The design argument is an explanation used by theists to prove the existence of God. It is also called the teleological argument. The word teleological comes from the Greek word teleos which means ‘end’ or ‘purpose’. The argument uses observation of the natural world to provide evidence of design and uses this evidence to back up the existence of God as what has been designed needs a designer. As the argument uses evidence to confirm its theory of the universe being designed (as opposed to occurring by chance) it is classed as an a posteriori argument. The design argument provides a range of evidence to argue for the existence of a designer (i.e. God).
One argument for the existence of God is the basic design argument. It states that: the world has purpose and order, the complexity of the universe shows evidence of design, such design needs a designer, the only designer of something as great as the universe is God. This provides evidence for the existence of God as natural objects, such as the human eye, are so complex that the chance of them occurring randomly are so minute that it is much more likely that the eye had a designer. This is because each individual part of the eye must be the exact right size and in a specific condition to be able to function at all. A designer who is capable of designing something so detailed must be omnipotent – no question. The only possible being who is able to create something so divine must be God. Therefore the Basic argument shows evidence for the existence of God.
Another argument that provides evidence for the existence of God is the Anthropic Principle. This idea states that the cosmos (i.e. the universe) was created for the sole purpose of creating and supporting intelligent life. F.R. Tennant proposed the idea, he summarised his opinion of the universe into one key quotation “as we look out into the universe and identify the many