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University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in North Oakland
Image Credit: Christian Hinkle - Adobe Stock

Design in a Naturalistic Culture

Series
ID the Future
Host
Andrew McDiarmid
Guest
Paul Nelson
Duration
00:22:09
Download
Audio File (30.6 mb)

On this classic ID the Future, philosopher of science Paul Nelson speaks with host Andrew McDiarmid about pursuing intelligent design theory in a naturalistic culture. Nelson also expresses his appreciation for his University of Pittsburgh mentor Adolf Grünbaum, with whom he shared the kind of friendship that can come from caring deeply about the same things, even if taking different positions on them. Nelson talks about what’s involved in holding a minority position, some of the potential pitfalls that come with holding a majority position, and the danger we can all face of seeking polemical advantage rather than truth.

Paul Nelson

Senior Fellow, Center for Science and Culture
Paul A. Nelson is currently a Senior Fellow of Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture and Adjunct Professor in the Master of Arts Program in Science & Religion at Biola University. He is a philosopher of biology who has been involved in the intelligent design debate internationally for three decades. His grandfather, Byron C. Nelson (1893-1972), a theologian and author, was an influential mid-20th century dissenter from Darwinian evolution. After Paul received his BA in philosophy with a minor in evolutionary biology from the University of Pittsburgh, he entered the University of Chicago, where he received his PhD (1998) in the philosophy of biology and evolutionary theory.
Tags
ACLU
Charles Darwin
circular causality
demarcation problem
explanatory power
Foresight
larry laudan
National Academy of Sciences
philosophy of science
Sigmund Freud
Thomas Kuhn
William Paley