The Ohio Academy of Science (OAS) has produced a very good, objective definition of
science. It is a bit long for a definition (dictionary definitions are quite adequate), but overall
the definition is good, and confirms that Intelligent Design is science.
Below is a quote from the OAS definition which is extremely relevant to origins science. It is a
critical observation that the OAS, to its great credit, recognizes with respect to unrepeatable
events, such as our origins. The second sentence of the quote below is a perfect description of
the science of Intelligent Design. (NOTE: Although IDnet Ohio supports the idea being
expressed, the excerpt below exhibits one error in reasoning -- note that the first sentence is
entirely contradictory to the sentences that follow, and is unnecessary.* But except for this
error, the point is still well taken).
Thus, even past, unobservable aspects of nature, such as the cause of our origins can be the
subject matter of science as long as we rely on present material evidence, and not faith. This is
exactly what Intelligent Design does, and the "crime scene" analogy is 100% right on. Imagine
a crime scene with a dead body where the investigator was told she was only permitted to find
death by natural cause. That is, regardless of the evidence of murder (intelligent causation),
the "rule" of investigation required she interpret all evidence as supporting only natural death.
This would be absurd. Fortunately, it appears the Ohio Academy of Science is not taking that
absurd position with respect to the historical "crime scene" of our origins, and, therefore,
Intelligent Design--which simply posits past intelligent causation for the present
observable material evidence--is science.
*Perhaps what the first sentence of this quote is referring to are historical events that leave no material
evidence. Otherwise, the sentence, in addition to being inconsistent with the rest of the paragraph, would
exclude many important areas of science, such as archeology, which is virtually entirely a science studying
unrepeatable historical events. As well, the Big Bang was a unique, non-repeatable historical event. The list
could go on -- IDnet Ohio believes this sentence should be clarified. But nevertheless, kudos to the OAS
for an objective definition of science.
Read the OAS definition for yourself by clicking HERE for the short form, or
HERE for the long form.
science. It is a bit long for a definition (dictionary definitions are quite adequate), but overall
the definition is good, and confirms that Intelligent Design is science.
Below is a quote from the OAS definition which is extremely relevant to origins science. It is a
critical observation that the OAS, to its great credit, recognizes with respect to unrepeatable
events, such as our origins. The second sentence of the quote below is a perfect description of
the science of Intelligent Design. (NOTE: Although IDnet Ohio supports the idea being
expressed, the excerpt below exhibits one error in reasoning -- note that the first sentence is
entirely contradictory to the sentences that follow, and is unnecessary.* But except for this
error, the point is still well taken).
- Unique, non-repeatable historical events cannot be studied scientifically and depend on
faith just as much as religion does. Even unique, non-repeatable events, which cannot
be experimentally manipulated or observed directly, leave material results that can
be studied scientifically. Crimes are not literally repeated and yet investigators use
material evidence to solve them. Human history cannot be repeated, and yet we use
written and other records to decipher what events occurred when. We observe the
present and extrapolate what we see to the past.
Thus, even past, unobservable aspects of nature, such as the cause of our origins can be the
subject matter of science as long as we rely on present material evidence, and not faith. This is
exactly what Intelligent Design does, and the "crime scene" analogy is 100% right on. Imagine
a crime scene with a dead body where the investigator was told she was only permitted to find
death by natural cause. That is, regardless of the evidence of murder (intelligent causation),
the "rule" of investigation required she interpret all evidence as supporting only natural death.
This would be absurd. Fortunately, it appears the Ohio Academy of Science is not taking that
absurd position with respect to the historical "crime scene" of our origins, and, therefore,
Intelligent Design--which simply posits past intelligent causation for the present
observable material evidence--is science.
*Perhaps what the first sentence of this quote is referring to are historical events that leave no material
evidence. Otherwise, the sentence, in addition to being inconsistent with the rest of the paragraph, would
exclude many important areas of science, such as archeology, which is virtually entirely a science studying
unrepeatable historical events. As well, the Big Bang was a unique, non-repeatable historical event. The list
could go on -- IDnet Ohio believes this sentence should be clarified. But nevertheless, kudos to the OAS
for an objective definition of science.
Read the OAS definition for yourself by clicking HERE for the short form, or
HERE for the long form.
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