intelligent design theory and the poverty of anti-scientific thought

Intelligent Design and Poverty of ThIntelligent Design and Poverty of Thought, ETSU Basler Lectrure Iought, ETSU Basler Lectrure I

1101/21/0701/21/07

Intelligent Design Theory and Intelligent Design Theory and the Poverty of Anti-Scientific the Poverty of Anti-Scientific

ThoughtThought

George KampisGeorge Kampis

Wayne G. Basler ChairWayne G. Basler Chair

ETSU, Spring Semester 2007ETSU, Spring Semester 2007

01/21/0701/21/07 Intelligent Design and Poverty of ThIntelligent Design and Poverty of Thought, ETSU Basler Lectrure Iought, ETSU Basler Lectrure I

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Wayne G. BaslerWayne G. Basler


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Basler lectures 2007 SpringBasler lectures 2007 Spring


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This lectureThis lecture• A medley/variant of several earlier works and talksA medley/variant of several earlier works and talks

• Kampis, G and Mund, K (eds.): Evolution and Religion in Hungary, Kampis, G and Mund, K (eds.): Evolution and Religion in Hungary, Typotex, 2006.Typotex, 2006.

• Metanexus LSI „3Cultures” Group (a Templeton Grant)Metanexus LSI „3Cultures” Group (a Templeton Grant)• ID debates in HungaryID debates in Hungary

• Lecture Lecture on Hungarian national on Hungarian national TV TV channelschannels• 2006. May 9., Tuesday, Duna TV, 22:152006. May 9., Tuesday, Duna TV, 22:15

2006. May 13., Saturday, Duna TV, 10:402006. May 13., Saturday, Duna TV, 10:402006. May 14., Sunday, m1, 10:002006. May 14., Sunday, m1, 10:002006. May 14., Sunday, m2, 01:30 2006. May 14., Sunday, m2, 01:30

• LectureLecture downloadable from the Net: downloadable from the Net:http://www.mindentudas.hu/kampisgyorgy/20060510kampis1.htmlhttp://www.mindentudas.hu/kampisgyorgy/20060510kampis1.htmlhttp://www.mindentudas.hu/kampisgyorgy/20060510kampis2.htmlhttp://www.mindentudas.hu/kampisgyorgy/20060510kampis2.html

http://www.mindentudas.hu/kampisgyorgy/20060510kampis1.html

http://www.mindentudas.hu/kampisgyorgy/20060510kampis2.html


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SummarySummary

• ID and evolution theory are not alternativesID and evolution theory are not alternatives

• ID not scientificID not scientific

• Evolution not theoryEvolution not theory


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Charles DarwinCharles Darwin


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The ID controversyThe ID controversy


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Con booksCon books


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Intelligent designIntelligent design

• Evolving Evolving but essentially… but essentially…http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligent_designhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligent_design

• Irreducible complexityIrreducible complexity

• Specified complexitySpecified complexity

• Intelligent designerIntelligent designer

• An intellectual debate? Insider’s business ?An intellectual debate? Insider’s business ?

• Quote Johnson, and we can go home,Quote Johnson, and we can go home,

"This isn't really, and never has been a debate about science. "This isn't really, and never has been a debate about science. It's about religion and philosophy." -- Phillip E. Johnson, World It's about religion and philosophy." -- Phillip E. Johnson, World Magazine, November 30, 1996Magazine, November 30, 1996

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligent_design


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ID and creationismID and creationism

• Varieties of creationism:Varieties of creationism:

• 6-day (young Earth), flat Earth (?)6-day (young Earth), flat Earth (?)

• Invisible hand creation/continuous special creationInvisible hand creation/continuous special creation

• Fine tuned/open universe creationismFine tuned/open universe creationism

• Panspermia creationismPanspermia creationism

• …………

• IDID

• ID has a clear identity, pretends to be science, an ID has a clear identity, pretends to be science, an alternative „from within”alternative „from within”


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What is really at stakeWhat is really at stake

• Future of education and the credibility of „regular” scienceFuture of education and the credibility of „regular” science

• Dover (Penn) 2005Dover (Penn) 2005

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitzmiller_v._Dover_Area_School_DistrictKitzmiller_v._Dover_Area_School_District

• Judge's 139-page opinion:Judge's 139-page opinion:

• http://www.aclupa.org/downloads/Dec20opinion.pdfhttp://www.aclupa.org/downloads/Dec20opinion.pdf

• Kansas 2005Kansas 2005


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Science in defense I.Science in defense I.

• Evolution „just a theory”

• Does not explain X

• Hence alternatives are legitimate


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Science in defense II.Science in defense II.

• Steve Fuller testimony:Steve Fuller testimony:http://www.aclupa.org/downloads/Day15AMSession.pdfhttp://www.aclupa.org/downloads/Day15AMSession.pdf

http://www.aclupa.org/downloads/Day15PMSession.pdfhttp://www.aclupa.org/downloads/Day15PMSession.pdf

• Steve Fuller:Steve Fuller:http://www.warwick.ac.uk/~sysdt/Index.htmlhttp://www.warwick.ac.uk/~sysdt/Index.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Fuller_%28social_epistemologist%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Fuller_%28social_epistemologist%29

• „„Tory history”: science is essentially a social phenomenon. Tory history”: science is essentially a social phenomenon. Anything that people do is OK, so let’s proliferate ideas Anything that people do is OK, so let’s proliferate ideas rather than suppressing them.rather than suppressing them.

• Science as we know it is nothing but one system of thoughtScience as we know it is nothing but one system of thought

http://www.aclupa.org/downloads/Day15AMSession.pdf

http://www.aclupa.org/downloads/Day15PMSession.pdf

http://www.warwick.ac.uk/~sysdt/Index.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Fuller_%28social_epistemologist%29


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Where to go from here?Where to go from here?

• Darwin on trial, science in defense – inadequate situationDarwin on trial, science in defense – inadequate situation

• Dover trial: ID’s origin and sociology, not method or contentDover trial: ID’s origin and sociology, not method or content

• The Royal Society:The Royal Society:


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Offensive without offendingOffensive without offending


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Faith based and evidence basedFaith based and evidence based

• Duplex veritas• Lord of the Gaps, busy God for human needs


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Philosophy of science I.Philosophy of science I.

R. Carnap (Vienna Circle) W.v.O. Quine D.C. Dennett


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Philosophy of science II.Philosophy of science II.

• Theory and explanationTheory and explanation

• Empirical language – theoretical languageEmpirical language – theoretical language

FactsFacts theories (ie. verified true knowledge)theories (ie. verified true knowledge)

• 2 crisises: protocol sentence debate, verificationism debate 2 crisises: protocol sentence debate, verificationism debate (e.g.induction).(e.g.induction).

• 2 conclusions: facts yes, foundations no; 2 conclusions: facts yes, foundations no;

verification no („just a theory”), explanation yesverification no („just a theory”), explanation yes


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Philosophy of science II.Philosophy of science II.

• Theory and explanationTheory and explanation

• Empirical language – theoretical languageEmpirical language – theoretical language

FactsFacts theories (ie. verified true knowledge)theories (ie. verified true knowledge)

• 2 crisises: protocol sentence debate, verificationism debate 2 crisises: protocol sentence debate, verificationism debate (e.g.induction).(e.g.induction).

• 2 conclusions: 2 conclusions: facts yesfacts yes, foundations no; , foundations no;

verification no („just a theory”), verification no („just a theory”), explanation yesexplanation yes


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Facts and explanationsFacts and explanations

• Fact: cant’ pump up 30 ft water from above Fact: cant’ pump up 30 ft water from above

• Explanation: Pascal’s LawExplanation: Pascal’s Law

• Fact: evolution (species origin by descent w/ modification)Fact: evolution (species origin by descent w/ modification)

• Explanation: evol. theoryExplanation: evol. theory

• Facts: empirical and theoretical (cf. how voltage meter works)Facts: empirical and theoretical (cf. how voltage meter works)

• Explanations in science: Explanations in science: – phenomena by phenomena (!)phenomena by phenomena (!)– express our best knowledge (e.g. compatible with same/other express our best knowledge (e.g. compatible with same/other

facts)facts)– open to criticism and revisionopen to criticism and revision


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Research programsResearch programs

• I. Lakatos (Budapest and I. Lakatos (Budapest and LSE, London)LSE, London)

• Expands a body of Expands a body of knowledge, gives rise to knowledge, gives rise to new generalizations and new generalizations and insightsinsights Imre Lakatos


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„„Darwinism” is actually 2 thingsDarwinism” is actually 2 things

• Knowing Knowing thatthat evolution happened and evolution happened and knowing knowing howhow it happened (unfortunately, it happened (unfortunately, both go back to Darwin in both go back to Darwin in OriginOrigin))

• „„Knowing that” and „knowing how” (G. Ryle)Knowing that” and „knowing how” (G. Ryle)

• I. A phenomenon grounded in factsI. A phenomenon grounded in facts• II. An explanation that constitutes a II. An explanation that constitutes a

successful research program (cf. Darwinian successful research program (cf. Darwinian medicine, or Dobzansky’s dictum)medicine, or Dobzansky’s dictum)

• cf. gravity (I. Aristotle II. Newton, and…)cf. gravity (I. Aristotle II. Newton, and…) G. Ryle


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Evolution as theoryEvolution as theory

• Explanation of life’s forms, function, structure and diversityExplanation of life’s forms, function, structure and diversity

• Genetics, population genetics, population dyamics, Genetics, population genetics, population dyamics, embriology and development („evo-devo”), physiology, embriology and development („evo-devo”), physiology, ecology, and… and…ecology, and… and…

• Vulnerable, undergoes continual revision, incompleteVulnerable, undergoes continual revision, incomplete

• Problems: origin of complexity, open-ended evolution, Problems: origin of complexity, open-ended evolution, directionality, internal constraints, adaptationism/exaptation, directionality, internal constraints, adaptationism/exaptation, great transitions, statis vs saltation, micro-and great transitions, statis vs saltation, micro-and macroevolution, neutrality, etc etc.macroevolution, neutrality, etc etc.


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Evolution as a factEvolution as a fact

• IndependentIndependent of any „evolution of any „evolution theory”, based on natural theory”, based on natural selection on notselection on not

• Separate, solid and immutableSeparate, solid and immutable

• Expresses the unity of life via Expresses the unity of life via common descentcommon descent


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• IndependentIndependent of any „evolution of any „evolution theory”, such as natural theory”, such as natural selectionselection

• paleontology: fossil recordpaleontology: fossil record

I don’ cover this here.


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• IndependentIndependent of „evolution of „evolution theory”, such as natural theory”, such as natural selectionselection


• unused organs and other unused organs and other errors (Darwin, Dennett, errors (Darwin, Dennett, „plagiarism„plagiarism”)”)

The „Easter egg” problem


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• IndependentIndependent of „evolution of „evolution theory”, such as natural theory”, such as natural selectionselection


• unused organs and other errors unused organs and other errors (Darwin, Dennett, „plagiarism(Darwin, Dennett, „plagiarism”)”)

• biogeography (biogeography (Darwin, Darwin, HumboldtHumboldt, MacArthur, J. , MacArthur, J.

Diamond…Diamond…))


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Spatiotemporal patterns of variation Spatiotemporal patterns of variation prove migration with modification -> prove migration with modification -> unity of all lifeunity of all life


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Discovery: Species are not Discovery: Species are not discrete/disjunctdiscrete/disjunct

• The fundamental unity is the variant individual

• Variations can be (often are) continuous between species (and higher taxa)

• Spatial diversity is a memoryof populational modification inthe composition of individualvariants


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The alternative to descent with The alternative to descent with modification is….modification is….


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The alternative to descent with The alternative to descent with modification is….modification is….

• A Santa Claus theory!A Santa Claus theory!

• (The Santa Claus problem: (The Santa Claus problem: „How can the Santa put all „How can the Santa put all the boxes to the right place at the boxes to the right place at the right door, every door?”)the right door, every door?”)


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The alternative is….The alternative is….

• A Santa Claus theory!A Santa Claus theory!

• (The Santa Claus problem: (The Santa Claus problem: „How can the Santa put all „How can the Santa put all the boxes to the right place at the boxes to the right place at the right door, every door?”)the right door, every door?”)

• Can we believe in the Santa if Can we believe in the Santa if it’s about putting organisms it’s about putting organisms and variants to their place?and variants to their place?

Of course we don’t believe in Santa.


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The alternative is….The alternative is….• Darwin chap 11Darwin chap 11 We are thus brought to the question which has been We are thus brought to the question which has been

largely discussed by naturalists, namely, whether species have been largely discussed by naturalists, namely, whether species have been created at one or more points of the earth's surface. Undoubtedly there are created at one or more points of the earth's surface. Undoubtedly there are many cases of extreme difficulty in understanding how the same species many cases of extreme difficulty in understanding how the same species could possibly have migrated from some one point to several distant and could possibly have migrated from some one point to several distant and isolated points, where now found. Nevertheless the simplicity of the view isolated points, where now found. Nevertheless the simplicity of the view that each species was first produced within a single region captivates the that each species was first produced within a single region captivates the mind. mind. He who rejects it, rejects the He who rejects it, rejects the vera causavera causa of ordinary generation with of ordinary generation with subsequent migration, and calls on the agency of a miracle.subsequent migration, and calls on the agency of a miracle. (p. 352) (p. 352)

• Darwin chap 14Darwin chap 14 When we can feel assured that all the individuals of the When we can feel assured that all the individuals of the same species, and all the closely allied species of most genera, have within same species, and all the closely allied species of most genera, have within a not very remote period descended from one parent and have migrated a not very remote period descended from one parent and have migrated from some one birthplace, and when we better know the many means of from some one birthplace, and when we better know the many means of migration, then, by the light which geology now throws, and will continue migration, then, by the light which geology now throws, and will continue to throw, on former changes of climate and of the level of the land, we to throw, on former changes of climate and of the level of the land, we shall surely be enabled to trace in an admirable manner the former shall surely be enabled to trace in an admirable manner the former migrations of the inhabitants of the whole world. (pp. 486-7)migrations of the inhabitants of the whole world. (pp. 486-7)

• Essential ideaEssential idea: If (1) the "means of migration" are known, then (2) : If (1) the "means of migration" are known, then (2) geographical and geological evidence (distribution, climate, land level, etc.) geographical and geological evidence (distribution, climate, land level, etc.) can be read to show "the former migrations" can be read to show "the former migrations" which show which show that (that (33) each ) each species had a single center of originspecies had a single center of origin, usually a distantly related species, usually a distantly related species..


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„„There is grandeur in this view of life”There is grandeur in this view of life”

• There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed by the Creator into powers, having been originally breathed by the Creator into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being evolved. most wonderful have been, and are being evolved.

Darwin, 6th ed (1872), chap.15, last paragraphDarwin, 6th ed (1872), chap.15, last paragraph..


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Conclusions so farConclusions so far (and practical (and practical advice)advice)

• Bringing it all togetherBringing it all together

• ID not scientific (ie. not explanation): not our best ID not scientific (ie. not explanation): not our best knowledge, not research program (no progress), not by knowledge, not research program (no progress), not by phenomenaphenomena

• Evolution not a „theory” (but there is evolution theory)Evolution not a „theory” (but there is evolution theory)

• Practical advicePractical advice (to follow up…) (to follow up…)

• ID not a partner (obstruction), don’t go into (too much ID not a partner (obstruction), don’t go into (too much ) ) details. details.

• Mistake: ID can be ignored. Would be dishonest, and Mistake: ID can be ignored. Would be dishonest, and dangerous.dangerous.

• Mistake: ID is for the uneducatedMistake: ID is for the uneducated


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Common misbeliefs about evolutionCommon misbeliefs about evolution• Life on Earth is about humans… Wrong.Life on Earth is about humans… Wrong.

– Whig historyWhig history

• It takes a miracle to… and hence impossible to… WrongIt takes a miracle to… and hence impossible to… Wrong– Miracles are notMiracles are not

• Isolated examples can refute a theory… WrongIsolated examples can refute a theory… Wrong– „„Inference to the best explanation”Inference to the best explanation”

• Origin cannot be an accident… WrongOrigin cannot be an accident… Wrong– Homeobox genes and „macromutations”Homeobox genes and „macromutations”

• Everbody has a right to (a different) opinion… WrongEverbody has a right to (a different) opinion… Wrong– Science (as a body of knowledge) is not democratic, the scientific process Science (as a body of knowledge) is not democratic, the scientific process

isis

• Science takes away meaning and morality… WrongScience takes away meaning and morality… Wrong– Takes away external support. Are you afraid of yourselves?Takes away external support. Are you afraid of yourselves?


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Miracles happen all of the timeMiracles happen all of the time

F.J. Dyson J. Littlewood


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A small step for the organism..A small step for the organism..

… but a giant leapfor the species.


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To sum up---To sum up---

• I. Facts I. Facts II. ExplanationsII. Explanations

• Evolution is strong on I.Evolution is strong on I.

• Evolution theory is doing well on II.Evolution theory is doing well on II.


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Thank you!Thank you!

intelligent design theory and the poverty of anti-scientific thought

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