Does the universe exhibit design, like a watch? Does a design imply a designer?
The argument from design is sometimes call the teleological argument. Telos means end (as in “endzone” in football) or purpose or goal.
Here is the summary of his main points.
What conclusion would you draw if you found a watch on the road out in the heath (countryside)?
I. Premises
A. Premises boiled down
1.. A watch found out in the heath (countryside) is a product of intelligent design (purpose).
2. The universe resembles, is like the watch. (Argument from analogy)
3. Therefore, the universe is (probably) a product of intelligent design (purpose)
4. The universe is vastly more complex and gigantic than a watch.
5. Therefore, the (probable) designer of the universe is powerful and vastly intelligent.
II. Paley Eliminates Options
A. The best option is that the watch is product of intelligent design. You’ll see it if he eliminates these inferior options or rationalizations:
1.. We have not seen a watch before or being made, so we really can’t infer it’s designed
2. Watch’s / universe’s imperfections do not exclude a designer
3. We cannot figure out everything about the watch / universe, so we can’t infer it’s designed
4. Watch / universe are not one out of possible combinations
5. Watch / universe is not product of impersonal principle of order
6. Order or intricacy of watch / universe is not merely our human mind imposing order on watch / universe
7. Watch is not product of laws of metallic nature
8. Our ignorance about a watch / universe does not mean we can’t draw some inferences about watch / universe
B. Therefore, watch / universe is product of intelligent design; it’s the best option
RELATED
Outline of Hume’s Argument against Design
ARTICLES IN SERIES (alphabetical order)
Descartes’s Meditations I and II
Hume’s Argument against Design
Nietzsche’s Madman and the Death of God
Paley’s Watchmaker and Design Argument
Plato’s View of Justice and the Soul
Sartre’s “Existentialism and Humanism”
Dr. Jim's Essential Bible Teaching 