Full Idea
Every indication of contrivance, every manifestation of design, which existed in the watch, exists in the works of nature.
Gist of Idea
All the signs of design found in a watch are also found in nature
Source
William Paley (Natural Theology [1802], Ch.3)
Book Reference
'The Existence of God', ed/tr. Hick,John [Macmillan 1964], p.103
A Reaction
This is far from obvious. It was crucial to the watch analogy that we immediately see its one self-evident purpose. No one looks at nature and says 'Aha, I know what this is all for'.
Related Ideas
Idea 21275 Unlike a stone, the parts of a watch are obviously assembled in order to show the time [Paley]
Idea 21276 From the obvious purpose and structure of a watch we must infer that it was designed [Paley]