
Paley
William Paley was an 18th-century philosopher known for his argument for the existence of God based on design. He believed that just as a watch’s intricate workings imply a watchmaker, the complex order and purpose in nature suggest a divine creator. In essence, Paley argued that the natural world’s complexity and functionality point to intelligent design, much like a crafted object. His analogy helps illustrate how evidence of order and purpose in nature can lead to the conclusion that it was created by a higher intelligence.