Is Intelligent Design an Interesting Philosophical Idea?
We have shown that intelligent design is not a scientific theory, is not even a valid scientific hypothesis, has no scientific evidence specifically supportive of it, is not scientifically testable, and even if it were true, would have absolutely no effect on the course of science. Yet some scientists say “Nevertheless it is an interesting idea, worth exploring as a philosophical notion.” And many non-scientists will say “Even if it can’t be proven logically or scientifically, it is certainly justifiable to believe it.” The road to creationism is paved with bad philosophy. Philip Kitcher. [Abusing Science, p. 82.] I find those responses perplexing. Why is the idea of an intelligent designer so seductive to many persons, even those who do understand that the idea has no logical or scientific support? Perhaps the answer lies not so much in philosophy as in psychology. Is ID worth exploring as a philosophical proposition? How can it be? It is only a variant of the argument from design tha
