(b) (i) What are the strengths and weaknesses of the design argument for the existence of God?

(b) (ii) Comment on the view that the weaknesses are more convincing than the strengths?

The design argument, known as the Teleological argument, comes from the Greek word 'Telos' which means purpose. The basic premise, of all teleological arguments for the existence of God, is that the world exhibits an intelligent purpose based on experience from nature such as its order, unity, coherency, design and complexity. Hence, there must be an intelligent designer to account for the observed intelligent purpose and order that we can observe. Philosophers use the design features of purpose, regularity and order in the world for proof of a designer i.e. the God of classical theism.

William Paley put forward the most famous argument in a book called 'Natural Theology', and argues from 'design qua purpose' and 'design qua regularity'. From design qua purpose, Paley argues that the world has purpose, which shows evidence of design, therefore there must be a designer i.e. God. This is echoed in the bible where it says, "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."(Romans 1:19-20). This passage in the bible explains that God is all around the world in the things that have been made; therefore God has shown himself to exist through design.
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Paley used a watch analogy to argue design within the world by explaining that if you look at a watch, which all the pieces fit together with the purpose of telling time, you wouldn't think that this was just coincidence or natural occurrence would you? So therefore why should the world be thought of any differently to this? A watchmaker is to a watch as God is to the universe; they are both intelligent creators and designers. Paley also applied the watch principle to the human eye as it has many parts, which work together to produce sight.
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