Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Scientific proof of Intelligent Design

To call "Intelligent Design" a scientific theory, one must take the following steps:
  1. Create an actual scientific theory, a structure employing hypothetical premises that logically entail specific empirically testable consequences. Hypothesize anything you please, an abstract "intelligent designer", God, space aliens, or invisible elves.
  2. Take pains to avoid Cargo Cult Science; carefully consider and exclude simpler theories which would entail the same empirical consequences.
  3. Differentiate the theory from existing non-telelogical evolutionary theories: Your alternative theory should predict different empirical consequences from existing theories. Note that employing straw-man constructions of existing theories is insufficient; you must deal with scientific theories in actual currency.
  4. Show that the empirical evidence is consistent with your theory, and falsifies existing theories.
That's it. That's all you have to do. That's what every scientist propounding a novel and controversial scientific theory — from plate tectonics to quantum mechanics to endosymbiosis — has to do.

1 comment:

  1. Great post! Straight to the point. The ID folks are never going to comply though because the ones pushing for ID for the masses have motives far beyond 'Creation Science'.

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