Outline the Design Argument for the existence of God (7)

AS and A Level Religious Studies & Philosophy

Nick Gibson Philosophy

The basis and structure towards the Design Argument is all about a creator and designer whom set things and planned everything to be the way it is today. Unlike the cosmological argument, the Design Argument is a lot simpler to understand and has simple steps towards it. The main point that the Design Argument claims is the fact that everything in nature seems to be put together in just the right manner suggests that an intelligent designer was responsible for its creation.

The most famous philosopher who commented on this argument was William Paley with his argument by analogy by comparing the universe to a watch. He states that certain parts are formed and adjusted as to produce motion. However if a different size from what they are, or the parts are placed in any other manner, or in any other order than that in which they are placed, no motion at all would have been carried out in watch. Therefore the watch in which he was observing is inevitable, that the watch must have had a maker; that there must have existed, at some time, and at some place or other, who formed it for the purpose by constructing it carefully and thus designed its use. He then claims that the same can be said for the universe as a whole. It seems to show evidence of an intelligent designer as well. The parts of the universe have an order, complexity and simplicity that resemble the parts of a fastidiously constructed, precisionally watch. Hence it seems, then, that the universe was fashioned by a sort of watchmaker too.

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Another statement, which would support the Design Argument, is the idea of the orderliness and program. It is highly unlikely that the Universe should be so ordered and purpose. It is less possible that it was all the same; therefore probability is on its side. The law of gravity and planets have a purpose and have all been ordered to do the same and have been doing the same thing continuously for years. This backs up the theory that a creator created things to do a specific job and to do it to the best of their abilities. This also leads on to the fact how the World must have been planned, as it is suitable for inhabitants such as humans. Hence plants photosynthesis oxygen, which humans take in. The world was planned and had already adapted for the evolution and for the expanse of the human race. Thus meaning that someone or something must thought ahead and premeditated that there needed to be specific creatures to do individual things for others to survive. There is just enough oxygen to support life on earth. If there were even a little less, the Earth’s atmosphere would not be able to support life, as we know it. But if there were just a little bit more oxygen in the atmosphere, combustion would occur too easily and often and it would once again be difficult to sustain life in such conditions. Moreover, the Earth is just the right distance from the sun. If we were a little bit closer, the atmosphere would be too hot to sustain life; but if we were a little further away, plants would not receive enough energy from the sun to carry on photosynthesis, the primary process in which keeps humans alive.

Another point to consider which is leading on from the previous point is about providence and empirical data. The argument for the provision comes from the needs of intelligence beings in the universe. It was a reformulation of the argument to respond to the potential threat, which Darwin proposed. “The mind cannot explain evolution since evolution itself requires a mind that imposed it”. Natures seems to plan in advance for the needs of man, which has already been stated above. The argument for empirical data relies upon the evidence in the world to infer God. Another example of this would be the O-zone layer, which again has been putt here to protect humans and has still baffled scientists why it is there.

We see things, which lack knowledge such as natural bodies acting in the same way always trying to obtain the best results. Hence it is plain that they achieve their end designedly. Moreover whatever lacks knowledge cannot move towards an end, unless some being endowed with knowledge and intelligence directs it; as the archer directs the arrow. Therefore some intelligent being exists by whom all natural things are directed to their end; and this being we call God. Aquinas's version of the argument relies on a very strong claim that the existence of any end-directed system or process can be explained only by the existence of an intelligent being who directs that system or process towards its end. Since the operations of all natural bodies, on Aquinas's view, are directed towards some specific end these operations can be explained only by the existence of an intelligent being.

In conclusion there are many points, which support the case for the existence of God. The theories of a planned world and the need for intelligence to guide others are crucial. Paley and Aquinas both agree that there is some creator or designer whom created the world in a specific way and to perform tasks to the best of their best abilities, however the reason why is the subject of another essay.

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