Arguments for the Existence of God
1) Paley’s Analogical argument, Criticisms from Hume, Strengths and Weaknesses
The Design Argument:
● The design argument is aposteriori and inductive.
● It begins with the scenario of walking across a heath. Paley says that if you stubbed your toe against
a stone you would not question how it came to be there. However, if you stubbed your toe against a
watch, then it would be reasonable to ask that question.
● This is because you would notice that the watch has complexity, regularity and purpose. You would
not assume that it has occurred by chance but that it must have been designed by a watchmaker.
The universe also shows complexity, regularity and purpose which could not have occurred by
chance so must have been designed by a universe maker.
● As the universe has infinitely greater complexity, regularity and purpose than a watch, the universe
maker must also be infinitely greater than a watchmaker. According to Paley, this is the omnipotent
God of classical theism.
● Paley illustrates his argument with examples of design from nature such as the gills of fish and how
they are perfectly designed for breathing underwater.
Strengths and Weaknesses (Criticisms from Hume):
● A strength of the design argument is that it is supported by the Anthropic Principle. This is the
principle which suggests that universal conditions such as gravity were fine tuned in order for life to
develop. However, a counter is from Hume who says that this apparent fine tuning is due to chance
since the ‘universe is more like a vegetable than a machine.’ For example, evolution has proven that
nature can design itself. I believe that the counter is weaker since evolution itself relies on universal
laws which have been fine tuned by God.
●
● A strength of the design argument is that its conclusion of a single omnipotent God is the simplest
and therefore best explanation according to Occam's Razor. This is because it makes the fewest
assumptions. However, a counter is from Hume who argues that evidence should be proportional to
the conclusion. Though the universe shows signs of being designed, it is a leap in logic saying that
the designer is the God of christian theism. He argues that a lesser being could have designed the
universe or even many beings. I believe that the counter is weaker because a lesser being or many
beings makes more assumptions and is therefore less likely to be true.
●
● A strength of the design argument is that it answers the problem of evil convincingly. This is
because it suggests that evil is a designed feature. As Swinburne says, ‘it would be impossible to
design a world where everyone has free will and also always chooses to do good.’ However, a
counter is from Hume who argues that this undermines God because an omnipotent being should
be able to create a world where everyone has free will and also always chooses to do good. I
believe that the counter is weaker because ‘God cannot act outside the realms of logical possibility.’
1) Paley’s Analogical argument, Criticisms from Hume, Strengths and Weaknesses
The Design Argument:
● The design argument is aposteriori and inductive.
● It begins with the scenario of walking across a heath. Paley says that if you stubbed your toe against
a stone you would not question how it came to be there. However, if you stubbed your toe against a
watch, then it would be reasonable to ask that question.
● This is because you would notice that the watch has complexity, regularity and purpose. You would
not assume that it has occurred by chance but that it must have been designed by a watchmaker.
The universe also shows complexity, regularity and purpose which could not have occurred by
chance so must have been designed by a universe maker.
● As the universe has infinitely greater complexity, regularity and purpose than a watch, the universe
maker must also be infinitely greater than a watchmaker. According to Paley, this is the omnipotent
God of classical theism.
● Paley illustrates his argument with examples of design from nature such as the gills of fish and how
they are perfectly designed for breathing underwater.
Strengths and Weaknesses (Criticisms from Hume):
● A strength of the design argument is that it is supported by the Anthropic Principle. This is the
principle which suggests that universal conditions such as gravity were fine tuned in order for life to
develop. However, a counter is from Hume who says that this apparent fine tuning is due to chance
since the ‘universe is more like a vegetable than a machine.’ For example, evolution has proven that
nature can design itself. I believe that the counter is weaker since evolution itself relies on universal
laws which have been fine tuned by God.
●
● A strength of the design argument is that its conclusion of a single omnipotent God is the simplest
and therefore best explanation according to Occam's Razor. This is because it makes the fewest
assumptions. However, a counter is from Hume who argues that evidence should be proportional to
the conclusion. Though the universe shows signs of being designed, it is a leap in logic saying that
the designer is the God of christian theism. He argues that a lesser being could have designed the
universe or even many beings. I believe that the counter is weaker because a lesser being or many
beings makes more assumptions and is therefore less likely to be true.
●
● A strength of the design argument is that it answers the problem of evil convincingly. This is
because it suggests that evil is a designed feature. As Swinburne says, ‘it would be impossible to
design a world where everyone has free will and also always chooses to do good.’ However, a
counter is from Hume who argues that this undermines God because an omnipotent being should
be able to create a world where everyone has free will and also always chooses to do good. I
believe that the counter is weaker because ‘God cannot act outside the realms of logical possibility.’
