Debating Design
From Darwin to DNA

This book, first published in 2004, provides a comprehensive balanced overview of the debate concerning biological origins.

William A. Dembski (Edited by), Michael Ruse (Edited by)

9780521829496, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 12 July 2004

424 pages
20.7 x 14.1 x 3.2 cm, 0.79 kg

'It is a masterly exposition of the issue of design in the biological context … It will serve as a useful reference work in the coming years.' Milltown Studies

In this book, first published in 2004, William Dembski, Michael Ruse, and other prominent philosophers provide a comprehensive balanced overview of the debate concerning biological origins - a controversial dialectic since Darwin published The Origin of Species in 1859. Invariably, the source of controversy has been 'design'. Is the appearance of design in organisms (as exhibited in their functional complexity) the result of purely natural forces acting without prevision or teleology? Or, does the appearance of design signify genuine prevision and teleology, and, if so, is that design empirically detectable and thus open to scientific inquiry? Four main positions have emerged in response to these questions: Darwinism, self-organisation, theistic evolution, and intelligent design. The contributors to this volume define their respective positions in an accessible style, inviting readers to draw their own conclusions. Two introductory essays furnish a historical overview of the debate.

Introduction: General introduction William Dembski and Michael Ruse
The argument from design: a brief history Michael Ruse
Who's afraid of ID? A survey of the intelligent design movement Angus Menuge
Part I. Darwinism: 1. Design with designer: Darwin's greatest discovery Francisco Ayala
2. The flagellum unspun: the collapse of 'irreducible complexity' Kenneth Miller
3. The design argument Elliott Sober
4. DNA by design? Stephen Meyer and the return of the god hypothesis Robert Pennock
Part II. Complex Self-Organization: 5. Prolegomenon to a general biology Stuart Kauffman
6. Darwinism, design and complex systems dynamics David Depew and Bruce Weber
7. Emergent complexity, teleology, and the arrow of time Paul Davies
8. The emergence of biological value James Barham
Part III. Theistic Evolution: 9. Darwin, design and divine providence John Haught
10. The inbuilt potentiality of creation John Polkinghorne
11. Theistic evolution Keith Ward
12. Intelligent design: some geological, historical and theological questions Michael Roberts
13. The argument from laws of nature reassessed Richard Swinburne
Part IV. Intelligent Design: 14. The logical underpinnings of intelligent design William Dembski
15. Information, entropy and the origin of life Walter Bradley
16. Irreducible complexity: obstacle to Darwinian evolution Michael Behe
17. The Cambrian information explosion: evidence for intelligent design Stephen Meyer.

Subject Areas: Evolution [PSAJ], Philosophy of science [PDA], Religion: general [HRA]