How does the argument from design compare the universe with a watch?

The argument from design, also known as the teleological argument, posits that the complexity and order of the universe imply the existence of an intelligent designer, typically identified as God.12

The comparison between the universe and a watch is most famously associated with the English theologian William Paley in his 1802 work, Natural Theology. Paley argued that just as the intricate, functional parts of a watch—such as its gears and springs—clearly indicate that it was created by a watchmaker for the purpose of telling time, the complex and coherent systems of nature (like the human eye or ear) indicate that they were designed for specific functions.23

By extension, this analogy suggests that the universe as a whole, functioning as a complex and efficient machine, must also have an intelligent designer. This reasoning relies on the principle that like effects have like causes: because the universe exhibits evidence of purposeful design similar to human-made artifacts, it must have a creator of corresponding intelligence.12