Is Intelligent Design Science? Dissecting the Dover Decision

Monton, Bradley (2006) Is Intelligent Design Science? Dissecting the Dover Decision.

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Abstract

In the case of Kitzmiller et al. v. Dover Area School District, et al., Judge Jones ruled that a pro-intelligent design disclaimer cannot be read to public school students. In his decision, he gave demarcation criteria for what counts as science, ruling that intelligent design fails these criteria. I argue that these criteria are flawed, with most of my focus on the criterion of methodological naturalism. The way to refute intelligent design is not by declaring it unscientific, but by showing that the empirical evidence for design is not there.

Keywords:intelligent design, creationism, demarcation question, methodological naturalism, non-science, psuedoscience, Robert Pennock, Barbara Forrest, William Dembski
Subjects:General Issues: Science vs. Pseudoscience
General Issues: Science and Religion
ID Code:2592
Deposited By:Monton, Bradley
Deposited On:19 January 2006

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