Thomas Paley Design Argument

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Recommended: Hume's first criticisms of design argument

Paley's design argument is the most well-known philosophical argument on the subject of the existence of a deity. This argument probes into the property of objects in nature and claims that the very best explanation for their existence is an intelligent mind that created them. The strongest criticism comes from Hume, stating that the complexity of the universe and barely few entities that have been explored about the universe both accuse Paley of making such a weak analogy between a watch and the universe. However, on the defense of Paley, the scientific universe has such delicate and accurate physical definition and law so that indicates the sign of design. The argument is compelling is that each well-adapted creatures demonstrate signs …show more content…

Its existence could be purely made by nature and no one would suspect there is a design that has created it. If there is a watch instead of a rock, then the case is different. By inspecting the watch, it is intricate to see many components that interact with one another so that the purpose is fulfilled as time-keeping. This configuration cannot be the product of nature through some certain internal principles. It is unavoidable to imply there is an intelligent planning mind that has conceived it and created it. Therefore, each human artifacts infers an intelligent designer. The universe has more in one way that resembles human artifacts. Given those two premises, a conclusion is drawn that perhaps the universe is also a product of an intelligent design. Moreover, the universe is far more complex and vast in size and variation that the intelligent designer is much more sophisticated and mighty in …show more content…

The universe is such a delicate design that obey strict physical law and principles so that a flaw in the physics would result in a drastic impact that made the universe does not even contain matter. Another standpoint to defend is to use one of Paley's caveats, which implies that it is unnecessary to know how to create a clock to infer the existence of an intelligent planning mind. This does apply back to the Hume's objection that we do not need to fully understand the universe in order to infer there is a design. Finally, another caveat to defend from the questions of the God as a designer, it is needless to know the maker of the watch in order to be sure it has one. The mechanism of a watch apparently tells there is an agency, likewise the universe, its magnificence and complexity indicate a design without knowing the creator to further prove it. As for why Paley's design argument is compelling, the evolution conceives species that are well-adapted and well-designed that are more prone to detect signs of design far more often than we should. For example, a squid uses color-blind camouflage to hide from its predators. This design in nature later on, serves as an inspiration for Navy

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