The Argument from The Argument from DesignDesign

The ArgumentThe Argument Famously presented by William Paley, who Famously presented by William Paley, who

imagined stumbling across a watch in a imagined stumbling across a watch in a wildernesswilderness

When we come to inspect the watch, we perceive … When we come to inspect the watch, we perceive … that its several parts are framed and put together for a that its several parts are framed and put together for a purpose … the inference, we think, is inevitable; that purpose … the inference, we think, is inevitable; that the watch must have had a maker.the watch must have had a maker.

When we look at the world we see that When we look at the world we see that itsits parts are parts are fitted for a purposefitted for a purpose

Therefore the World must have had a designerTherefore the World must have had a designer

The ArgumentThe Argument

1.1. It is claimed that the World has the property that its parts are perfectly fitted to work together to perform a function

2.2. A watch also has the property that its parts are perfectly fitted to work together to perform a function

3.3. A watch also has the property of being designed by an intelligence.

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4.4. Therefore the World also has the property of being designed by an intelligence.

The ArgumentThe Argument

1.1. It is claimed that an object has properties P1, P2, It is claimed that an object has properties P1, P2, …, Pn.…, Pn.

2.2. analogues A1, A2, …, Am have properties P1, P2, analogues A1, A2, …, Am have properties P1, P2, …, Pn.…, Pn.

3.3. The analogues have property P.The analogues have property P.

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4.4. Therefore the object has property P.Therefore the object has property P.

[5.[5. If an object has properties P1, P2, …, Pn, it will also If an object has properties P1, P2, …, Pn, it will also have property P.] have property P.]

The ArgumentThe Argument

1.1. It is claimed that the World has the property that its parts are perfectly fitted to work together to perform a function

2.2. A watch has the property that its parts are perfectly fitted to work together to perform a function

3.3. A watch has the property of being designed by an intelligence.

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4.4. Therefore the World also has the property of being designed by an intelligence.

[5.[5. If an object has the property that its parts are perfectly fitted to work together to perform a function it will also have the property of being designed by an intelligence.]

The ArgumentThe Argument

2.2. Analogues A1, A2, …, Am have properties P1, P2, …, Analogues A1, A2, …, Am have properties P1, P2, …, Pn.Pn.

3.3. The analogues have property P.The analogues have property P.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5.5. If an object has properties P1, P2, …, Pn, it will also If an object has properties P1, P2, …, Pn, it will also

have property P.have property P.

5.5. If an object has properties P1, P2, …, Pn, it will also If an object has properties P1, P2, …, Pn, it will also have property P. have property P.

1.1. An object has properties P1, P2, …, Pn.An object has properties P1, P2, …, Pn.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4.4. Therefore the object has property P.Therefore the object has property P.

The ArgumentThe Argument

A.A. The more analogues the betterThe more analogues the better

B. B. The more common properties in the analogues The more common properties in the analogues the better the better

C. C. The more falsifying instances the less likely the The more falsifying instances the less likely the analogueanalogue

The ArgumentThe ArgumentThomas ReidThomas Reid

We may observe a very great similitude between this earth We may observe a very great similitude between this earth which we inhabit, and the other planets, Saturn, Jupiter, which we inhabit, and the other planets, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and Mercury. They all revolve around the Mars, Venus, and Mercury. They all revolve around the sun, as the earth does, although at different distances and sun, as the earth does, although at different distances and in different periods. They borrow all their light from the in different periods. They borrow all their light from the sun, as the earth does. Several of them are known to sun, as the earth does. Several of them are known to revolve round there axis like the earth, and by that means revolve round there axis like the earth, and by that means must have a like succession of day and night. Some of must have a like succession of day and night. Some of them have moons, that serve to give them light in the them have moons, that serve to give them light in the absence of the sun, as our moon does to us. They are all, absence of the sun, as our moon does to us. They are all, in their motions, subject to the same law of gravitation, as in their motions, subject to the same law of gravitation, as the earth is. From all this similitude, it is not unreasonable the earth is. From all this similitude, it is not unreasonable to think that that those planets may, like our earth, be the to think that that those planets may, like our earth, be the habitation of various orders of living creatures. There is habitation of various orders of living creatures. There is some probability in this conclusion from analogy.some probability in this conclusion from analogy.

The ArgumentThe ArgumentCleanthes (Hume)Cleanthes (Hume)

Look around the world: Contemplate the Look around the world: Contemplate the whole and every part of it: You will find it whole and every part of it: You will find it to be nothing but one great machine, to be nothing but one great machine, subdivided into an infinite number of subdivided into an infinite number of lesser machines, which again admit of lesser machines, which again admit of subdivisions, to a degree beyond what subdivisions, to a degree beyond what human senses and faculties can trace and human senses and faculties can trace and explain. All these various machines, and explain. All these various machines, and even their most minute parts, are adjusted even their most minute parts, are adjusted to each other with an acuracy, which to each other with an acuracy, which ravishes into admiration all men, who ravishes into admiration all men, who have ever contemplated them. have ever contemplated them.

The ArgumentThe ArgumentCleanthes (Hume)Cleanthes (Hume)

The curious adapting of means to ends, throughout The curious adapting of means to ends, throughout all nature, resembles exactly, though it much all nature, resembles exactly, though it much exceeds, the production of human contrivance; of exceeds, the production of human contrivance; of human design, thought, wisdom, and intelligence. human design, thought, wisdom, and intelligence. Since therefore the effects resemble each other, Since therefore the effects resemble each other, we are led to infer, by all the rules of analogy, that we are led to infer, by all the rules of analogy, that the causes also resemble, and that the Author of the causes also resemble, and that the Author of nature is somewhat similar to the mind of man, nature is somewhat similar to the mind of man, though possessed of much larger faculties, though possessed of much larger faculties, proportioned to the grandeur of the work, which proportioned to the grandeur of the work, which He has executed. By this argument a posteriori, He has executed. By this argument a posteriori, and by this argument alone, do we prove at once and by this argument alone, do we prove at once the existence of a Deity and His similarity to the existence of a Deity and His similarity to human mind and intelligence.human mind and intelligence.

The ArgumentThe Argumenta.a. The parts of machines of human contrivance fit together The parts of machines of human contrivance fit together

wonderfully for their purposes.wonderfully for their purposes.b.b. They do so because they are designed to do so by a mind.They do so because they are designed to do so by a mind.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------c.c. If parts work together for an end that is probably If parts work together for an end that is probably

because they have been designed to do so by a mind.because they have been designed to do so by a mind.

c.c. If parts work together for an end that is probably If parts work together for an end that is probably because they have been designed to do so by a mind.because they have been designed to do so by a mind.

d.d. The parts of the world fit together wonderfully for their The parts of the world fit together wonderfully for their purposes.purposes.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------e.e. Therefore they have probably been designed to do so by Therefore they have probably been designed to do so by

a mind.a mind.

The ObjectionsThe Objections

Doing without MindDoing without Mind Vegetable reproductionVegetable reproduction Animal reproductionAnimal reproduction InstinctInstinct Inanimate PowersInanimate Powers

The ObjectionsThe Objections

Doing without GodDoing without God The God of Trial and ErrorThe God of Trial and Error Santa’s ElvesSanta’s Elves God as ManGod as Man

The ObjectionsThe Objections

PhiloPhiloThis world, for aught he knows, is very faulty and This world, for aught he knows, is very faulty and imperfect, compared to a superior standard; and imperfect, compared to a superior standard; and was only the first rude essay of some infant was only the first rude essay of some infant Deity, who afterwards abandoned it, ashamed of Deity, who afterwards abandoned it, ashamed of his lame performance; it is the work only of some his lame performance; it is the work only of some dependent inferior Deity; and it is the object of dependent inferior Deity; and it is the object of derision to his superiors; it is the production of derision to his superiors; it is the production of old age and dotage in some super-annuated old age and dotage in some super-annuated Deity; and ever since his death, has run on at Deity; and ever since his death, has run on at adventures, from the first impulse and active adventures, from the first impulse and active force which it received from him…force which it received from him…