irreducible complexity | Page 5 | Discovery Institute

^{Michael J. Behe
August 31, 2000
Intelligent Design

17}

Self-Organization and Irreducibly Complex Systems

_{Michael J. Behe
August 31, 2000
Intelligent Design

17}

Some biochemical systems require multiple, well-matched parts in order to function, and the removal of any of the parts eliminates the function. I have previously labeled such systems "irreducibly complex," and argued that they are stumbling blocks for Darwinian theory. Instead I proposed that they are best explained as the result of deliberate intelligent design. In a recent article Shanks and Joplin analyze and find wanting the use of irreducible complexity as a marker for intelligent design. Their primary counter-example is the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction, a self-organizing system in which competing reaction pathways result in a chemical oscillator. In place of irreducible complexity they offer the idea of "redundant complexity," meaning that biochemical pathways overlap so that a loss of one or even several components can be accommodated without complete loss of function. Here I note that complexity is a quantitative property, so that conclusions we draw will be affected by how well-matched the components of a system are. I also show that not all biochemical systems are redundant. The origin of non-redundant systems requires a different explanation than redundant ones. Read More ›

3D rendering of abstract blocks of mathematical formulas located in the virtual space

^{Granville Sewell
August 30, 2000
Intelligent Design

11}

A Mathematician’s View of Evolution

_{Granville Sewell
August 30, 2000
Intelligent Design

11}

When Dr. Behe was at the University of Texas El Paso in May of 1997 to give an invited talk, I told him that I thought he would find more support for his ideas in mathematics, physics and computer science departments than in his own field. I know a good many mathematicians, physicists and computer scientists who, like me, are appalled that Darwin's explanation for the development of life is so widely accepted in the life sciences. Read More ›

^{Michael J. Behe
July 31, 2000
Intelligent Design, Research & Analysis

31}

In Defense of the Irreducibility of the Blood Clotting Cascade

_{Michael J. Behe
July 31, 2000
Intelligent Design, Research & Analysis

31}

In Darwin's Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution I devoted a chapter to the mechanism of blood clotting, arguing that it is irreducibly complex and therefore a big problem for Darwinian evolution. Since my book came out, as far as I am aware there have been no papers published in the scientific literature giving a detailed scenario or experiments to show how natural selection could have built the system. However three scientists publishing outside science journals have attempted to respond. Read More ›

minimalistic yellow background with a mousetrap and a piece of tasty cheese

^{Michael J. Behe
July 31, 2000
Intelligent Design

22}

A Mousetrap Defended

_{Michael J. Behe
July 31, 2000
Intelligent Design

22}

In Darwin's Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution I coined the term "irreducible complexity" in order to point out an apparent problem for the Darwinian evolution of some biochemical and cellular systems. In brief, an irreducibly complex system is one that needs several well-matched parts, all working together, to perform its function. Read More ›

Stack of documents with paper clips on office table. Space for text

^{Michael J. Behe
July 31, 2000
Intelligent Design

20}

Irreducible Complexity and the Evolutionary Literature

_{Michael J. Behe
July 31, 2000
Intelligent Design

20}

Although several persons have cited numerous references from the scientific literature purporting to show that the problem of irreducible complexity I pointed out in Darwin's Black Box is being seriously addressed, the references show no such thing. Read More ›

^{Mike Gene
July 10, 2000
Intelligent Design

9}

Miller and Behe on Origins

_{Mike Gene
July 10, 2000
Intelligent Design

9}

Ken Miller is a scientist who has been taking the lead as a critic of ID. Thus, I took a look at his review of Behe’s book, Darwin’s Black Box, found at http://biomed.brown.edu/Faculty/M/Miller/Behe.html There is really nothing in this review that I have not already replied to in [the ARN] forum. But there is one thing worth exploring in more Read More ›

Aerial shot of beautiful metropolitan Park with tree paths, sports grounds.

^{Mike Gene
June 16, 2000
Intelligent Design

19}

Irreducible Complexity And Darwinian Pathways

_{Mike Gene
June 16, 2000
Intelligent Design

19}

It’s official. Behe’s concept of irreducible complexity (IC) has found itself in the peer-reviewed scientific literature. Ironically, it was introduced by two critics of ID attempting to formulate non-teleological mechanisms for spawning IC. The article is: Thornhill, R.H., Ussery, D.W. 2000. “A classification of possible routes of Darwinian evolution.” J. Theor. Bio. 203: 111-116. First of all, this article shows Read More ›

^{William A. Dembski
October 28, 1998
Faith & Science, Intelligent Design

1}

Mere Creation: Science, Faith, and Intelligent Design

_{William A. Dembski
October 28, 1998
Faith & Science, Intelligent Design

1}

For over a century, the scientific establishment has ignored challenges to the theory of evolution. But in the last decade such complacency about its scientific and philosophical foundations has been shaken. As cracks in the Darwinian edifice have begun to appear, many are asking whether a defensible alternative exists. In response to this growing crisis, a movement has emerged among Read More ›

Child dressed in cardboard astronaut costume and rocket

^{Michael J. Behe
March 1, 1998
Intelligent Design, Research & Analysis

29}

Molecular Machines

_{Michael J. Behe
March 1, 1998
Intelligent Design, Research & Analysis

29}

This article presents an overview of the key ideas in biochemist Michael Behe's book Darwin's Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution. A more detailed discussion of these ideas can be found in the book itself. Those interested in the debate over intelligent design in biology should also check out Michael Behe's extensive responses to various critics. Read More ›

^{Michael J. Behe
March 1, 1997
Intelligent Design

9}

The Sterility of Darwinism

_{Michael J. Behe
March 1, 1997
Intelligent Design

9}

As it struggles to comprehend nature, science sometimes has to completely re-think how the world works. For example, Newton’s laws apply to everyday objects but can’t handle nature’s tiny building blocks. Propelled by this discovery, quantum mechanics overthrew Newton’s theory. Revolutions in biology have included the cell theory of life in the 19th century, as well as the slow realization Read More ›