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Summary of Design Argument (Paley)

Summary of Design Argument (Paley). Nature is simply too beautifully complex and intricate to have occurred by chance. Countless examples of great design in nature point to the existence of a Creator eg. Human brain, eye, birds wing etc etc

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Summary of Design Argument (Paley)

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  1. Summary of Design Argument (Paley) Nature is simply too beautifully complex and intricate to have occurred by chance. Countless examples of great design in nature point to the existence of a Creator eg. Human brain, eye, birds wing etc etc Teleological Argument – from ‘teleos’ meaning ‘end’ or ‘purpose’ The universe has been designed toward some ultimate purpose 2 main features : everything seems perfectly suited to what it does universe full of order not chaos Suggestion is that the universe is designed specifically for the needs of intelligent beings (humans) If any one factor of the universe had been slightly different (eg. Earth slightly further from the sun) then our world would not exist. The finely tuned universe we live in could not be here by chance.

  2. Weaknesses Strengths • Alongside beauty and order is ugliness, suffering and chaos • Universe not like a watch: it is a living organism, which changes and develops. It is not a machine with fixed boundaries • Even with chance only those possibilities which work will prevail – it survives because it works (giving illusion of design) • Who is to say God has not given up and moved on or that it was not many gods • Simple and persuasive analogies used • Appeal against ‘Chance’ is strong given complexity • Presence of order in the universe (eg. 4 seasons) points to design • Aesthetic argument – more to life than existence ie appreciation of art, beauty, music etc

  3. Weaknesses Strengths • Presence of natural disasters suggests world is not perfect – therefore if it IS designed it is an IMPERFECT design! God not perfect then! • Imperfections can be found in nature

  4. Summary of First Cause Argument • Nothing comes from nothing! God is: • The unmoved mover • The uncaused causer • Contingency – everything relies on something else for existence – but this must be underpinned by a being which relies on NOTHING else for existence

  5. Strengths Weaknesses Reality more observable than Phenomena Relies on assumptions which are no Longer held eg. Science believes things CAN happen without cause Why can’t the universe be INFINITE? Why can’t there be an endless series of Causes? Hume : because the contents of the Universe have a cause does not mean the Universe itself has one First cause does not mean it was GOD! Simple and easily understood Intellectually seems reasonable And therefore convincing MAJOR CONTRADICTION If everything has a cause then There must have been a first cause Which has no cause

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