Intelligent Design

The Center for Science and Culture

Leading Catholic Cardinal Speaks Out On Evolution

In July of 2005 The New York Times published an opinion by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, the archbishop of Vienna who was the lead editor of the official 1992 Catechism of the Catholic Church. In a rare instance of a newspaper reporting on its own editorial page, the Times’ published a front-page article Saturday about Schönborn’s piece where he explained that Read More ›

The “Wedge Document”: So What?

Conspiracy theorists in the media continue to recycle the urban legend of the “Wedge” document, which Discovery Institute has responded to in the past, in detail. Click here to read the Discovery Institute response to charges regarding the “Wedge” document, as well as seeing the exact original document in question. (Originally published in 2003) Click here for the truth about Read More ›

Articles Advocating Teaching the Controversy

Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture has long advocated the idea of teaching the strengths and weaknesses about Darwinian evolution. There have been a surprising number of recent articles advocating this approach, and below are a number of linked articles relating to the topic. Evolution: Debate itBy: Stephen C. Meyer & John Angus CampbellUSA TodayAugust 14, 2005Stephen Meyer is Read More ›

Photo by Jon Tyson

Intelligent Design is Falsifiable

There is a belief among media commentators that intelligent design is unscientific because it is unfalsifiable or untestable: no empirical evidence can count against it. Though common, this charge is demonstrably false. Of course there’s no way to falsify a mere assertion that a cosmic designer exists. This much we are agreed on. But contemporary design arguments focus not on such vague claims, but on detectible evidence for design in the natural world. Therefore, the design arguments currently in play are falsifiable. Read More ›

An Open Letter to My Open-Minded Colleagues

In March 2004 The Privileged Planet, which I co-authored with Jay Richards, was published, evoking both enthusiastic and negative reactions from a number of leading scientists. The argument covers everything from the fine-tuning of the constants of physics to the initial conditions of the Big Bang; from our host star and planetary neighbors to our atmosphere and moon. Our conclusion? The Read More ›

Discovery Institute Opposes Proposed PA Bill on Intelligent Design

SEATTLE—Discovery Institute has sent a letter to the Pennsylvania State Legislature opposing a proposed bill that would authorize school districts to require the teaching of intelligent design. In a letter to Rep. Jess M. Stairs, Chair of Pennsylvania’s House Education Committee, Discovery Institute officials stated that they “strongly oppose any effort by the government to mandate the teaching of intelligent Read More ›

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Review of The Privileged Planet

We all had the Copernican Principle drummed into us at university. This paradigm insists that there is absolutely nothing special about the Earth. Its composition, physical characteristics, biotic activity, position, the star it is orbiting, its place in the Galaxy, the Galaxy itself, and the Galaxy’s position in the Universe are all supposedly unexceptional. Gonzalez and Richards disagree. Their thesis is that Earth is very, very special. To them, Earth is exquisitely fitted not only to harbour life but also to provide that life with a grandstand view of the surrounding Universe. Earth’s orbit, atmosphere, mass, rate of continental drift, dynamo-produced magnetic field, and companion Moon have been fine tuned just for us. Read More ›

Jay Richards’ Response to Barbara Forrest

In a recent interview with USA Today (March 23, 2005), Barbara Forrest, a professor of philosophy at Southeastern Louisiana University and a critic of intelligent design, states incorrectly that “[design theorists] aren’t published because they don’t have any scientific data.” Similar critics of intelligent design have said similar things.  Initially, it’s not clear what Forrest is arguing. Obviously she’s not Read More ›

New Draft of Kansas Science Standards Praised For Encouraging Critical Analysis of Evolution

TOPEKA, KS – A new draft of science standards to be presented to the Kansas State Board of Education this week is drawing praise for recognizing that students need to study all the scientific evidence relating to chemical and biological evolution. At the same time, the new draft standards make clear that they do not cover the concept of intelligent design.  Read More ›

Attack on OSU Graduate Student Endangers Academic Freedom

SEATTLE – An effort by three professors at Ohio State University (OSU) to publicly damage the academic future of a graduate student, Bryan Leonard, because of his support for teaching about the controversy over evolution is “an attack on academic freedom and a violation of professional ethics,” said Discovery Institute President Bruce Chapman. “Bryan Leonard has not even had a Read More ›