1.7.3 Intelligent Design

Intelligent Design (ID)

A theory which is gaining a lot of popularity in the media recently is “Intelligent Design” (ID). Strictly speaking, ID is not a creation theory in the same sense as the others discussed. Intelligent Design generally consists of showing exemplary features of the natural world that seem to be clear examples of designed structures. These are presented as counter-examples to traditional Darwinian evolution, which is said to be based on undirected, step-by-step genetic modification and natural selection. Intelligent Design advocates emphasize a concept of “irreducible complexity,” and on the fine-tuning arguments of the basic laws of nature by asserting that the fundamental properties of nature are finely tuned to allow for the development of matter and living things.

The theory of “irreducible complexity” involves looking at the complex mechanisms evident in the physical world where various parts of an organism are interdependent on one another, and questioning how each of those parts could have formed gradually over time. Some structures appear to be so complex that there is no way that they can be reduced to individual parts without destroying the whole, and no conceivable mechanism by which they could have developed step by step over time. By implication, there is no way for one part to have developed over time by evolution, while waiting on the other part to be developed later, because the organism could not survive without all the parts having been put into place all at once. A classic example given by Michael Behe is the bacterial flagellum, which is effectively a small outboard motor that propels the bacteria’s motion, where all the parts are claimed to be necessary before the mechanism can be of any benefit to the organism.

Strictly speaking, there is a difference between the belief in “intelligent design” and the “Intelligent Design” movement. Those who hold a YEC belief automatically believe in intelligent design, because they believe God miraculously created and designed all things. Similarly, advocates of OEC who believe in special creation and/or divinely manipulated genetic modification, also accept the principle of design. Even Theistic Evolutionists (to be discussed next) would claim there was a very intelligent design which went into designing a universe so complex that it could develop life and complexity through natural processes, or through the pervasive but hidden activity of God’s providence.

The Intelligent Design movement is distinct from any of these, and involves an overlap with all the other creation theories, and even includes those who are not Christians or theists. Many of its adherents accept the scientific evidence for an old earth and biological evolution, although people from the YEC view definitely use the concepts of irreducible complexity and fine-tuning as well. Often the ID movement makes special emphasis that they are not promoting a religious theory at all, claiming not to make any specific identification of the intelligent designer. Its main claim is that certain things may be detectable as being intelligently designed, as opposed to arising naturally through purely material causes and effects.

The most prominent ID organization is the Discovery Institute (http://www.discovery.org).