Paley Natural Theology Essay

Natural Theology, written by Paley is an argument of the design of the universe. This paper argues that there is an intelligent designer who designed the universe. His argument is a posteriori and inductive because it is based on sense experience and conclusions were drawn from what our senses tell us. Paley’s argument is based on three fundamental observations: the complexity of the biological world, the regularity of the orbits of ‘heavenly bodies’ and of the seasons of the year and finally, the purpose of a designer seen in this complexity and purpose. To explain his argument, Paley compares the universe to a watch and uses analogies to explain his argument.

Paley’s argument of design consists of three premises: A premise that asserts

An analogy is an inference where information or meaning is transferred from one subject to another. Paley transferred his inference about the design of watches to the design of nature. He says that a watch is a complex thing. Since it is a complex thing, the best explanation for the watch is that it has a creator. Therefore, the watch probably has a creator.

Paley compares a watch and a rock. He says the watch has always been there without thinking but cannot answer for the rock. He goes on to the question of that should not it be the same answer for the rock. When we look at the watch, several parts are put together to form an object with a purpose. If the parts are not assembled in that way, then the watch cannot serve its purpose. The complicated nature of a watch and its function means that it had a designer. Paley uses the watch to argue that the material exhibits the same kind of functional complexity as a watch.

“There cannot be design without a designer, contrivance without a contriver; order without choice; arrangement, without anything capable of arranging; subserviency and relation to a purpose; means suitable to an end, and executing their office in accomplishing that end, without the end ever having been contemplated, or the means accommodated to it.” (pg.

Paley gives more examples: Fish have fins and gills and have perfectly adapted to living in the water. Birds have feathers, bones and wings and are perfectly adapted to flight. Charles Darwin’s explanation for the evolution of complex biological organisms stated that organisms evolved gradually over millions of years from simpler organisms through a process called natural selection. Darwinian evolution is a cumulative step-by-step process which overshadowed Paley’s argument of design.

I believe that Darwin’s theory of evolution better explains natural evolution than Paley’s argument of design does. Paley assumes there are no natural explanations and ignores Darwin’s theories that clearly explain why animals have been able to and continue to adapt so well.

The one thing against Darwinian evolution that Paley’s argument of design did explain well was the emergence of life. Darwin was never able to explain how life came to exist. Paley considers it the first cell to ever exist. It is like a watch that exhibits “apparent design.” Paley asks how organisms were created to be able to adapt so well. He concluded that it must be because of an intelligent designer known as God. I believe this is an accurate assumption as no natural explanation is