A Class on Intelligent Design
Guy T. Sturino
August 20, 2005
Imagine a science classroom in the year 2010, and the Intelligent Design theory is the topic under consideration. Since it’s a science class, the students are required to apply the scientific method to any points of discussion or experimentation. Before we can begin the students must know what the scientific method is. The scientific method is, very basically: 1) to observe some aspect of the universe, 2) form a hypothesis (a working assumption), 3) make a prediction based on the hypothesis, 4) test the hypothesis by experiment or additional observation, 5) modify the hypothesis if required, and 6) continue testing and observing until there are no differences between prediction and results. At this point, the hypothesis becomes theory (a conceptual framework that explains existing observations and predicts new ones).
In this case, Intelligent Design is being presented as theory. Therefore, students must presume that all of the steps in the scientific method have been followed, and the theory has been previously tested and retested such that it is accepted by the majority of scientists. It follows then that there must be an intelligence behind Intelligent Design. So what kind of hypotheses can we form about the nature of that intelligence based on our observation?
Science has established that the earliest animate life on earth was in the form of microbes. We know that later there were small life forms in the oceans. After that there were fish, of sorts, and eventually land animals. We have evidence that there were land animals that walked on all fours and had a physical structure somewhat like man. Later, we have evidence of the first hominid, a creature that walked upright and had the basic structure of man. Knowing only this much, and based on these observations, what is the first hypothesis we can form?
I propose the hypothesis that the intelligence behind Intelligent Design was experimenting with the creation of living creatures. Based on that hypothesis, I predict that there will appear on earth, more hominid life, each time more refined than the last. Since all of this is in the past anyway, it’s a good bet that I will find evidence to support my hypothesis. And, of course I do. At different times there were the Cro-Magnon, the Neanderthal, and eventually, Homo Sapiens. We have evidence that the same type of increasing complexity can be seen in reptiles, birds and plants. So the theory now is that the intelligence behind Intelligent Design made man through a process of experimentation.
Here are some things we know about Homo Sapiens. Their body is an intricately designed biological machine. Energy is provided by breaking down proteins in their food. Their food consists mainly of parts of various plants, and the meat of fish, mammals and reptiles.
They sense their environment through sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. Any of these senses can result in pleasure or pain. This is also true of the fish, mammals and reptiles in their diet. From these observations, I have formed the hypothesis that the intelligence behind Intelligent Design is either unaware of, or completely insensitive to the pain of the creatures which have been created.
Continued observation reveals that all creatures continue to exhibit the anguish which comes from physical discomfort. That this has been going on for many thousands of years, and yet no new species has appeared which does not have the capacity to feel pain. The resulting theory is that the intelligence, in fact, is either unaware or totally insensitive to the pain suffered by the creatures which have been created.
What do we know about the way Homo Sapiens interact? What history tells us is that although many can live in peace and harmony in small groups, larger groups have always fought one another over resources. Few, if any nations have not been at war, and some earlier tribes hunted each other as food. What can be surmised from these observations about the attitude of the intelligence? A reasonable hypothesis would be that the intelligence is unaware of the activities of Homo Sapiens. Another would be that it is part of the experiment to see which ones prevail. And, yet another could be that the spectacle is somehow enjoyable.
In any event I propose the following hypothesis. The intelligence behind Intelligent Design has not, does not, and will not intervene in the affairs of it’s creations. Aside from anecdotal accounts, related third, forth or fifth hand in myths and legends, there is no physical evidence of any intelligence, other than man, who has ever been involved in the outcome of any dispute, skirmish, or war at any time in the history of Homo Sapiens.
So class, you have had your introduction to the theory of Intelligent Design. It is time, now, to consolidate your knowledge and propose a comprehensive. theory based on the findings to this point. Mine is the “We’re on our own” theory. The intelligence behind Intelligent Design is either oblivious of, insensitive to, or derives pleasure from the perpetual anguish of man. I have read no history, heard no news from anywhere in the world, nor seen anything for myself which would deny the validity of this position.
In this case, Intelligent Design is being presented as theory. Therefore, students must presume that all of the steps in the scientific method have been followed, and the theory has been previously tested and retested such that it is accepted by the majority of scientists. It follows then that there must be an intelligence behind Intelligent Design. So what kind of hypotheses can we form about the nature of that intelligence based on our observation?
Science has established that the earliest animate life on earth was in the form of microbes. We know that later there were small life forms in the oceans. After that there were fish, of sorts, and eventually land animals. We have evidence that there were land animals that walked on all fours and had a physical structure somewhat like man. Later, we have evidence of the first hominid, a creature that walked upright and had the basic structure of man. Knowing only this much, and based on these observations, what is the first hypothesis we can form?
I propose the hypothesis that the intelligence behind Intelligent Design was experimenting with the creation of living creatures. Based on that hypothesis, I predict that there will appear on earth, more hominid life, each time more refined than the last. Since all of this is in the past anyway, it’s a good bet that I will find evidence to support my hypothesis. And, of course I do. At different times there were the Cro-Magnon, the Neanderthal, and eventually, Homo Sapiens. We have evidence that the same type of increasing complexity can be seen in reptiles, birds and plants. So the theory now is that the intelligence behind Intelligent Design made man through a process of experimentation.
Here are some things we know about Homo Sapiens. Their body is an intricately designed biological machine. Energy is provided by breaking down proteins in their food. Their food consists mainly of parts of various plants, and the meat of fish, mammals and reptiles.
They sense their environment through sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. Any of these senses can result in pleasure or pain. This is also true of the fish, mammals and reptiles in their diet. From these observations, I have formed the hypothesis that the intelligence behind Intelligent Design is either unaware of, or completely insensitive to the pain of the creatures which have been created.
Continued observation reveals that all creatures continue to exhibit the anguish which comes from physical discomfort. That this has been going on for many thousands of years, and yet no new species has appeared which does not have the capacity to feel pain. The resulting theory is that the intelligence, in fact, is either unaware or totally insensitive to the pain suffered by the creatures which have been created.
What do we know about the way Homo Sapiens interact? What history tells us is that although many can live in peace and harmony in small groups, larger groups have always fought one another over resources. Few, if any nations have not been at war, and some earlier tribes hunted each other as food. What can be surmised from these observations about the attitude of the intelligence? A reasonable hypothesis would be that the intelligence is unaware of the activities of Homo Sapiens. Another would be that it is part of the experiment to see which ones prevail. And, yet another could be that the spectacle is somehow enjoyable.
In any event I propose the following hypothesis. The intelligence behind Intelligent Design has not, does not, and will not intervene in the affairs of it’s creations. Aside from anecdotal accounts, related third, forth or fifth hand in myths and legends, there is no physical evidence of any intelligence, other than man, who has ever been involved in the outcome of any dispute, skirmish, or war at any time in the history of Homo Sapiens.
So class, you have had your introduction to the theory of Intelligent Design. It is time, now, to consolidate your knowledge and propose a comprehensive. theory based on the findings to this point. Mine is the “We’re on our own” theory. The intelligence behind Intelligent Design is either oblivious of, insensitive to, or derives pleasure from the perpetual anguish of man. I have read no history, heard no news from anywhere in the world, nor seen anything for myself which would deny the validity of this position.
Print
Email
