Intelligent Design

Kappa Alpha Theta November 3, pm

An Explanatory Theory Intelligent Design an explanation for…  The Universe  Life on Earth

3 Modes of Explanations  Chance Design Necessity 1+1 = 2

Old vs. New Intelligent Design vs. Old theories of design Intelligent Design provides a way of reliably detecting design though the “Explanatory Filter”

The Explanatory Filter 3 Properties of Designed Things Contingency Complexity Specification

The Explanatory Filter Explained… Contingency: Could it have happened another way? Complexity: How improbable is it? Specification: Recognize a pattern?

1st Property: Contingency Could it have happened another way? No = Explained by Necessity, not Design

#1. Could it have happened another way? #2. Is chance not enough to explain it? #3. Recognize a pattern? The Explanatory Filter

Is chance NOT enough to explain it? 2nd Property: Complexity High Complexity = Low Probability

#1. Could it have happened another way? #2. Is chance not enough to explain it? #3. Recognize a pattern? The Explanatory Filter

3rd Property: Specification Do you see a pattern? DBMJGPSOJB –Complex, but meaningless = garbage CALIFORNIA –Complex AND meaningful = design Specification requires background knowledge of what constitutes meaning

The Main Point Design = Specified Complexity or Complex Specified Information (CSI)

But is this method of detecting design actually used in science?

Current Research -How can we study science anyways? -What is the basis of research? -Patterns dictate regularity which we depend on -UC Berkeley -What are current research on Patterns?

The Search for Information SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) –Looking for complex alien radio signals Forensic Science –Solving crimes Archaeology –Ancient civilizations Specified Complexity is everywhere

Intelligent Predictions Intelligent Design predicts that complex specified information can only be produced by intelligence No unintelligent cause can do it What evidence supports this prediction?

Design in Biology

Biological Software? “DNA is like a computer program, but far, far more advanced than any software we’ve ever created.” »Bill Gates, Founder of Microsoft

Molecular Systems Specified complexity exists in molecular structures within a cell, within a tissue, within an organ, and within an organ system The higher up you go, the more CSI you find, but let’s start at the bottom…

The Bacterial Flagellum

A Molecular Motor

Flagella 40 Different proteins (building blocks) making up all the parts. If one protein (part) is missing, the whole thing fails to work Therefore, such a system could not have risen through step-by-step mutation as evolution expects If all parts weren’t there at the same time, the flagella doesn’t work

7 JENGA pieces 1.Got all the parts you need? 2.At the same time? 3.At the same place? 4.W/ no interfering junk? 5.Do the parts fit together? 6.In the right order? 7.Attached in the right way?

Irreducible Complexity Irreducible Complexity ≡ A system of multiple, distinct, parts working together as a SYSTEM to provide a FUNCTION One part missing = whole SYSTEM does NOT FUNCTION (regardless of the individual parts)

Hammer Spring Base Catch Holding Bar Mouse Trap 101

Darwin, as himself. “If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.” -Charles Darwin Origin of Species

But… No one has yet given a detailed, testable, step-by-step hypothesis as to HOW an unintelligent cause can get around Irreducible Complexity to give Specified Complexity When they do, Intelligent Design is done for…

Food For Thought Critics assert numerous conceivable (not testable) possibilities of how: –Unintelligent causes can get… –Irreducible Complexity to produce… –Specified Complexity However … Intelligent Design is yet to be disproved.. And still going strong …

The Way of the Cell “We must concede that there are presently no detailed Darwinian accounts of the evolution of any biochemical system, only a variety of wishful speculations.” - Franklin Harold The Way of the Cell (2001)

In Closing Specified Complexity is ubiquitous –Design can be detected everywhere Intelligent Design predicts that complex specified information can only be produced by intelligence Design is an explanation for the universe, and for life

Questions & Comments Jully Yi

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