The Design Teleological Argument

1
The Design (Teleological) Argument

• N.B.
• This goes with the Origin of Life section, and
  the First Cause Argument goes with the Origin of
  the universe section.

2
The Design Argument

• Set out originally by William Paley in 1802 in a
  book called Natural Theology.
• It is an a posteriori argument (meaning it is
  based on sense experience).
• It is called the Teleological Argument because of
  the Greek word telos, meaning design or purpose.
• It is based on the observation of the variety,
  order and beauty in the universe, which
  presupposes design and purpose in its creation.

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Paleys Watch Analogy 1

• If you were walking and came across a stone, you
  would presume it had always been there, requiring
  no purpose or design.
• If you came across a watch (and you had never
  seen one before), however, you would naturally
  ask what it was and where it came from.
• You would examine it and see that it is very
  complex glass, cogs, a chain, etc.
• You would conclude that such an object could not
  have just appeared randomly, or have just existed
  forever, but that someone must have made it.
• If you watched the watch working, you would also
  conclude that it was made to carry out a purpose
  (to tell time).
• Therefore, you could finally conclude that there
  had to be an intelligent watchmaker who designed
  this object with a purpose in mind.

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Paleys Watch Analogy 2

• This argument is an analogy comparing one thing
  with something similar, so the second half of
  Paleys argument compares the watch with the
  universe.
• Similarly, if you look at the world we live in
  you will see how complex it also is.
• You could examine it and see that it has very
  complex systems weather, gravity, etc. It also
  has so many complex organisms living on it,
  perfectly suited to their environments.
• You would conclude that such complexity and
  harmony could not have just appeared randomly,
  but that it must have been designed somehow (like
  the watch was).
• You might also conclude that everything seems to
  be working together to a similar end.
• Therefore, you could finally conclude that there
  had to be an intelligent world-maker who
  designed this universe and all of life with a
  purpose in mind.
• This world-maker must be God, as God is the
  only being out-with the universe, and is the only
  intelligent, powerful and loving creator.

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Traditional Criticisms of the Design Argument

• These criticisms come mainly from David Humes
  book Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion (1801
  BEFORE Paley published his book!).
• His first argument that any analogical argument
  is weak to say something is LIKE something
  else, is not proof.
• If the universe was designed, it is not
  necessarily by God (the watch, for example, could
  have been designed by a team, or by a genius
  lunatic, etc so these possibilities should also
  apply to god).

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• The universe is NOT like a watch! (One is
  mechanical and set, the other is organic,
  changing and growing).
• Nature is NOT perfect, beautiful and harmonious.
  There is just as much chaos and disorder as order
  and beauty (disease, disaster, war, etc) either
  the designer is poor, or perverse!
• If there is design in nature, nature may be
  providing it herself For all we know a
  priori, matter may contain the source or spring
  of order naturally within itself.
• Some people argue that Humes criticisms of the
  argument are so infallible, that Paley would not
  have published his book if he had known about
  them!