Paley's Watch Analogy
William Paley's 18th-century argument that if someone found a watch in a field, they would infer an intelligent maker; similarly, the universe's complexity implies a divine designer. Paley used this analogy to illustrate how order and purpose in nature suggest intentional design rather than random assembly.
Real World
Paley pointed to the human eye's intricate structure — its lens focusing light, iris adjusting to brightness, retina converting signals — as evidence of design far surpassing any pocket watch, in his 1802 Natural Theology.
Exam Focus
Paley's argument is analogical, not deductive — always assess whether the analogy between watch and universe is strong enough.
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