Single Idea 21357

[catalogued under 28. God / B. Proving God / 3. Proofs of Evidence / b. Teleological Proof]

Full Idea

The eyelid defends the eye; it wipes it; it closes it in sleep. Are there, in any work of art whatever, purposes more evident than those which this organ fulfils?

Clarification

By 'work of art' he means artifact

Gist of Idea

No organ shows purpose more obviously than the eyelid

Source

William Paley (Natural Theology [1802], p.24), quoted by Armand Marie LeRoi - The Lagoon: how Aristotle invented science 031

Book Reference

Leroi,Armand Marie: 'The Lagoon: how Aristotle invented science' [Bloomsbury 2014], p.84


A Reaction

Nice to have another example, in addition to the watch. He is not wholly wrong, because it is impossible to give an evolutionary account of the development of the eyelid without referring to some sort of teleological aspect. The eyelid has a function.