Common Descent as an Argument in the Darwinism vs. Intelligent Design Theory Controversy Cover Image

Wspólnota pochodzenia jako argument w sporze darwinizm–teoria inteligentnego projektu
Common Descent as an Argument in the Darwinism vs. Intelligent Design Theory Controversy

Author(s): Dariusz Sagan
Subject(s): Philosophy
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego
Keywords: L. Agassiz; J. Coyne; K. Darwin; R. Dawkins; R. Owen; similarities; common descent; design; designer; God; theory of evolution; intelligent design theory

Summary/Abstract: The intelligent design theory claims that certain biological and cosmic phenomena were designed by an intelligent being which could be just as well natural and supernatural, and that this design is scientifically detectable. Critics often point out that the similarity between all living or-ganisms is unequivocal evidence of their common descent, which, at the same time, speaks against the intelligent design theory and for the theory of evolution which is, for them, the only reasonable explanation of this phenomenon. It turns out, however, that this argument is untenable because similarities can be viewed as unequivocal evidence of evolution only if we accept specific (and controversial) philosophical assumptions about what counts as rational explanations and science. Without these assumptions, the intelligent design theory remains an open possibility which, in addition, is not contradictory to the facts indicated by the evolutionists.

  • Issue Year: 2013
  • Issue No: 37
  • Page Range: 127-145
  • Page Count: 19
  • Language: Polish
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