William Paley, An English Clergyman And Philosopher

Marshall I. Cotta May 8, 2017 PHIL-110 Crawley Paley Perplexed William Paley, an English Clergyman and philosopher, has had us scratching our heads for centuries as we ponder the connection between the artificial and natural world. He suggested that if we were walking along a path and hit our foot against a stone, we would assume that the stone had been there forever because it was something â€Å"natural†. However, suppose for a second, that the stone was replaced with a watch. This is where the cogs start turning for philosophers. When we replace the stone with a watch, we are comparing something natural to something artificial. No one would question that the watch was made by a watchmaker. Therefore, according to Paley, logically, if†¦show more content†¦And, since two of the three criteria are met, we can then assume that there is a creator. We live in a world uniquely equipped to support mankind. There is only one explanation for this and that is that the world was designed by an intelligent creator. This omni-god must have had humans in mind when he created the world. (Holt) And, since everything we need is here on earth, it could not possibly be here by chance. There was no random selection or chance that just happened to serve all of our needs. Paley explains that it is perfectly logical to make the leap from watchmaker to omni-God. With concepts so complex as those found in nature, there is no doubt that they required a creator. There is no need to question anything that Paley asserts in his analogy between the watch and the world. Suppose there is an omni-god, an all powerful, all knowing super-being. This being would be perfect in its own right. Therefore, if this being was omnipotent and perfect, would it not make sense that everything it creates is perfect as well? Why would this being make anything less than perfect? Our perfect world would be filled with perfect people living perfect lives in perfect harmony with perfect understanding. Because, why would we worship or trust in a less than omnipotent God? We see no limits to God’s