The Design Argument
Paley’s Watch *
Octavia Madison Mohamed
William Paley
B. July 14, 1743 Petersborough U.K.
D. May 25, 1805 Bishopwearmouth, Sunderland
Field- Natural Theology
William Paley was an English clergyman, Christian apologist, philosopher, and utilitarian.
Abductive Argument
Abductive Argument
Give best explanation.
*An initial observation that follows logical inference to find the simplest and most likely explanation
Paley’s W.
Discuss
Watch
Beach (Heath)
Watch
Intricacy
How can we explain?
•Organisms are intricate and well suited to the tasks of survival reproduction
•Hence, organisms were created by an intelligent designer
•The watch is intricate and well suited to the task of measuring time
•Hence, the watch created by an intelligent designer
Paley’s Watch cont’d
Random & Design
Hypothesis
Random & Design Hypothesis cont*
Random Hypothesis - The watch miraculously appeared from waves on the beach…
NOT plausible.
Design Hypothesis - The watch has an intelligent creator
More plausible
Intricate and useful
SURPRISE PRINCIPLE
O (Observation)
H (hypothesis)
Analogy
Better UnderstandinG?
Conclusion
*It sums up that the first examination of the watch, of its works, development, and development, recommended, was, that it more likely than not had, for the reason and creator of that development, an artificer, who comprehended its instrument, and designed its usage. This conclusion is invulnerable. A second examination presents us with another disclosure. The watch is found, over the span of its development, to deliver another watch, like itself: and thus, as well as we see in it an arrangement of association, independently computed for that purpose.
Works Cited*
•Sober, Elliott. Core Questions in Philosophy; A Text with Readings Pearson: 2013