An overview and explanation of william paleys watch analogy including some key quotes. William paley s watchmaker analogy is basically a teleological argument. As most famously presented by william paley in his theological work titled natural theology, the watchmaker analogy teleological argument is a recurring argument for a designer, which, by way of analogy, asserts that complexity requires a designer. William paleys watchmaker analogy is basically a teleological argument. The argument makes use of an anaology as paley compares a watch and the earthuniverse. William paleys watchmaker analogy extract from the teleological. William paley, the teleological argument philosophy courses.
It is a greek word meaning end for telos and a logos which means. The disanalogy between an artist and a universemaker is substantial. His most famous argument is called the watchmaker analogy, where paley makes an inference from the complexity of living systems to a designer. William paley uses watch analogy to argue existence of god. He believed, therefore, that god must care even more for humanity. The argument hinges upon the assumed premise that like causes resemble like. William paleys watchmaker analogy extract from the. Not only is the last term of the analogy, the universemaker, beyond the. The watch analogy from william paley is an a posteriori based upon experience, as opposed to the use of logic argument for the existence of god. The most famous version comes from the english clergyman william paleys 1802 book natural theology. William paley july 1743 25 may 1805 was an english clergyman, christian apologist, philosopher, and utilitarian. The watchmaker is a false analogy because it assumes that because two. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. It was presented by william paley in natural theology, and the.
Start studying william paleys teleological argument. A history of the teleological argument based on the watch analogy is sketched with quotations from the original sources in this entry from the wikipedia. Paley s watchmaker analogy is an attempt to prove the existence of god by comparing the complexity of our universe to the complexity of a watch. Another summary of paley s life together with bibliography and additional links is provided in the wikipedia. Paleys teleological argument is based on an analogy. His argument played a prominent role in natural theology. An overview of william paleys watch analogy for students of religious studies and philosophy of religion. He is best known for his natural theology exposition of the teleological argument for the existence of god in his work natural theology or evidences of the existence and attributes of the deity, which made use of the watchmaker analogy. William paley 1743 1805 was a british philosopher whose writings on natural theology and moralpolitical philosophy were largely influential amongst british and american thinkers. William paley l1431805, archdeacon of carlisle, was a leading evangelical apologist. The teleological argument argument for the existence of god.
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