, the universe is even more complex than a watch, so it must also have a designer—God.

Examples to show the enate purpose of the watch

• A watch cointains Brass a metal selected because of its elasticity and anit rusting purposes.

• The movement of watch has obvious purpose- to tell time.

Key Quote from Paleys book "Natural theology"

"Every manisfestation of desgin, which exsisted in the watch, existed in the works of nature"

What is David Hume's 3 critcisms with the Design Argument

1. Rejection of traditional theistic claims and the designer is not necessarily the God of classical theism

2. The existence of evil suggests a limited designer

3. Problems with analogies

1. Rejection of traditional theistic claims and the designer is not necessarily the God of classical theism

• design something that involves trial and error

• no evidence that the designer is God

• a lesser being could have created the universe

• there could be multiple designers

• intelligent minds are attached to physical bodies, the designer could be a mortal who died a long time ago

2. The existence of evil suggest a limited designer

• Epicurus inconsistent triad

• God is either unable to prevent evil or is unloving

• Paley says everything has a purpose but the existence of evil contradicts this

• evidential problem of evil questions the attritubes of god

3. Problems with analogies

• Our world is made from organic material while the watch is made from mechanical material so doesnt work

• comparison of the universe and the watch is not proportional

• Evoloution argues that nature designs itselt

• a vegetable grows itself; it doesn’t need a creator. The universe could just be a brute fact.

Strengths to the Design Argument

1) Swinburne claims that an all powerful Christan god is simpler therefore better

2) Paley says evil is unadvoidable to bring about good

3) Evoloution is compatible with the belief in god