Discovery Institute's Blog, page 68

Advice to a Theistic Evolutionist

Joshua Swamidass is a reputable scientist at Washington University, a passionate Christian speaking to other passionate Christians, and an advocate for theistic evolution. We've been engaging him here over the issue of common descent. (See, most recently, "In Arguments for Common Ancestry, Scientific Errors Compound Theoretical Problems.") I'd like to offer him a bit of unsolicited advice.

I'm not exactly Dr. Swamidass's intended audience for his advocacy. I am a Jew, not a Christian. And ha...

Book by Douglas Axe Shows the Key to Understanding Origins Is the "Design Intuition" -- Pre-Order Now!

A remarkable thing about evolutionary theory is the way it demands that we deny our intuition at almost every step. Evolutionists then assure us that the science is all figured out, so we needn't trouble our silly heads about the relevant biology.

In a new book, Douglas Axe of Biologic Institute turns this standard assurance on its head. In Undeniable: How Biology Confirms Our Intuition That Life Is Designed, Dr. Axe restores the place of intuition alongside intellect in considering the que...

Now They Say We Shouldn't Eat Fish!

The New York Times obsessively publishes columns in its opinion section and Magazine trying to convince us that humans are not unique, and moreover, that we shouldn't eat meat, that plants are the most "ethical" life form, etc. beyond etc.

Now the same source tells us that, in essence, we shouldn't eat fish because, well, "Fishes Have Feelings Too":

As innovative research reveals new facets of the private lives of fishes [!!!], I'm hopeful that perceptions will change and we'll show them mor...

In Arguments for Common Ancestry, Scientific Errors Compound Theoretical Problems

Our Discovery Institute colleague Cornelius Hunter has offered a response to Dr. Joshua Swamidass's arguments for human-ape common ancestry. Hunter points out that Darwinian evolution doesn't really predict any particular degree of genetic similarity between rats and mice, or between humans and apes, undercutting Swamidass's argument for common ancestry. While Dr. Hunter's post was focused on the theoretical side of things, there are evidential arguments to make as well, many of which we've...

World Magazine Tells David Coppedge's Powerful Story

I had the privilege of getting to know David Coppedge a few years ago, leading up to the shameful resolution of his 2012 discrimination case against NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab. His story is among those that remind us intelligent design isn't only a scientific issue but one with serious civil rights implications as well.

See here for more background on the Coppedge case. In brief, the mild-mannered team lead computer administrator on the Cassini Mission to Saturn was viciously punished by JPL...

Debating Common Ancestry

As those of us at Discovery Institute have emphasized for a long time, intelligent design is not incompatible with the idea that living things share a common ancestor. In other words, one can believe that nature displays evidence of intentional design, and still believe in common descent.

Indeed, I would argue that one of the forebears of the modern intelligent design movement is none other than Alfred Russel Wallace, who is credited with Darwin as co-discoverer of the theory of evolution b...

Of Tree Rings and Humans

Professor Joshua Swamidass teaches in the Laboratory and Genomic Medicine Division at Washington University. On his blog he posed a challenge on an apparent theological conundrum having to do with human-ape common descent ("Evidence and Evolution"). To this, highlighting scientific issues raised (or not raised) by Swamidass, our colleague Cornelius Hunter responded here. Swamidass replied in a second post ("Call for Response to the Tree") that did not address any of Dr. Hunter's points.

He...

One Long Argument -- Responding to VJ Torley on Human-Ape Common Descent

At Uncommon Descent, VJ Torley has analyzed my criticism of S. Joshua Swamidass's recent article, "Evidence and Evolution." From this analysis, one would think that I mercilessly berated a poor fellow who was merely attempting to "extend an olive branch to creationists." After all, nowhere did Swamidass belittle or ridicule his opponents, and nowhere was there so much as a trace of smug superiority. And the guy is a Christian, not some atheistic reductionist. In fact, Swamidass does not even...

Smelling Design

How's this for an admission that design principles motivate scientific progress?

For an engineer, successful design of a new product needs to meet multiple objectives such as maximizing targeted mechanical performance and minimizing the cost. Some of these objectives are incompatible, thus tradeoffs are necessary. Similarly, living organisms are also constantly ... optimizing multiple objectives such as growth rate and resistance to environmental fluctuations. A central task for systems biol...

Debating Weikart, Peter Singer and Susan Blackmore Omit Atheism's Glaring Contradictions

Like David Klinghoffer, I listened to Richard Weikart, Peter Singer, and Susan Blackmore discussing the question, "Is human life intrinsically valuable?" Some observations follow.

I find troubling Singer's barometer of human worth -- tied to self-awareness -- leading as it does to dangerous nonsense such as valuing a dog over an infant.

Richard rightly pressed Singer on what exactly he meant by getting value and worth by helping to create a "better" world in a purposeless universe. Singer d...