What Is Intelligent Design?

Short Answer: The intelligent design model states that complex systems could not arise from unintelligent natural processes and, therefore, an intelligent designer or cause is a better explanation of biological systems. Intelligent design does not try to state who or what the designer is, and therefore, is not based on religious texts. It seeks to find empirical evidence of design, such as information systems, that shows signs of intelligence. Intelligent design also expects to find specified and complex patterns that are unlikely to occur by chance which indicates some guidance in the formation. The intelligent design movement works with the "Teach the Controversy" campaign to try and ensure the problems and failings of evolution are given when the model of evolution is taught as well as the general failings of methodological naturalism prevalent in modern science.

Seeking Proof of a Designer

The concept of Intelligent Design is defined as the necessity of an intelligent cause for anything with high levels of complex and specified information. In the scientific arena, those following this mindset search for empirical evidence and signs of intelligence through information systems including specified information (ie. patterns) and complex information (ie. unlikely to occur by chance). Their research often focuses on the field of biology and the complexity of living organisms. The Intelligent Design concept is a relatively recent idea in the creation/evolution debate. However, its base goes back to the teleological ‘Arguments from Design’ that was created in the late 1700s in an effort to prove the existence of the Almighty.

How Intelligent Design Helps Creation Science

Officially, the Intelligent Design movement does not take a stand on creation, nor is it concerned with a literal interpretation of the Scriptures. Thus, for example, it can accept the theory of long ages for the earth’s existence.

Intelligent Design Model and Community

Information Both Specific and Complex

Intelligent Design models look for information and complexity. When a draftsman or architect designs a house, there is a lot of information on the blueprint and the house itself is a complex organization of different materials and processes. How much information is there? There are written and mathematical languages understood by both draftsman and builder and the blueprint carries this information from one to the other. This is not unlike the information carried in our DNA that moves throughout the cell and instructs the organelles of the cell.

Intelligent Design thinking also looks for specified complexity, watching for a pattern that would not exist normally or would not be expected by chance … just as these house studs are built parallel to each other at 16-inch intervals. Right angles, parallel lines, and many other factors are signs of design rather than a chance happening. Living creatures are immensely complex and many internal systems in a living creature must work according to its pattern or life would cease.

Designed for a Purpose

Irreducible Complexity

The idea of Intelligent Design has been heavily linked to the theory of irreducible complexity. This theory states that complex systems with inter-related parts or functions could not have arisen piece by piece but must have been made or created as a complete unit.

Using Electricity Illustration

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Intelligent Design also looks for irreducibly complex systems. We do not have to look far to see examples of this in a building. A simple example would be to make a cover for this castle opening. It requires:

a door,

ropes or chains,

some type of lever, pulley, or crank system to move the door,

and people to operate it.

If you do not have all four of these items at the same time, it does not work.

Or on a larger scale, we can look at the electricity used to power a light bulb or an oven. To get a fully functional oven, you need

a working mine where ore can be gathered,

a way to transport the ore to where it can be used,

a power plant to turn the coal into electricity,

an electrical grid to transport the electricity to the house,

a fuse panel to distribute the correct amount of electricity to the wiring in the house,

and the oven itself.

If any of these elements are missing, the entire set is useless.

Biological organisms are far more complex than the system of getting electricity to the oven and if a single item falls out of place, the organism can die.

There are many common examples of intelligent design that are used as examples. The watchmaker example uses the intricate gears and parts of a watch that function together to accurately measure time as something that would not happen by chance or by small changes by natural processes. The faces of the presidents on Mt. Rushmore are clearly the work of man and not caused by any erosional process.

These same ideas are extrapolated into the intricate workings of the universe and living creatures and state that such systems show a great amount of design and functionality and therefore must have had a designer.

Denying a Designer Negatively Impacts Society

Design Versus Evolution

Kitchen Kinds Illustration

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