William Paley And David Hume - 1260 Words

Intelligent by Design Written by Alexander Staggs-Vargas One of the most prominent philosophical arguments that remains today is the debate on the existence of God or an Intelligent Designer. This debate dates back a time of many Gods and deities during the era of Socrates, Plato and their students, including Aristotle. This discussion will focus on the differing works of authors William Paley and David Hume and I will argue that there is an Intelligent Designer for our universe. William Paley believes in the existence of God and that through his watchmaker analogy in â€Å"Natural Theology† he can prove that there is an Intelligent Designer. David Hume addresses William Paley’s argument in â€Å"Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion† and argues Paley’s analogy is weak since Hume believes we cannot analogize earthly things from things we cannot understand. In this paper, I will address these teleological arguments. To begin, we need to understand Paley’s teleological arg ument that we are products of an Intelligent Designer. He argues that: â€Å"1) Human artifacts are products of intelligent design and we have a purpose; 2) The universe resembles these human artifacts; 3) Due to the similarities, it is probable that the universe is also a product of intelligent design; 4) However, the universe is vastly more complex and gigantic than a human artifact; and, 5) Therefore, it is most logical that a powerful and vastly intelligent designer created the universe.† Paley’s teleologicalShow MoreRelatedEssay The Teleological Argument1368 Words   |  6 PagesWilliam Paley and David Hume’s argument over God’s existence is known as the teleological argument, or the argument from design. Arguments from design are arguments concerning God or some type of creator’s existence based on the ideas of order or purpose in universe. Hume takes on the approach of arguing against the argument of design, while Paley argues for it. Altho ugh Hume and Paley both provide very strong arguments, a conclusion will be drawn at the end to distinguish which philosophiser holdsRead MoreThe Radical Thinkers Of The 18th And 19th Centuries1602 Words   |  7 Pageswith rational sources such as data and reasoning instead of faith and tradition. While William Paley was one of the first highly influential rationalist thinkers of his era, he also agreed with the orthodox views of his time. Paley was not significant for challenging his era’s views; rather for representing his era’s views while challenging society’s method of formulating these views. Contrary to Paley, David Hume actually challenged societal norms and traditions by opposing to all of Paley’s ideasRead MorePhilosophy Of Religion : Critically Evaluating The Argument From Design2128 Words   |  9 Pagesfrom design is a collection of empirical and inductive arguments that identify characteristics found in natural objects and infer God as th e cause. The Argument from design is analogous in nature and can be envisioned through key philosopher William Paley (1743-1809). With his argument of intelligent design acknowledged as the â€Å"classical† statement in coupled with his natural theology (1802). Additionally we will explore other forms of the argument from design in a more contemporary version. TheseRead MoreThe Argument Of Creation Vs. Evolution2468 Words   |  10 Pagestowards this side of the argument, there have been and still is many who support the argument of Design or what is referred to as the teleological argument. Philosophers such as St. Thomas Aquinas and William Paley wrote about the belief in there being a creator in their famous works. David Hume, William Derham and Richard Bentley to name a few also wrote about intelligent design. I believe in Creationism. I believe that the universe and everything in it came into existence because of a higher intelligenceRead MoreExamine the Key Features of the Tel eological Argument?1491 Words   |  6 Pagesstated it. Inanimate objects could not have ordered themselves – such as the planets – as they do not have the capacity or intelligence to do this. Therefore, someone with intelligence must have put them in order, which would be God. Additionally, William Paley’s analogy of the watchmaker states that the order evident in the universe demands an explanation. The watch serves as an analogy for the world as it demonstrates design and purpose, hence the argument is one of design qua purpose. All partsRead MoreTeleological Arguments Essay849 Words   |  4 PagesWatchmaker Argument, which was known by William Paley. The argument states that if one found a watch in an empty field, one would logically conclude that the watch must have had a maker who formed it for the purpose which we use it and that it was not the product of random formation. However, if one stumbled across a stone it would be difficult for one to explain how it got there. Secondly, just as the complexity of a watch imply intelligent design, Paley suggested that the universe too implies intelligentRead MoreThe Design Argument for the Existence of God Essay920 Words   |  4 Pagesworld move towards goals, just as the arrow does not move toward its goal except by the archers directing it. Consequently there must be an intelligent designer who directs all things to their own goals, this being God. William Paley continued the argument of Socrates, Plato, and Aquinas, e said that if one found a watch in a field, one would automatically conclude that it was made by a watchmaker because of its obvious design.The complex design of the world alsoRead MorePersuasive Essay : Paley s Argument From Design1217 Words   |  5 Pages PH 101-01 Instructor: Jason Smith Student: Donna Delva 6/16/17 Critically evaluate Paley’s argument from design. What kind of argument is it? How does it work? What does it aim to show? Does Paley succeed? Why or Why not? While theology may take God s existence as necessary on the basis of faith, or discovery, many philosophers have thought it’s possible to prove by reason that there must be a God. The teleological argument, also known as the argument from design simplyRead MoreTeleological Argument for the Existence of God Essay2079 Words   |  9 Pagesexamine the argument put forward by William Paley in 1802, in his Natural Theology. Paley offers an argument from design that purports to show a clear and distinct reason why one should hold a belief in God, due to the inherent features of the world. It is attempted in this paper to firstly: show that the argument should be rejected on the grounds of lacking a rationally flowing set of premises and conclusions; and secondly: that the criticisms made by David Hume concerning the argument hold moreRead MoreExplain Paleys Argument for the Existence of God1041 Words   |  5 Pages4a. Explain Paleys argument for the existence of God (25) William Paleys argument for the existence of God is an important aspect of the Design argument, which argues that the universe is being directed towards an end purpose due to the a posteriori (subject to experience) evidence of an intelligent designer, who is God. This is because it is perhaps arguably the most famous version, and the theory which modern-day theories for the Design argument are built upon. The first version of the