Outline the key characteristics of the Design Argument.

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Outline the key characteristics of the Design Argument.

The design argument is an a posteriori argument, also called a teleological argument. It is based on the observation of the apparent order in the universe and the natural world. It appears to be designed as opposed to the result of chance, as Socrates states "with such signs of forethought in the design of living creatures can you doubt that they are the work of choice or design?"

Thomas Aqunias formulates 5 proofs for the existence of God. In his 5th way Aquinas puts forward his version of a teleological argument. He argues that for non-intelligent matter to behave in a way that is beneficial, there needs to be an intelligent power to bring this state of affairs about. The world seems to exhibit purposeful order and he infers from this that there must be a designer. Things do not simply exist and behave randomly but instead act for some specific end, for example animals appear to be self-regulating mechanisms, designed to maintain themselves and reproduce.

Paley also puts forward an argument for design. Paley uses an analogy of a watch. A design with a tremendously complex movement