Scientific theories are tested by scientists, whether in labs or in real-life scenarios that relate to the theory. Taking measurements, creating laboratory scenarios, painstakingly eliminating extraneous influences in a controlled environment, making repeated observations – all that is the stuff of science, the way science proceeds.
The proponents of “Intelligent Design” (or cdesign proponentsists, as they are also known) has chosen to promote its “theory” (thus showing it to in fact be an ideology) before the court of public opinion. It has bypassed all the methods that have been tried and tested over recent centuries, the methods that have made science such a powerful mode of inquiry, and have made use of distractions and switcheroos when legitimate scientists have analysed their claims. They have claimed that the public can assess the evidence, can make the right choice.
Yet when a conservative, Republican-appointed judge is called upon to examine the evidence regarding their claims to be doing science, and finds against them, they complain that he was “ill equipped to preside over the case”.
Public, I am appealing to your intelligence directly. The proponents of Intelligent Design are presenting their message to you directly because they are confident that you are sufficiently “ill equipped” to be taken in by their claims. They are pandering to you, confident that you will vote with your gut rather than take the time to carefully investigate their claims. They are sure you will be swayed, not by the scientific evidence, but by the Christian apologist’s prologue and the context that sets for their message. In short, they are banking on you deciding matters according to truthiness rather than truth.
Members of the public, I appeal to you to not allow these charlatans and tricksters to insult your intelligence in this way. Check their claims, investigate the facts, and show them that the public is smarter than they have hoped.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In