Review of Signs of Intelligence:

Signs of Intelligence: Understanding Intelligent Design
Edited by William A. Dembski and James Kushiner, Brazos, $10.99
Paper(224p)
ISBN 1-58743-004-5 (Religion/Science)

Citing inspiration from Quintilian’s maxim, “Write not so that you can be understood but so that you cannot be misunderstood,” Dembski and Kushiner have assembled a collection of judicious and eloquent essays representing the often misunderstood intelligent design movement. Contributors included prominent Darwin-doubters Phillip Johnson, Michael Behe and Stephen Meyer, together with a stable of scientists and philosophers associated with the Discovery Institute’s Center for the Renewal of Science and Culture, which Meyer directs. Part I of the collection focuses on introducing intelligent design concepts and addressing general philosophical objections; Part II (composing about two-thirds of the book) includes more technical issues and examples of how design comes into play in scientific subfields such as cosmology, developmental biology and information theory. This collection reflects a maturing movement that is aware of its critics, more focused in its goals and mindful of the need to communicate its message to a nonspecialist audience even as it appeals for a hearing in the scientific community. Although Brazos is promoting the book within “science and faith” and “apologetics” categories, these essays promote intelligent design as a scientific research program rather than as a religious doctrine, and only a few call attention to the theological implications or underpinnings of design. Religious issues are actually de-emphasized by most of the contributors, who express frustration at being dismissed as “creationists” by critics in the scientific community. (Mar.)