Seeking God in Science: An Atheist Defends Intelligent Design

by Bradley Monton

The doctrine of intelligent design has been maligned by atheists, but even though Monton is an atheist, he is of the opinion that the arguments for intelligent design are stronger than most realize. The goal of this book is to try to get people to take intelligent design seriously. Monton maintains that it is legitimate to view intelligent design as science, that there are somewhat plausible arguments for the existence of a cosmic designer, and that intelligent design should be taught in public school science classes. In Chapter 1, after setting aside the culture wars that many people associate with the intelligent design movement, Monton discusses the issue of what exactly the doctrine of intelligent design amounts to. In Chapter 2 Monton discusses the ruling of Judge Jones in the recent Dover, Pennsylvania intelligent design trial, and he takes issue with his arguments for the claim that intelligent design is not science. In Chapter 3 Monton takes up four arguments for intelligent design that he thinks are somewhat plausible: an argument based on the fine-tuning of the fundamental constants of physics, an argument based on the beginning of the universe, an argument based on the improbability of life originating from non-life, and an argument that suggests that we're living in a computer simulation. In Chapter 4 Monton argues that it could benefit students' science education to see the arguments for and against intelligent design, and to be introduced to the philosophy of science issues that are key components of those arguments. Monton's position is unique and of great interest to people involved in this debate (especially from those favoring intelligent design). Relatively few people in philosophy of science have suggested that there are decent arguments for why intelligent design is science (indeed, most of the well known philosophers have argued the contrary - e.g., Philip Kitcher, Abusing Science. MIT Press, 1983).

Genres: Philosophy, Science, Religion, Nonfiction, Intelligent Design

180 pages, Paperback

First published July 20, 2009

Reviews

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monton does an admirable job getting the reader to question what the scientific methodology consists of and what the end goals of science ought to be. I agree with him that in principle ID is a science, but I disagree with him that it's one that ought to be taken very seriously. Monton himself doesn't buy ID, and makes great pains to be sure the reader knows that he's an atheist after all, but does seem to think the arguments have merit enough to warrant serious discussion in the public sphere. Compared to other scientific theories it's rather bare on substance and content. That's also why I disagree with his conclusion that ID would be useful to teach in the public science classroom. Whereas evolution is richly detailed and supported by multiple strands of argument, ID, even as Monton carefully presents it, has precious little to say and offers only a vague research program. He talks about fine tuning arguments in terms of physics and biology and the kalam cosmological argument. It would be misleading for students to think that ID is an *important* scientific theory, one important enough to talk about in comparison to evolution. I also think he's wrong in thinking it's okay to question the consensus with this example. If 99.99% of biologists in the field accept evolution then ID does not warrant public classroom discussion because it truly is not a real controversy (contra Monton's claim in his book). Monton maintains that IDers can accept evolution, so it's not really about that, but if that's the case, why teach it in a *biology* class in the context of evolution? It doesn't really add up. It's unclear where Monton thinks that ID fits as a scientific theory.

All that being said, it is thought provoking and easy to read. My position having read the book is yes, ID could in principle be a scientific theory, but so could astrology be considered a scientific theory. Nothing interesting follows from that by itself. I am not sold on the claim that the contents of ID are particularly interesting or strong in comparison to the specific predictive powers of our other biological and physical scientific theories.

[Prayson Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monton remind me of Alvin Plantinga, in the manner to which he addresses issue. In this book he worked at a better definition of ID and refute popular rejection and objections gunned towards it.

He, as an atheist philosopher, is challenged by Teleological Argument For Existence of God(TAG), that he is less certain of his atheism as he find this case some what plausible but not having enough evidence to make him stop being an atheist.

Monton is a good example of a clear thinking gentlemen who is after truth no matter the cost. This is a brilliant book, both to show that popular objection against TAG and rejection of it as science are flaw.

I will recommend this book to all who are interested in the status of TAG in contemporary literature.

[Adam Omelianchuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monton persuasively argues that the important question with respect to "intelligent design" (ID) is NOT whether it is "science" or "religion," but whether it is true or false. Monton shows how much of the debate over ID is flawed for this very reason, and gives what he considered to be the best arguments for and against it. At times, Monton can overwhelm the reader with his knowledge of physics, but the patient one will find an intellectually virtuous look at one of the most timely questions facing the physical sciences today.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is unusual for me to give 5 stars to a book on intelligent design by an atheist but I just did. One might be surprised to discover that there are some unbelievers who are actually trying to understand what intelligent design is. Monton is one of them. He doesn't believe it yet but he tries to make the arguments as strong as he can and then evaluates them in a fair minded way. One great aspect of the book is that he is critical of many skeptics as well as proponents.

[Melissa Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clear voice of reason on the Intelligent Design controversy. I found it interesting (and kind of disappointing) that Monton, a philosopher, invoked the possibility of an infinite number of planets in infinite space in order to circumvent the origin of life problem and the irreducible complexity argument.

Well worth reading.

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

An atheist who supports the use of ID as a possible scientific theory.