God, the devil, and Darwin : a critique of intelligent design theory

摘要: In the last fifteen years a controversial new theory of origins biological complexity and nature universe has been fomenting bitter debates in education science policy across North America, Europe, Australia. Backed by intellectuals at respectable universities, Intelligent Design (ID) proposes an alternative to accepted accounts evolutionary theory: that life is so complex, fine-tuned for appearance life, only plausible explanation existence intelligent designer. For many ID theorists, designer taken be god Christianity. Niall Shanks written first accessible introduction to, critique of, this intellectual movement. locates growth two decades twentieth century growing influence American religious right. But, as he shows, its roots go back beyond Aquinas Ancient Greece. After looking historical ID, takes hard look underpinnings, discussing modern understandings thermodynamics, how self-organizing processes lead complex physical, chemical, systems. He considers cosmological arguments rooted so-called "anthropic coincidences" also tackles biochemical based on "irreducible complexity". Throughout shows lack cohesion, rest errors unfounded suppositions, generally are grossly inferior explanations. While proposed scientific biology, argues fact "old creationist wine label bottles" moreover serious threat democratic values our cultural inheritance from Enlightenment.