Firstly, the watchmaker analogy is very good as it is easy to comprehend and understand. Also, a systematic approach has been taken. By this I mean that we start with the end product, the universe or watch, and work our way backwards. For example, the watch serves a purpose, the watch has been designed, the watch has a designer; a watchmaker. Likewise, the universe serves a purpose, the universe has been designed, the universe has a designer; God.
One strength of William Paley’s argument is the appearance of structure in the world - the world is not full of chaos, but of beneficial order and stability. The conditions seem to be perfect to sustain life. Surely this could not have come about by chance? The universe is made up of many different parts, all of which work together in harmony to fulfill a purpose. William Paley believed that the order apparent is evidence of an intelligent designer, for if the universe had not have been designed it would be chaotic and dysfunctional.
Another strength of the design argument is the complexity of things in the world that serve purpose. An example of this is how the human eye works. The human eye is complex not only in its structure but in its function too. It automatically focuses, analyses colour and detects light and motion. The human eye, like everything else, fulfils a purpose. In this case it’s very important, it enables us to see. Some people argue that natural selection plays a part in this, but surely something so complex and so important could not just appear over time – it must have a designer.
The anthropic principle suggests that the fundamental constants of the universe are too finely tuned to have appeared by chance or coincidence. Without these constants life would not exist. This supports the design argument as it suggests that parts of the universe are too complex and crucial to be accidental, they must therefore be a product of intelligent design. Astronomer Fred Hoyle said that the likelihood of the conditions necessary for life coming about by chance were akin to a hurricane sweeping through a scrap yard and assembling a Boeing 747. An example of the anthropic principle is the distance between the sun and the Earth. If the sun were too far away, the planet would be too cool for a stable water system. Yet if the sun were too close, the planet would be too hot for a stable water system. We all know that water is a necessity in sustaining life, but if this fine tuning were slightly different, we would have no water and therefore, no life.
In this essay I have explained the main ideas of the design argument and have addressed a number of strengths as to how the argument proves the existence of God. To conclude, if a watch is a product of intelligent design then so is the universe, therefore, an intelligent designer must exist.
