Michael Shermer

Debate on Origins of Life: Stephen Meyer, Richard Sternberg, Michael Shermer, Donald Prothero

To mark the 150th anniversary of the publication of Origin of Species, advocates for intelligent design and Darwinian evolution squared off to debate the origins of life, the challenges to Darwin’s theory of evolution and the alternative theory of intelligent design. The American Freedom Alliance sponsored this debate as a part of their series of events celebrating the 150th anniversary Read More ›

Debate on Origins of Life: Meyer, Sternberg vs. Shermer Prothero

To mark the 150th anniversary of the publication of Origin of Species, advocates for intelligent design and Darwinian evolution squared off to debate the origins of life, the challenges to Darwin’s theory of evolution and the alternative theory of intelligent design. The American Freedom Alliance sponsored this debate as a part of their series of events celebrating the 150th anniversary Read More ›

freedom-fest-2008-debate

Shermer and Bailey Debate Gilder and Meyer on Intelligent Design

A debate on the merits of intelligent design theory was held at FreedomFest 2008. George Gilder and Stephen Meyer, both from the Discovery Institute, argued for intelligent design, and Michael Shermer and Ronald Bailey argued against. Following their arguments, panel members responded to audience members questions.

Shermer’s Cozy Delusion

Michael Shermer and I have known each other since the evening we both spoke at MIT in the spring of 1999 (though to different audiences). I was speaking on the topic of intelligent design whereas he, among other things, was denouncing it. We went out for beers afterward. I like Shermer. I even read his column regularly in Scientific American. Mostly, his skepticism is good medicine for a society that indulges too readily in quackery. Shermer's skepticism, unfortunately, does not go far enough. In particular, it does not extend to Darwinism. Read More ›

Disbelieving Darwin — And Feeling No Shame!

Science, we are told, is tentative. And given the history of science, there is every reason for science to be tentative. No scientific theory withstands revision for long, and many are eventually superseded by theories that flatly contradict their predecessors. Scientific revolutions are common, painful, and real. New theories regularly overturn old ones, and no scientific theory is ever the Read More ›

Intelligent Design is not Optimal Design

I was recently on an NPR program with skeptic Michael Shermer and paleontologist Donald Prothero to discuss intelligent design. As the discussion unfolded, it became clear that they were using the phrase “intelligent design” in a way quite different from how the emerging intelligent design community is using it. The confusion centered on what the adjective “intelligent” is doing in Read More ›