Why Do Academics Not Seriously Consider Intelligent Design?

Abstract

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of participating in a three-hour debate in Krakow sponsored by the En Arche Foundation on the question “Intelligent Design in Nature — Illusion or Reality?”. Mathematical biologist Richard Sternberg joined me in defending the reality of design against philosopher of biology Michael Ruse and paleontologist Malgorzata Moczydlowska-Vidal. I very much appreciated the cordiality and good humor of our debate opponents. However, in the aftermath of the event I have been left wondering about the underlying reasons why many scholars effectively refuse to consider the idea of detectable design in nature. In this letter I would like to lay out some of my preliminary thoughts on the matter.