The aim of this study is to analyze the arguments from design to intelligent design and to present the main philosophical aspects of design arguments. Without examining the conceptual background of design arguments, it is not possible to understand their roles in philosophy, theology and science. To this aim, first the philosophical usage of the argument is explained into three categories: argument from design, argument to design and intelligent design. Next, in order to provide a deeper analysis, William Paley&rsquo / s Natural Theology in its closer relation of the natural sciences and theological discourse are examined. Lastly, through the philosophy and metaphysics of design, the framework of intelligent design is discussed. Consequently, the process of design arguments can be analyzed through the concept of intelligence rather than design in the history of philosophy since it is closely related to the religious and scientific way of understanding of nature. William Paley&rsquo / s argument to design is, thus, a fragile point between the classical and contemporary versions of design arguments.

I uppsatsen jämförs William Paleys Natural Theology : or, evidence of the Existence and Attributes of the Deity, collected from the appearances of nature från 1802 med Michale J. Behes Darwin's black box : The biochemical challenge to evolution från 1996. Jämförelsen kontextualiseras med en skiss över evolutionsteorimotståndets historia under den mellanliggande perioden, som tillsammans med själva den vetenskapliga utvecklingen, antas förklara de skillnader i tilltal och val av argument som föreligger mellan de två verken. I fråga om grundläggande budskap, idéstruktur, syfte och religiositet befinns de två verken ligga varandra betydligt  närmare än vad som initialt kan tyckas vara fallet.