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Intelligent design vs. evolution
What is intelligent design and will it have an impact on origins science? According to the Intelligent Design Network (http://www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org/), it is a theory that "holds that certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, rather than an undirected process such as natural selection. Intelligent design (ID) is thus a scientific disagreement with the core claim of evolutionary theory that the apparent design of living systems is an illusion." Proponents of ID would like to see this theory taught right alongside evolution (EVO). They've won a number of legal hurdles, including acceptance into K-12 curriculum in Pennsylvania, Kansas and possibly Ohio.
Both the Pennsylvania and Kansas cases are being contested in the courts and college classrooms. In Pennsylvania, a trial is under way to determine whether or not intelligent design can be introduced as a "flawed" theory before introducing biology students to the theory of evolution. Meanwhile, in response to the Kansas Board of Education's approval of new education standards that would project Darwin's theory of evolution as "flawed," the University of Kansas will offer a course next semester titled "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies." MSNBC has a nice Web site devoted to the legal woes of ID and reactions from those in higher education in their Science section (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9444600/).
What does the average American think about ID? The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life has published the results of a 2005 survey on the Origins of Life (http://pewforum.org/docs/index.php?DocID=115#3). The report highlights the relationship between religious affiliation, views on creationism and level of education. What does the science community think about ID? The American Museum of Natural History's Natural History magazine has devoted a special online issue to intelligent design at http://www.actionbioscience.org/evolution/nhmag.html. The site includes an objective introduction to ID, a pro/con section featuring three leading proponents of intelligent design and three proponents of evolution, and a history of the ID movement. There also are additional links that assist educators in discussing intelligent design and evolution with their students. The Center for Science and Culture (http://www.discovery.org/csc/) and the International Society for Complexity, Information, and Design (http://www.iscid.org/) support research by scholars and scientists that questions neo-Darwinism and promotes the development of the intelligent design theory. What do students think about ID? The largest student association dedicated to intelligent design is the Intelligent Design Undergraduate Research Center (http://www.idurc.org/). Its "Student Writings" page contains research papers submitted by undergraduate students that question evolution or support intelligent design.
What has been written by scientists for or against intelligent design? A recent bibliography published by the Center for Science and Culture as pro-ID has created a stir in the science community. Of the 44 authors cited, 34 have come forward to claim that the center misinterpreted their work. As a result, the National Center for Science Education—a defender of the teaching of evolution in public schools—has recreated the bibliography with author's comments (http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/articles/3878_analysis_of_the_discovery_inst_4_5_2002.asp). The Discovery Institute has a list of fellows who have published extensively on the validity of intelligent design (http://www.discovery.org/fellows/?) and their articles are freely available at the institute's Web site. Finally, ID proponent, scientist and author Jonathan Wells' book, "Icons of Evolution: Science or Myth? Why Much of What We Teach About Evolution Is Wrong (http://www.iconsofevolution.com/), is refuted chapter-by-chapter at The Talk.Origins (http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/wells/), a site that explores the creation/evolution controversy.
Whether you embrace evolution, creation, intelligent design or a pinch of everything, it's important to try to understand the complex notion of our "origins" because we can't know where we're going until we know where we've been.
—Cynthia Tysick, Arts and Sciences Libraries