The Design Revolution: Answering the Toughest Questions About Intelligent DesignWinner of a Christianity Today 2005 Book Award! A 2005 Gold Medallion finalist. Is it science? Is it religion? What exactly is the Design Revolution? Today scientists, mathematicians and philosophers in the intelligent design movement are challenging a certain view of science--one that limits its investigations and procedures to purely law-like and mechanical explanations. They charge that there is no scientific reason to exclude the consideration of intelligence, agency and purpose from truly scientific research. In fact, they say, the practice of science often does already include these factors! As the intelligent design movement has gained momentum, questions have naturally arisen to challenge its provocative claims. In this book William A. Dembski rises to the occasion clearly and concisely answering the most vexing questions posed to the intelligent design program. Writing with nonexperts in mind, Dembski responds to more than sixty questions asked by experts and nonexperts alike who have attended his many public lectures, as well as objections raised in written reviews. The Design Revolution has begun. Its success depends on how well it answers the questions of its detractors. Read this book and you'll have a good idea of the prospects and challenges facing this revolution in scientific thinking. |
Contents
Foreword by Charles W Colson | 15 |
Acknowledgments | 29 |
CREATION | 38 |
DISGUISED THEOLOGY | 45 |
OPTIMAL DESIGN | 57 |
THE DESIGN ARGUMENT | 64 |
DETECTING DESIGN | 75 |
SPECIFIED COMPLEXITY | 81 |
BIOLOGYS INFORMATION PROBLEM | 139 |
INFORMATION EX NIHILO | 145 |
THE LAW OF CONSERVATION OF INFORMATION | 159 |
ISSUES ARISING FROM NATURALISM | 169 |
INTERVENTIONISM | 178 |
THE SUPERNATURAL | 188 |
THE DESIGNER REGRESS | 197 |
THE PROGRESS OF SCIENCE | 206 |
THE EXPLANATORY FILTER | 87 |
RELIABILITY OF THE CRITERION | 94 |
OBJECTIVITY AND SUBJECTIVITY | 100 |
ASSERTIBILITY | 106 |
THE CHANCE OF THE GAPS | 116 |
INFORMATION | 129 |
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