How did Paley prove there is a God?

Answer 1

A:

Paley never proved there is a God, although he was one of many who tried to do so. He most famously enunciated the Teleological Argument, which says there can not be design without a designer. He observed that whenever we see something that "its various parts are framed and put together for a purpose," for example a watch, we must conclude that it has been devised for this purpose by an intelligent designer. This is a true statement, but a flawed argument for the existence of God, since it assumes that what we see in nature is "purpose."

His favourite example of design in nature is the eye. He said that its delicate and intricate nature could only have come about by design. Others have suggested that the eye could not have evolved because there is no reason to have an organ that does not yet see - either you have an eye or you do not. However, more recent scientific research does indeed show that there are intermediate stages in the formation of primitive eyes and there is no longer reason to believe eyes did not evolve.