(2023-07-18, 07:51 PM)nbtruthman Wrote: From an excellent article explaining the basics of scientific ID, at https://evolutionnews.org/2021/12/what-i...defend-it/ .
Obviously proponents of ID will claim their theories are ‘science’ - but here’s the thing:
1. Lack of Empirical Evidence:
A key component of a scientific theory is its ability to make predictions that can be tested and potentially falsified with empirical data. ID doesn't provide concrete, testable predictions. There are no experiments or observations that could potentially disprove the notion of an intelligent designer.
2. Falsifiability:
According to philosopher Karl Popper, for a theory to be considered scientific, it must be falsifiable. That means there should be a potential observation or experiment that could show the theory to be false. Because ID involves a supernatural intelligent designer, it falls outside the realm of falsifiable hypotheses, and thus is not considered scientific.
3. Not a Product of Methodological Naturalism:
Science operates under a paradigm known as methodological naturalism, which seeks explanations for observed phenomena based on natural causes and laws. It deliberately does not consider supernatural explanations, as they cannot be reliably tested or examined using the scientific method. ID, on the other hand, postulates a supernatural designer, placing it outside the bounds of methodological naturalism.
4. No Predictive Power:
Theories in science don't just explain current observations; they also provide predictions about future observations. ID doesn't offer specific predictions about what we should expect to see in the natural world, whereas theories like evolution do.
5. Lack of Peer-Reviewed Research: Most theories considered scientific have significant support from the academic community, often demonstrated through peer-reviewed research and articles. ID lacks significant backing in scientific literature.
When it comes to the realm of scientific discourse, theories must meet certain criteria to be considered science.
Even the catholic church rejects ID!