Talk:Intelligent design: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added
new post moved to foot, replied
 
Line 1:
{{skiptotoctalkpp-move-indef}}
{{Talk Header}}
{{ArticleHistory
 
|action1=PR
{{ArticleHistory|action1=PR
|action1date=02:18, 2 Feb 2005
|action1link=Wikipedia:Peer review/Intelligent design/Archive1archive1
|action1result=reviewed
|action1oldid=9889411
Line 20 ⟶ 21:
|action4=PR
|action4date=04:06, 9 January 2007
|action4link=Wikipedia:Peer review/Intelligent design/archive2
|action4result=reviewed
|action4oldid=99478501
Line 30 ⟶ 31:
|action5oldid=110171769
 
|action6=FAR
|action6date=24 July 2007
|action6link=Wikipedia:Featured article review/Intelligent design/archive2
|action6result=kept
|action6oldid=146596873
 
|action7=FAR
|action7date=22:49, 14 December 2008
|action7link=Wikipedia:Featured article review/Intelligent design/archive1
|action7result=kept
|action7oldid=257436809
 
|maindate=October 12, 2007
|currentstatus=FA
}}
{{controversial}}
{{WikiProject intelligent design|class=FA|importance=Top}}
{| class="messagebox standard-talk"
|-
|'''Please read before starting'''
First of all, welcome to Wikipedia's Intelligent Design article. This article represents the work of many contributors and much negotiation to find consensus for an accurate and complete representation of the topic.
 
{{Round in circles}}
[[Wikipedia:Welcome, newcomers|Newcomers]] to Wikipedia and this article may find that it's easy to commit a ''[[faux pas]]''. That's OK — everybody does it! You'll find a list of a few common ones you might try to avoid [[Wikipedia:Avoiding_common_mistakes|here]].
 
{{ArbComPseudoscience}}
A common objection made often by new arrivals is that the article presents ID in an unsympathetic light and that criticism of ID is too extensive or violates Wikipedia's '''Neutral Point of View''' policy ([[WP:NPOV]]). The sections of the [[WP:NPOV]] that apply directly to this article are:
{{WikiProject banner shell|class=FA|collapsed=yes|vital=yes|1=
*'''[[Wikipedia:Neutral_point_of_view/FAQ#Pseudoscience|NPOV: Pseudoscience]]'''
{{WikiProject Alternative views|importance=High}}
*'''[[Wikipedia:Neutral_point_of_view#Undue_weight|NPOV: Undue weight]]'''
{{WikiProject Creationism|importance=Top|Intelligent design=yes|Intelligent design-importance=Top}}
*'''[[Wikipedia:Neutral_point_of_view/FAQ#Making_necessary_assumptions|NPOV: Making necessary assumptions]]'''
{{WikiProject Christianity|importance=Mid}}
*'''[[Wikipedia:Neutral_point_of_view/FAQ#Giving_.22equal_validity.22|NPOV: Giving "equal validity"]].'''
{{WikiProject Conservatism|importance=mid}}
The contributors to the article continually strive to adhere to these to the letter. Also, splitting the article into sub-articles is governed by the [[Wikipedia:POV fork|Content forking]] guidelines.
{{WikiProject Politics|importance=Mid}}
{{WikiProject Philosophy|importance=Mid|science=yes|religion=yes}}
{{WikiProject Skepticism|importance=top}}
{{WikiProject Religion|importance=Top}}
}}
{{FAQ|collapsed=no}}
 
{{User:MiszaBot/config
These policies have guided the shape and content of the article, and new arrivals are strongly encouraged to become familiar with them prior to raising objections on this page or adding content to the article. Other important policies guiding the article's content are No Original Research ([[WP:NOR]]) and Cite Your Sources ([[WP:CITE]]).
|archiveheader = {{aan}}
 
|maxarchivesize = 200K
Tempers can and have flared here. All contributors are asked to please respect Wikipedia's policy No Personal Attacks ([[WP:NPA]]) and to abide by consensus ([[WP:CON]]).
|counter = 89
 
|minthreadsleft = 4
This talk page is to discuss the text, photographs, format, grammar, etc of the ''article itself'' and '''not''' the inherent worth of Intelligent Design. See [[WP:NOT]]. If you wish to discuss or debate the ''validity'' of intelligent design or promote intelligent design please do so at [http://groups.google.com/group/talk.origins talk.origins] or other fora. This "Discussion" page is only for discussion on how to improve the Wikipedia article. Any attempts at trolling, using this page as a soapbox, or making personal attacks may be deleted at any time.
|minthreadstoarchive = 1
|-
|algo = old(180d)
|'''Notes to editors:'''
|archive = Talk:Intelligent design/Archive %(counter)d
#This article uses scientific terminology, and as such, the use of the word 'theory' to refer to anything outside of a recognised scientific theory is ambiguous. Please use words such as 'concept', 'notion', 'idea', 'assertion'; see [[Wikipedia:Words to avoid#Theory]].
}}
#Although at times heated, the debates contained here are meant to improve the Intelligent Design article. Reasoned, civil discourse is the best means to make an opinion heard. Rude behavior not only distracts from the subject(s) at hand, but tends to make people deride or ignore what was said.
{{archives |search=no |
#Please use [[Help:Edit summary|edit summaries]].
[[Talk:Intelligent design/philosophy sources|Philosophy sources]]
 
|}}
{{User:HBC Archive Indexerbot/OptIn
 
|target=Talk:Intelligent design/Archive index
<!--Template:Archivebox begins-->
|mask =Talk:Intelligent design/Archive <#>
<div class="infobox" style="width: 300px; font-size: 90%">
|leading_zeros=0 |indexhere=no
<div style="text-align: center">[[Image:Vista-file-manager.png|50px|Archive]]<br />
}}
[[Wikipedia:How to archive a talk page|'''Archives''']]
</div>
----
*[[/Archive1|(2002-2003)]]
*[[/Archive2|(2003)]]
*[[/Archive3|(Jan-Sep 2004, 53kb) - Are oppositions/criticisms of ID relevant?]]
*[[/Falsification|(Aug-Oct 2004, 46kb) - Is ID theory falsifiable?]]
*[[/Archive4|(Sep-Nov 2004, 42kb) - Overwhelming majority: POV? What does "scientific" mean?]]
*[[/Archive5|(Nov-Dec 2004)]]
*[[/Archive6|(Dec 2004-early Jan 2005)]]
*[[/Archive8|(Jan-April 2005)]]
*[[/Archive9|(April-May 2005)]]
*[[/Archive 10|(Early - Mid June 2005) - Structured debate; the Pryamid analogy; Article Splits)]]
*Archives [[/Archive 11|11]], [[/Archive 12|12]], [[/Archive 13|13]]
*[[/Archive 14|(Mid-August/Mid-Sept 2005) - ID as creationism; ID proponent's religious agenda; ID as scientific hypothesis]]
*[[/Archive 15|(Mid-Sept/Early-Oct 2005) - Computer simulations & irreducible complexity, Criticisms of criticism, Footnote misnumbering, NPOV]]
*[[/Archive 16|(Mid-Oct 2005)]]
*[[/Archive 17|(Mid to late-Oct 2005) - Mainly involving users from uncommondescent.com and admins]]
*[[/Archive 18|(Late Oct to early Nov 2005)]]
*[[/Archive 19|(early to mid Nov 2005)]]
*[[/Archive 20|(Mid Nov 2005) Tisthammer's and ant's objections]]
*[[/Archive 21|(Nov 2005) Enormous bulk of text]]
*[[/Archive 21A|(30 Nov - 3 Dec 2005) various proposals, peer review]]
*[[/Archive 22|(Early Dec 2005) - Mostly chatter concerning the current pool of editors]]
*[[/Archive23|(Mid Dec 2005) - Whether intelligent design is to be upper case or lower case]]
*[[/Archive24|(Late Dec 2005) Two major re-orgs and the Kitzmiller decision]]
*[[/Archive25|Marshills NPOV objections]]
*[[/Archive26|Reintroduction of Vast discussion]]
*Archives [[/Archive27|27]], [[/Archive28|28]], [[/Archive29|29]]
*[[/Archive30|July 2006]]
*[[/Archive31|August 2006]]
*[[/Archive32|DI warning, DI and leading proponents again]]
*[[/Archive33|First archive of 2007]]
*[[/Archive34|Januari 22, 2007]]
*[[/Archive35|Jan – early Feb 2007]]
 
'''Points that have already been discussed'''
:The following ideas were discussed. Please read the archives before bringing up any of these points again:
# '''Is ID a theory?'''
#:[[/Archive2#Fact and Theory|Fact and Theory]]
#:[[/Archive3#Does ID really qualify as a Theory?|Does ID really qualify as a Theory?]]
# '''Is ID/evolution falsifiable?'''
#:[[/Falsification|Falsification]]
#:[[/Archive 16#Random subheading: falsifiability|Falsifiability]]
#:[[/Archive 18#Bad philosophy of science (ID is allegedly not empirically testable, falsifiable etc.)|ID is allegedly not empirically testable, falsifiable, etc.]]
# '''Is the article too littered with critique, as opposed to, for example, the evolution article?'''
#:[[/Archive3#Criticism that the Intelligent design page does not give citations to support ID opponents' generalizations|Criticism that the Intelligent design page does not give citations to support ID opponents' generalizations]]
#:[[/Archive3#What ID's Opponents Say; is it really relevant?|What ID's Opponents Say; is it really relevant?]]
#:[[/Archive9#Bias?|Bias?]]
#:[[/Archive9#Various arguments to subvert criticism|Various arguments to subvert criticism]]
#:[[/Archive 10#Critics claim ...|Critics claim ...]]
#:[[/Archive 21#Anti-ID bias|Anti-ID bias]]
#:[[/Archive 16#Apparent partial violation NPOV policy|Apparent partial violation NPOV policy]]
#:[[/Archive 15#Why are there criticizms|Why are there criticizms]]
#:[[/Archive 14#Critics of ID vs. Proponents|Critics of ID vs. Proponents]]
# '''Isn't ID no more debatable than evolution?'''
#:[[/Archive2#Argument Zone|Argument Zone]]
#:[[/Archive 16#The debatability of ID and evolution|The debatability of ID and evolution]]
# '''Isn't ID actually creationism by definition, as it posits a creator?'''
#:[[/Archive6#ID in relation to Bible-based creationism|ID in relation to Bible-based creationism]]
#:[[/Archive 11#What makes ID different than creationism|What makes ID different than creationism]]
#:[[/Archive 11#Moving ID out of the "creationism" catagory|Moving ID out of the "creationism" catagory]]
#:[[/Archive 12#Shouldn't this page be merged with creationism?|Shouldn't this page be merged with creationism?]]
#:[[/Archive 16#ID not Creationism?|ID not Creationism?]]
# '''Are all ID proponents really [[theist]]s?'''
#:[[/Archive 14#ID proponents who are not theists|ID proponents who are not theists]]
#:[[/Archive 18#A possible atheist/agnostic intelligent design advocate?|A possible atheist/agnostic intelligent design advocate?]]
# '''Are there any peer-reviewed papers about ID?'''
#:[[/Archive3#scientific peer review|Scientific peer review]]
#:[[/Archive 11#Peer-reviewed stuff of ID (netcody)|Peer-reviewed stuff of ID (netcody)]]
# '''Is ID really not science?'''
#:[[/Archive4#...who include the overwhelming majority of the scientific community...|...who include the overwhelming majority of the scientific community...]]
#:[[/Archive4#Meaning of "scientific"|Meaning of "scientific"]]
#:[[/Archive4#Why sacrifice truth|Why sacrifice truth]]
#:[[/Archive 10#Rejection of ID by the scientific community section redundant|Rejection of ID by the scientific community section redundant]]
#:[[/Archive 14#Intelligent design is Theology, not Science|Intelligent design is Theology, not Science]]
#:[[/Archive 13#Philosophy in the introduction|Philosophy in the introduction]]
#:[[/Archive 13#The article needs to point to a reference that explains more clearly WHY ID is not a theory|Why ID is not a theory]]
#:[[/Archive 18#Bad philosophy of science (ID is allegedly not empirically testable, falsifiable etc.)|Bad philosophy of science (ID is allegedly not empirically testable, falsifiable etc.)]]
#:[[Talk:Intelligent design/Archive 21#The "fundamental assumption" of ID|The "fundamental assumption" of ID]]
#:[[/Archive 21A#Peer-reviewed articles|Peer-reviewed articles]]
#:[[/Archive27#Figured out the problem|Figured out the problem]]
# '''Is ID really not internally consistent?;'''
#:[[/Archive27#Distingushing Philosophical ID (TE) from the DI's Pseudo-Scientific ID|Distingushing Philosophical ID (TE) from the DI's Pseudo-Scientific ID]]
#:[[/Archive27#The many names of ID?|The many names of ID?]]
#:[[/Archive27#Removed section by User:Tznkai|Removed section by User:Tznkai]]
#:[[/Archive27#Pre- & post- Kitzmiller, proponents seek to redefine ID|Pre- & post- Kitzmiller, proponents seek to redefine ID]]
#:[[/Archive27#Defining ID|Defining ID]]
#:[[/Archive27#Figured out the problem|Figured out the problem]]
#:[[/Archive27#"Intelligent evolution"|"Intelligent evolution"]]
#:[[/Archive 14#ID on the O'Reilly Factor|ID on the O'Reilly Factor]]
# '''Is the article too long?'''
#:[[/Archive6#Article Size|Article Size]]
#:[[/Archive 13#notes|Notes]]
#:[[/Archive 13#The Article Is Too Long|The Article Is Too Long]]
#'''Does the article contain original research that inaccurately represents minority views?'''
#:[[/Archive 20#Original research and inaccurrate.2Finadequate representation of the minority View|Inadequate representation of the minority View]]
#:[[Talk:Intelligent design/Archive 21#The "fundamental assumption" of ID|The "fundamental assumption" of ID]]
#'''Is the intelligent designer necessarily irreducibly complex? Is a designer needed for irreducibly complex objects?'''
#:[[/Archive6#Irreducibly complex intelligent designer|Irreducibly complex intelligent designer]]
#:[[/Archive 20#Settling Tisthammerw's points, one at a time|Settling Tisthammerw's points, one at a time]]
#:[[Talk:Intelligent design/Archive 21#The "fundamental assumption" of ID|The "fundamental assumption" of ID]]
#:[[/Archive 21A#Irreducibly complex|Irreducibly complex]]
#:[[/Archive 21A#Irreducible complexity of elementary particles|Irreducible complexity of elementary particles]]
#:[[/Archive 21A#Repeated objections and ignoring of consensus|Repeated objections and ignoring of consensus]]
#:[[/Archive 21A#Suggested compromise|Suggested compromise]]
#:[[/Archive 21A#Resolution to Wade's & Ant's objections (hopefully)|Resolution to Wade's & Ant's objections (hopefully)]]
#'''Discussion regarding the Introduction:'''
#:[[/Archive 21#Intro|Intro]] (Rare instance of unanimity)
#:[[/Archive 21#Introduction|Introduction]] (Tony Sidaway suggests)
#'''Is this article is unlike others on Wikipedia?'''
#:[[/Archive 22#Why is Wiki Violating its own POV rule|Why is Wiki Violating its own POV rule]]
#:[[/Archive 22#Call for new editors|Call for new editors]]
#:Archives [[/Archive 22|22]], [[/Archive23|23]], [[/Archive24|24]]
#'''Is this article NPOV?'''
#:[[/Archive2#NPOV|NPOV]]
#:[[/Archive25|Archive 25]]
#'''Are terms such as 'scientific community' or 'neocreationist' vague concepts?'''
#:[[/Archive27#Support among scientists|Support among scientists]]
#:[[/Archive27#"Neocreationist" social, not scientific, observation|"Neocreationist" social, not scientific, observation]]
#:[[/Archive26|Archive 26]]
#'''How should Darwin's impact be described?'''
#:[[/Archive27#Pre-Darwinian Ripostes|Pre-Darwinian Ripostes]]
#'''Is the article really that bad?'''
#:[[/Archive27#WOW! This page is GOOOD!|WOW! This page is GOOOD!]]
#'''Peer Review and ID'''
#:[[/Archive29#peer review?|Peer review?]]
#:[[/Archive28#Lack of peer review|Lack of peer review]]
#:[[/Archive28#Peer Review: Reviewed|Peer Review: Reviewed]]
#'''Discovery Institute and leading ID proponents'''
#:[[/Archive29#Are all leading ID proponents affiliated with Discovery Institute?|Are all leading ID proponents affiliated with Discovery Institute?]]
#:[[/Archive32|Archive 32]]
#'''Why is intelligent design lower case, not upper case?
#:[[/Archive23#Renaming Intelligent design as Intelligent Design|Renaming Intelligent design as Intelligent Design]]
#'''Is the article trying to equate ID with Christian Creationism and the Discovery Institute too much?'''
#:[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Intelligent_design/Archive33#Is_the_article_trying_to_equate_ID_with_Christian_Creationism_and_the_Discovery_Institute_too_much.3F The article discusses the formulation disseminated by the Discovery Institute affiliates]
</div><!--Template:Archivebox ends-->
I do not think that ID suggest to replace evolution, but rather prefers to have an alternative view point.
 
I find it increasingly interesting that even though both evolutional theories and ID look at the historical facts of the earth and it's contents, have these different view points.
 
One of the arguments against ID is that it is not possible to repeat it in experiments and therefor it is not scientific in its approach, but the same can be said of evolution; it cannot be repeated under scientifical scrutiny, only to interpretation. Most findings are open to interpretation and agreement based on preconceived convictions and the outcome of this interpretation will align with the reader/student/scientist pre-convictions.
 
I sometimes wonder whether this reluctance to give ID the same hearing as evolution is not influence by what it confronts us with; our exposure and accountability to a "higher force". As to the question of future research, ID proponents are as dependent on discovery as are proponents of evolution. The THEORY of evolution has not supplied us with medical applications, but a single minded interpretation of what could have happened in the past, so why expect this from ID.
 
True open minded scientists will be open to all arguments, even if they do not like the result for the sake of "truth".{POJ 9 March 2007 JHB}
 
:repeatability is only one of the requirements of science, and in any event it is not correct to state that evolution is not repeatable or observable. The primary problem with ID is that it is not falsifiable - unlike evolution. This is not a minor problem. [[User:Tomandlu|Tomandlu]] 12:36, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
 
== Future research? Possible applications? ==
 
I was disappointed to find that this article, like so many resources concerning Intelligent Design, contains almost no mention of either future research or the field's possible applications. Does Intelligent Design as it stands tell us everything we could ever need to know about the history and structure of life, or is there more research pending? Does ID have future applications in fields such as Biology or Medicine? What will the concepts of "Irreducible complexity", "Specified complexity", "Fine-tuned universe", "Intelligent designer" actually mean after the evolutionists concede and ID replaces Natural Selection as the dominant paradigm for the study of biological systems? Can we include some sense of the long-term scientific plan in this article? [[User:Thedewi|TheDewi]] 13:55, 9 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::This kind of comment just is pure nonsense. If our attempts are so bad, why do you not just go to the Discovery Institute Website and find it there? Because it does NOT exist!!! Or at least we, and all the other skeptics, and all the >99% of the scientists and the courts have not found any research in this area, and the way things are going, it looks like ID will not replace evolution as a paradigm. It explains nothing. It is just a waste of time and energy. And it if is admitted as science, it will be flushing real science that our medicine is based on down the toilet. The long term plan is to create a theocracy and to force you to worship in their way and to acknowledge they and only they and their interpretation are correct. It is basically a plan for a new Dark Ages. Read what Johnson et al say is their plan if you do not believe me.--[[User:Filll|Filll]] 02:19, 12 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:We gladly would - but unfortunately ID does not have any of those. [[User:DLX|DLX]] 14:14, 9 February 2007 (UTC)
:''What will the concepts ... actually mean after the evolutionists concede and ID replaces Natural Selection as the dominant paradigm for the study of biological systems?'' If ID replaces natural selection as the dominant paradigm in biology, it will mean the end of biology as an experimental science. It will also mean a revolution in modern religion, since the "paradigm" of Faith will be replaced with a materialistic "paradigm" looking for Proof. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 14:31, 9 February 2007 (UTC)
:Future research and applications? How about some present research and applications? Intelligent Design as it stands tells us nothing whatsoever about the history or structure of life. [[User:Tsumetai|Tsumetai]] 14:37, 9 February 2007 (UTC)
::Now be fair, didn't the New Scientist find something about the DI having a secret research program, carrying out... secret research..... which they can't divulge because those scientist chappies will ask for.. um.. peer review or something. Don't miss the next exciting announcement. Should bode well for faith healing...... [[User:Dave souza|dave souza]], [[User talk:Dave souza|talk]] 16:32, 9 February 2007 (UTC)
:::Oh man, now they're going to have to kill you for divulging the secret research program publicly. Dave souza said it, I didn't. Please don't have me shot. Really, I don't know anything about the cough...secret...ahem.....research....program......sssssshhhhhhhh. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 16:43, 9 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::::''Can we include some sense of the long-term scientific plan in this article?'' Absolutely we can and will, when and if the IDers ever develop such a plan. We'll even include any ID scientific theory if they ever develop one. [[User:Mr Christopher|Mr Christopher]] 20:28, 9 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::::: In response to the feeling that I keep getting from ID proponents that we are too heavy handed with the scientific view, I will move Michael Behe's comments about ID as a science (very reliable source: a Christian under oath) from the overview to the lede. That way, the ID proponents get their view in first, and the tone of the introduction is less oppositional.[[User:Trishm|Trishm]] 21:10, 9 February 2007 (UTC)
::::::Have any ID proponents contributed to this section? . . ;) . . [[User:Dave souza|dave souza]], [[User talk:Dave souza|talk]] 21:16, 9 February 2007 (UTC)
:::::::Umm, I don't think so. They've argued a lot, though.[[User:Trishm|Trishm]] 21:20, 9 February 2007 (UTC)
::::::::I've noticed that. ID, Creation and anti-evolution proponents tend to yell and scream Except for Homestarmy. He seems to know how to make a cogent, calm discussion. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 02:43, 10 February 2007 (UTC)
:::::::: Drat. I was rather hoping some IDers more knowledgeable than me would bite, and furnish me with a less ''woefully incomplete'' view. I hear a lot about ID being unfalsifiable or non-materialistic, but the lack of any substance (beyond discrediting other theories) is just as grievous in making ID unrecognisable as a science. But please, feel free to prove me ignorant if I'm missing something! [[User:Thedewi|TheDewi]] 16:56, 11 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::::::::::Just look at youtube and google video videos of Johson and hear what he says and his plans. --[[User:Filll|Filll]] 02:19, 12 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::::::::The part you're missing is that ID ''is'' unrecognizable as a science, because it isn't one. [[User:KillerChihuahua|KillerChihuahua]]<sup>[[User talk:KillerChihuahua|?!?]]</sup> 17:06, 11 February 2007 (UTC)
:::::::::Nice bit of fishing, the problem is that the IDers who are so quick to complain that the article is biased are remarkably slow when it comes to producing any substance for their claims. ... [[User:Dave souza|dave souza]], [[User talk:Dave souza|talk]] 18:02, 11 February 2007 (UTC)
 
== Recent minor changes ==
 
Kenosis has made two small changes to the article that I feel we should discuss. The first is the recombination of the opening two sentences into one. This is purely a stylistic point, but I think that the opening reads better as two sentences: "ID is an argument for the existence of God. It is expressed in secular terms...". Secondly, and more importantly, is the change from "which" to "that" in the "Controversy" section. As the article stands ("They state that their religious faith is fully compatible with science <u>that</u> is limited to dealing only with the natural world;") it implies (perhaps unintentionally) that there's such a thing as "science that is ''not'' limited to dealing only with the natural world", and, moreover, that the supporters of theistic evolution consider their faith to be ''incompatible'' with this "supernatural science". With "which", the sentence just describes science as being limited to nature. I think that the second meaning is what's intended, so "that" should be changed back to "which"; however, I'd just like to confirm that before doing it. [[User:Tevildo|Tevildo]] 17:19, 10 February 2007 (UTC)
:(Quick follow-up). If the first meaning ''is'' intended, I think we need to make it more explicit; perhaps "compatible with science, insofar as science is limited...", or "compatible with the areas of science that are limited..." [[User:Tevildo|Tevildo]] 17:23, 10 February 2007 (UTC)
::I support a change in the Controversy section to read "... science which is limited to...", for the reason just given by Tevildo. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 17:26, 10 February 2007 (UTC)
:::Done - it's open to revision, of course. [[User:Tevildo|Tevildo]] 00:08, 11 February 2007 (UTC)
::::Surely that needs a comma: "...science, which is limited to..."? [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 00:54, 11 February 2007 (UTC)
:::::It has one. :) [[User:Tevildo|Tevildo]] 12:20, 11 February 2007 (UTC)
 
Kenosis has also moved Behe's testimony that ID is not science from the lead. I would have thought that this is particularly important, because it shows that it isn't just the scientific community who says that ID is not science. As it stands, we have:ID proponents say this (unequivocally) and the scientists oppose it (unequivocally); and that is just not true.[[User:Trishm|Trishm]] 01:13, 11 February 2007 (UTC)
:Actually, I integrated it into the second paragraph, with a comment in the edit summary. You'll see the relevant summary if you flip through the history. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 05:01, 11 February 2007 (UTC)
::Ah, I see. Sorry. I guess I am surprised to see Behe grouped with the scientists, rather than the ID proponents.[[User:Trishm|Trishm]] 05:29, 11 February 2007 (UTC)
:::Good point. I grouped it, albeit somewhat hesitantly, according to issue rather than class of person. As I said in the edit summary, I don't think the lead is the place to put it. But since it was there in a stranded paragraph, I integrated Behe's admission as best I could rather than revert it back into its earlier placement in the Overview. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 17:52, 11 February 2007 (UTC)
::::Can we put him at the start of the paragraph? It would lessen sense of mindless conflict between the ID proponents and scientists.[[User:Trishm|Trishm]] 02:10, 12 February 2007 (UTC)
 
I think that the first paragraph is quite awkward, from an English comprehensibility point of view. It is just two long sentences, with tons of clauses separated by commas. Not good.--[[User:Filll|Filll]] 00:12, 12 February 2007 (UTC)
:I removed "stated in [[secular]] terms" from the first sentence. The extra little clause turns out to have been superfluous because the premise is stated right there. Offhand, I would not be in favor of breaking up the second sentence, as a great deal of work by many editors went into arriving at it in its present form. When it was recently broken up, it had the quirky feature of beginning a related sentence with the word "they". The second sentence appears to read just fine as it currently is, so long as it's not on the heels of an excessively long sentence. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 02:06, 12 February 2007 (UTC)
:I also removed the parenthetical with the abbreviation "ID" from the first sentence, as it was wholly unnecessary there. I hadn't realized it, but bit-by-bit that first sentence had accumulated more chrome than a [http://www.hubcapcafe.com/ocs/pages01/olds5801.htm '58_Oldsmobile]. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 03:53, 12 February 2007 (UTC)
 
== FA ==
 
Well! The first FA objection came up: The section on Intelligence is under-cited. Let's go fer it, laddos! [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 19:37, 11 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:I've seen this article is attempting FA, this might help, but the introduction seems to developpe on how it isen't considered as a science than what ID claims to be. I don't know what equilibre the introduction should achieve but in my opinion the "this is not a science" seems much too excessif in the intro. I didn't read the rest of the article, because I might to waste my time with pseudo-science not being published in credible peer-reviewed journals, so my opinion is only relevant for the intro. [[User:Fadix|''Fad'']] [[User talk:Fadix|(ix)]] 23:33, 11 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::Not sure what you're trying to say, because your English is a bit broken (not a criticism, just hard to read), but ID is absolutely not a science. The lead must say this, or the article is not worth anything. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 23:51, 11 February 2007 (UTC)
:::The most important thing that one can find out about ID, the lead, is that it is a rehashed argument for the existence of God, that is not scientific. The Lead says this. What is more important than that? Nothing to my mind. If you want more details, you can read further.--[[User:Filll|Filll]] 00:10, 12 February 2007 (UTC)
::::Sorry guys for the broken English, I did not read myself. I've convinced myself to jump in and read the rest of the article, which is OK and very well written. But I still am under the impression that something is not right with the introduction, I agree it is pseudoscience and all that; but that introduction seems as if it was trying to convince and remind over again that it is pseudoscience. I may be mistaken, but I don't see the necessity of that, highlining what most scientist consider this hypotheses to be is verry relevant and a must, but in my opinion the introduction is not the place for developping on that, a résumé is enough. [[User:Fadix|''Fad'']] [[User talk:Fadix|(ix)]] 01:29, 12 February 2007 (UTC)
:::::Do I smell a raspor?--[[User:Filll|Filll]] 01:34, 12 February 2007 (UTC)
::::::No. Coming from a different place.[[User:Trishm|Trishm]] 02:33, 12 February 2007 (UTC)
::::::I don't know what or who is a raspor, but I am intelligent enough to assume that you think I have some ill intention. I didn't think that this might make any difference, but I am a very strong adherent of natural selection, even Lee Smolin's cosmological natural selection, also the bioneurologic natural selection hypothesis of self-awarness. Oh and, and... Darwin is the scientist I place in the highest estime, since I consider that his hypothesis could be applied in favoring cosmological constants. But again, I really didn't thought that I would be needing to developpe on what I adhere to. Anyway, I am done with that, my opinion on the introduction was an opinion afteral. No hard feelings. [[User:Fadix|''Fad'']] [[User talk:Fadix|(ix)]] 02:44, 12 February 2007 (UTC)
:::::::Our apologies. You were mistaken for a moment for a certain banned editor, who has a troubled history on this page and no intention of contributing productively. Your personal views are yours to hold. Any editor who is constructive is welcome.[[User:Trishm|Trishm]] 03:09, 12 February 2007 (UTC)
::::::::Oh OK I understand, anyway, I wish good luck for the FA. [[User:Fadix|''Fad'']] [[User talk:Fadix|(ix)]] 20:15, 12 February 2007 (UTC)
::::::Fadix is a reliable, established editor. Granted, this article makes you paranoid, but it's good to have a fresh pair of eyes on this. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 14:46, 13 February 2007 (UTC)
 
A concern was raised at the FAC page that this page has too many external links. While I am not saying that we ''should'' trim the section, but it is pretty long, and wouldn't hurt to have a look at it, make sure that what we have there is the best of the best. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 14:46, 13 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:I don't like how it's written in a box down the side, but as in [[Talk:Evolution]], there needs to be links to the same old rehashed discussions, so that we don't rehash the same old discussions. I actually like easily finding the archives, especially when someone needs a reference source. But I don't like the box down the side, not to rehash something. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 16:57, 13 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::Actually the organised archive here is the inspiration for the one over at Evolution. I believe this one is largely the work of Ec5618. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 18:08, 13 February 2007 (UTC)
 
The issue of the fair use magazine cover has been raised at the FAC discussion. I agree that, unless the magazine issue is discussed in some way, that it's hard to justify fair use. It's a shame, because I like the picture, but they're right probably should go. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 18:08, 13 February 2007 (UTC)
 
==Amazing Templeton Foundation guidelines on ID==
{{quotation|From our FAQ...
Does the Foundation support I.D.?
 
No. We do not support the political movement known as “Intelligent Design.” This is for three reasons 1) we do not believe the science underpinning the “Intelligent Design” movement is sound, 2) we do not support research or programs that deny large areas of well-documented scientific knowledge, and 3) the Foundation is a non-political entity and does not engage in, or support, political movements.
 
It is important to note that in the past we have given grants to scientists who have gone on to identify themselves as members of the Intelligent Design community. We understand that this could be misconstrued by some to suggest that we implicitly support the Intelligent Design movement, but, as outlined above, this was not our intention at the time nor is it today.}}
 
 
Take a look at [http://www.templeton.org/newsroom/Intelligent_Design/Statement_Anti_Evolutionism.pdf] and [http://www.templeton.org/newsroom/Intelligent_Design/]. Think we can squeeze something like these in?--[[User:Filll|Filll]] 23:05, 12 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:What is the Templeton Foundation? [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 01:38, 13 February 2007 (UTC)
::Templeton Foundation funds religious research and scholarship. They funded the Discovery Institute when it started some years back. They were not very happy with the results they obtained-lots of promises, but turned out to be political hot air instead of serious research. Just basically jerks and crooks. So they lost their funding.--[[User:Filll|Filll]] 01:46, 13 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::They also offered to fund ID research, but there were no takers. It's referenced somewhere in the archives. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 14:41, 13 February 2007 (UTC)
 
== Removal of Time magazine image ==
 
I wasn't the one to remove it, but I'd like to point out to anyone readding it that doing so is ''not'' fair use, and is a legal liability for wikipedia. [[User:Ikanreed|i kan reed]] 18:57, 13 February 2007 (UTC)
 
==Lead Section==
 
The lead section of this article is particulary good, and does exactly what a lead section should in summing up all the information about intelligent design. This might sound weird but I think it might be a little two heavily referenced. Most of the references mentioned there will be used later on in the article (maybe I should have finished reading it :p), and personally so many references so early on is both distracting and slightly unattractive. I feel lead sections should be alot like [[abstract]]s, which don't reference at all. Though in this case you would put the reference in if it is not used again.
 
Uh, just a thought! ([[User:Million Moments|a Mentally Efficient Loonies And Nice Insane Elephants creation]] 19:42, 13 February 2007 (UTC))
 
:Actually, without them the statements are regularly challenged, hence the somewhat excessive use of references. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 19:55, 13 February 2007 (UTC)
:Shame people can't be bothered to read the rest of the article to find them :p([[User:Million Moments|a Mentally Efficient Loonies And Nice Insane Elephants creation]] 13:46, 14 February 2007 (UTC))
::I suppose we could use "hidden" references in comments. [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 20:21, 13 February 2007 (UTC)
:::What's a hidden reference? ([[User:Million Moments|a Mentally Efficient Loonies And Nice Insane Elephants creation]] 13:46, 14 February 2007 (UTC))
 
::::Comments in the text which don't appear in the article - have a look at the wikicode of the lead, there's one in there. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 13:54, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:In response to the original comment, if you read what the MoS says about the lead section, it appears that lead sections ''should'' be referenced. A lead is a summary of the article, but it isn't an abstract - more like a Micropaedia article. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 13:54, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
 
== Not difficult enough? ==
 
For those editors for whom the monitoring of this article simply isn't enough of a challenge - might I invite you to wander over to [[Marriage]] where there's a heck of a bun fight.
 
I think the gang who work here do one of the best jobs on the wiki, and your help would be appreciated - thanks folks! [[User:Petesmiles|Petesmiles]] 23:24, 13 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:Wow. That wasn't fun to read. I'll stay here :) By the way, there are many other controversial articles that work out. First of all, you need to train editors who have an agenda to learn NPOV. Second, you need to drink wine. Lots of it. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 23:33, 13 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::: i've pretty much have given up on it. when you '''know''' your own POV is NPOV, what's there to learn? [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 18:16, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::::::That's a level of arrogance that might not help in discussions. How can you know your POV is NPOV without getting a consensus. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 18:20, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::I have found stout beer has a similar effect. [[User:Mr Christopher|Mr Christopher]] 23:36, 13 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::And it has all the nutrients for strength and stamina. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 18:20, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
 
I'll buy you one if you can make the article better.... 'course i may have to drink it for you too..... [[User:Petesmiles|Petesmiles]] 01:41, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::Well, it's better now than last november, when it simply stated that "A '''marriage''' is a relationship between a man and a woman, usually recognized by civil authority and/or bound by the religious beliefs of the participants." <sup>[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marriage&oldid=86396495]</sup> -- [[User talk:Ec5618|Ec5618]] 14:40, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::::That is much worse than the stuff going on here. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 18:20, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::: i fail to see how the present machinations are better than that. (but it is a pretty bad lead sentence.) [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 18:16, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
 
== Scope (FAC) ==
 
Piotrus raised the issue that the article didn't cover the attitude to ID outside of the US, the UK and AUS. While I think this may really be something for the [[intelligent design movement]] article, offhand I can't think of much to say about ID outside of these three countries (there's the guy in Turkey, but I can't say I have read much about a movement there. Surely there is an impact in other countries, via the internet if nothing else, but how much documentation is there of any of this? [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 14:06, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
:There was an article in ''le Monde'' a couple of years ago, but it was about one presentation which failed to do anything but amuse the French. [[User:KillerChihuahua|KillerChihuahua]]<sup>[[User talk:KillerChihuahua|?!?]]</sup> 14:16, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::I suppose there's this story [http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/news/2007/XX/17_islamic_creationism_in_france_2_5_2007.asp] [http://www.pandasthumb.org/archives/2007/02/harun_yahya_spa.html] [http://www.arn.org/blogs/index.php/2007/02/04/] (second story) - I had forgotten about it. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 14:24, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:Ok, here's something in Germany [http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,1829644,00.html], Turkey [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15857761/], Canada [http://www.canada.com/topics/news/politics/story.html?id=41b6ac85-1af3-44ab-98ea-7adfc5913694&k=9216], some weird creationism from Poland [http://www.pandasthumb.org/archives/2006/10/22-week/#e002661]... So how do we use this in a way that's ''proportionate''? [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 14:35, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
::I would suggest the global influence go under the inteligent design movement and not this article. Only because the primary focus on this article seems to be ID itself. Perhaps the movment article needs to be broadened. [[User:Mr Christopher|Mr Christopher]] 15:01, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::I perked up at the link to Canada, but having read the article I'm not sure it applies. It appears that a social science funding organization used some odd wording in rejecting a grant application and the researcher in question jumped on them for it. I don't really see any indication that his claim is correct, that the organization in question is harboring ID proponents. Mountain? Molehill? YOU be da judge! [[User:Maury Markowitz|Maury]] 15:45, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::::Actually I find it hard to believe that there isn't an active ID community in Canada - after all, the DI is based in Seattle, which is practically a suburb of Vancouver, at least on a world map. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 16:28, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
<reduce indent> I used to live in Seattle and they would not agree with you on the staturs of who is a suburb of who :-) And Canadians don't often import US styled religious extreemism (teaching creationism as science). [[User:Mr Christopher|Mr Christopher]] 16:51, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:Next you'll be saying that Detroit isn't a suburb of Windsor. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 18:50, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
 
== Link to ResearchID.org ==
Attention admins at this page: I wanted to bring it to your attention that [http://www.researchintelligentdesign.org ResearchID.org] has a hyperlink under "ID perspectives" on this article.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligent_design#ID_perspectives], and that this may be a violation of Wikipedia standards of notoriety. I want the admins here to be aware that I, the founder of ResearchID.org, had nothing to do with this, and that to my knowledge this link addition did not originate from our admins or members. Please take any necessary actions in accord with Wikipedia standards of notoriety.
 
Of course, I do not mind that ResearchID.org is linked on the ID article. And I think that ResearchID.org has more potential than some of the sites listed. I must also add that, beyond any doubt in my own mind, ResearchID.org is much more important to the topic of ID than the link to the page on the Jehovah's Witnesses Official Web Site.
 
I do not think we have attained the level of notoriety necessary to be linked here YET. Most importantly, I do not want to give the appearance, even for a moment, that we at ResearchID.org have acted inappropriately towards this ID article, or Wikipedia, in any way. --[[User:JosephCCampana|Joseph &quot;Joey&quot; C. Campana]] 14:44, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
:I don't recall anyone complaining about that site being linked under "ID persepctives". ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 16:55, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
::Just to clarify a potential area of confusion here - the standards for inclusion as an external link are at [[WP:EL]], and are fairly relaxed; I don't see any obvious reason why ResearchID might fail them, as it seems (on a cursory examination, admittedly) to have "a substantial history of stability and a substantial number of editors." Joseph might be worried about the much stricter standards of [[WP:WEB]], but those are for articles ''about'' individual websites, not merely articles which ''reference'' websites. [[User:Tevildo|Tevildo]] 20:58, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::: The website appears to have 78 active members[http://www.researchintelligentdesign.org/wiki/Special:AWCTopTen]. I don't see much of a reason to include it at this time. [[User:JoshuaZ|JoshuaZ]] 21:01, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
::::Well, maybe 78 users is nothing to sneeze at. My understanding is the average readership for blogs across the entire web is, when rounded off to the nearest whole number, a whopping one-reader-per-blog. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 21:30, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::::::Yeah, but the author doesn't count. ;) [[User:Jim62sch|<font face="Times New Roman" color="FF2400">&#0149;Jim</font><font face="Times New Roman" color="F4C430">62</font><font face="Times New Roman" color="000000">sch&#0149;</font>]] 22:20, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
FM seems to be M.I.A., maybe he'll chime in later. Back to it, so in determining the permanency of the link to ResearchID.org, it seems that there are a two for inclusion of the link, one against. (I’m not counting my own vote.) How does that pan out as far as making a decision? Do we need more votes? --[[User:JosephCCampana|Joseph &quot;Joey&quot; C. Campana]] 16:07, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
:I think it's safe to say that this particular link isn't a controversial issue. My comment above just expresses my view that we're not ''obliged'' to remove it under the terms of WP:EL; I wouldn't say that I actively want to keep it. However, if anyone actively wants to remove it, then I'm sure its departure wouldn't cause a fuss. [[User:Tevildo|Tevildo]] 22:37, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::I think we ought to keep it. WP is supposed to be a useful source of information, including its links, and frankly I find the links in WP very useful. WP can function like an annotated google search, which is extremely convenient, although I know that is not the intent of WP. I do not really care about the WP intent, what I care about is usefulness, and it is useful to include links like [http://www.researchintelligentdesign.org ResearchID.org].--[[User:Filll|Filll]] 00:39, 16 February 2007 (UTC)
:::With all that has been said here, it would seem that the link to ResearchID.org is a permissible (but not-yet-having-enough-notoriety to be strictly permanent) inclusion in the list of links. Given this, would anyone object to me changing the label of the link from "Research Intelligent Design" to "ResearchID.org"? --[[User:JosephCCampana|Joseph &quot;Joey&quot; C. Campana]] 16:25, 16 February 2007 (UTC)
::::I have heard no objections here for two days now, so I will change the link label to show "ResearchID.org" --[[User:JosephCCampana|Joseph &quot;Joey&quot; C. Campana]] 18:18, 18 February 2007 (UTC)
 
== Wider focus ==
 
[http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/rncse_content/vol19/8371_cloning_creationism_in_turkey_12_30_1899.asp This website] is full of information on ID in Turkey, and would help us have more of a whole-world perspective. [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 10:33, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:This does not appear to be ID per se, but creationism generally. ID is primarily an issue in the United States, an attempt to bypass the [[Establishment Clause]] of the First amendment, and in particular the 1987 decision [[Edwards v. Aguilard]]. The material put forward by the NCSE in that link would be more appropriate to note in [[creationism]], the [[creation-evolution debate]], or other similar article, or alternately in a separate topic fork linked to from such an article. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 12:59, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::Actually Edis makes the point that he is surprised that there isn't more ID in Islamic creationism, because Islam isn't hamstrung by a Genesis narrative. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 14:41, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::This is a very interesting article, and I would recommend it to everyone.--[[User:Filll|Filll]] 01:10, 16 February 2007 (UTC)
 
== Kansas School Board ==
I note that the KSB has now voted to remove ID from the curriculum - which article is best for noting these kind of changes?
 
BTW thanks to whoever posted the link to the Marriage article discussion - now I've got something else to amuse myself reading during the slack moments at work (although nothing yet tops the Death Star discussion IMHO) [[User:Tomandlu|Tomandlu]] 16:39, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:This spot comes to mine [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligent_design_in_politics#2005_Kansas_evolution_hearings Kansas evolution hearings]] [[User:Mr Christopher|Mr Christopher]] 16:57, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:: many tnx - article updated.... [[User:Tomandlu|Tomandlu]] 17:20, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
 
== BTW, i'm reading ... ==
 
... a book by [[Owen Gingerich]], an astronomer, Harvard prof, and theist, called ''"God's Universe"'' that takes issue with both the Dawkins's and the DIers (not to be confused with IDers). i think that the article injects POV when it insists that any present day scientist who believes in "design" is part of or associates with or is even sympathetic to the DI. some scientists accept, ''on a philosophical level'' the concept of "design", yet still reject both the scientific assertions and the political positions (regarding education, the bogus "teach the controversy" thing) of the DI.
 
just something to think about. i have no intention of attacking this article. but my experience here and with [[Fine-tuned universe]] is that there is a little bit of systemic bias that causes the article to misrepresent what some people are saying. [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 18:24, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
 
 
:But intelligent design isn't a simple argument for the concept of design, but that such design is scientifically demonstrable. That's what this article is about. And, as far as I can tell, all of the major proponents of this idea are associated with the DI. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 18:35, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::: there have been some hijacking of terminology. it's not the first time "Christian" "Fundamentalists" (both quotes are independently meaningful) have hijacked perfectly good terms and turned them into excrement. [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 02:58, 16 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:Since I'm too lazy to read the whole article trying to find it, r b-j, could you please point out where the article "insists that any present day scientist who believes in "design" is part of or associates with or is even sympathetic to the DI." .. ? ...... [[User:Dave souza|dave souza]], [[User talk:Dave souza|talk]] 21:36, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::: ''"... its leading proponents, '''all''' of whom are affiliated with the Discovery Institute..."'' can't this be toned down to "most", or better yet, can there be something in the lead that differentiates the common theistic [[Teleological argument]] from the DI crap? [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 02:58, 16 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::There are many "design" and "teleological" arguments that have floated around for centuries. But the version called "intelligent design", aside from a very few historical antecedants, is almost exclusively associated with the DI. I bet [[[[Owen Gingerich]] does not call his ideas "intelligent design" in his book, does he?--[[User:Filll|Filll]] 01:14, 16 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::: he '''does''' but with a small ''"i"'' and a small ''"d"''. he says that the DI guys are basically full of crap (my interpretation) and that, from the other end, it's not just bad science but bad theology (but he qualifies himself as an ''amateur'' theologian). he basically says that the mindless probabilistic models that create complicated molecules for life are, by themselves, not persuasive (P = 10<sup>-321</sup>) and supports the common [[Teleological argument|teleological explanation]] for the existence of such stuff. [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 02:20, 16 February 2007 (UTC)
 
==the sound of a back fire==
 
It seems a Texas law maker was sending around a letter to other Texas law makers promoting teaching creationism/intelligent design and dogging evolution in Texas public schools. He failed to actually read some of the propaganda he was distributing and it turns out one was promoting the idea that Jews are behind evolution and its a Jewish scheme to undermine Christianity ('''"The memo points to "indisputable evidence" that "evolution science has a very specific religious agenda" and refers readers to a Web site that asserts the universe revolves around the earth. It also suggests that Jewish physicists are part of the force behind a "centuries-old conspiracy" to destroy the Christian teachings of Earth's origins."''') This is one of those many "whoopsie" moments we see amongst the ID supporting politicians. Anyhow, I thought it was an yet another interesting example of how many ID advocates don't really understand or bother to read what it is they are advocating. Read it [http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-chisum_15tex.ART.State.Edition1.2063416.html here]. [[User:Mr Christopher|Mr Christopher]] 20:12, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
 
: [[Warren Chisum]], the lawmaker in question seems to be more of a creationist than an IDer so I'm not sure how relevant it is here. Anyways, I already added a note in his article about it. Feel free to expand it, since I was very brief. [[User:JoshuaZ|JoshuaZ]] 20:22, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::Here is where it all started (from yesterday) [http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-evolution_14tex.ART.State.Edition1.298e1cb.html Memo: Stop teaching evolution] '''House Appropriations Committee Chairman Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, used House operations Tuesday to deliver a memo from Georgia state Rep. Ben Bridges. The memo assails what it calls "the evolution monopoly in the schools." Mr. Bridges' memo claims that teaching evolution amounts to indoctrinating students in an ancient Jewish sect's beliefs....''' And you're right, it may make a better home in the [[evolution]] article or [[creationism]] or even [[blunders]]. :-) [[User:Mr Christopher|Mr Christopher]] 20:37, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::[[creation-evolution controversy]] maybe? I enjoyed his "don't blame me, I was doing it as a favour for a friend"... [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 20:53, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::::Ok, I am an idiot or something, I cannot find Ben Bridge's article. Did anyone add this? The [http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/georgia/entries/2007/02/15/antievolution_m.html AJC link] is probably better for his update. [[User:KillerChihuahua|KillerChihuahua]]<sup>[[User talk:KillerChihuahua|?!?]]</sup> 21:29, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
::::: I dont think Bridges has one yet. Not surprising since he is a state rep. [[User:JoshuaZ|JoshuaZ]] 01:09, 16 February 2007 (UTC)
 
This is great amazing stuff. Go check out the website for yourselve at [http://www.fixedearth.com/]. I am stunned and speechless. Wow.--[[User:Filll|Filll]] 01:31, 16 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:Now I'm officially sickened by these people. So Chisum is either stupid or a racist. Good job Texas. You really know how to pick those politicians of yours. OK, you did give us LBJ. And I hope maybe some of you understand when I fear these Christian Taliban members represented by Creationists. The cultural memory of 2000 years of hatred of Jews by some Christians seems to have not evolved. Great. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 02:44, 16 February 2007 (UTC)
 
: A reminder that this page is for discussing article content and how to improve the article, not vent our opinions about politicians. [[User:JoshuaZ|JoshuaZ]] 02:48, 16 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::Hmmmmm. OK, sure, let's put this right in this article to remind everyone of the hatred they have. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 02:54, 16 February 2007 (UTC)
:::It should go somewhere, but to put it into one of the main articles is POV, because it implies that most creationists think this way, for which there is no evidence. Indeed, the US Christian religious right tends to support Judaism for various doctrinal reasons of their own. The place to use it is on the article for the individuals who used it. If the State Senator doesn't have a WP yet, now he will deserve one. Let one's opponents be the fools. Over-reacting makes them feel righteous. '''[[User:DGG|DGG]]''' 05:33, 16 February 2007 (UTC)
 
I agree with the first part, that to put it in a main article without a neutral third party referencing it is probably POV. On the Christian support for Judaism, that is an article I would like to read. It puzzles me. In some cases I suspect many right wing talk show hosts who happen to be Jewish are part of the puzzle. In other cases, I think the Christians are just happy that the Jews who do not accept Christs are instrumental in bringing about the end times. On the last part, I caution you (personally) that your motives could be better; rather than worrying about how inclusion would affect your intellectual opponenants, you should be more focused on NPOV and RS, regardlesss of how your intellectual opponents may take advantage. You should not fear intellectual honesty (not that you do), but should work toward it. [[User:StudyAndBeWise|StudyAndBeWise]] 06:24, 16 February 2007 (UTC)
::AGF. The message was not that my opponents are or will be fools, but that my friends should not heedlessly put themselves in the position of looking a little foolish themselves. I think that the opponents of evolution show great restraint in not complaining about some of the language on this talk page. 06:15, 17 February 2007 (UTC)'''[[User:DGG|DGG]]''' 06:24, 17 February 2007 (UTC)
:This material and similar material belongs someplace, but not necessarily here. Definitely on the politician's pages if they have them. Maybe a new article? I notice that there are a few fundamentalist Christian sects ([[dominionism]] and some others) that favor supporting Israel because they hope it will bring about Argmageddon and the Rapture and other assorted nonsense that mostly came out of a fevered dream of a young girl sick in bed in the early 1800s. And there is a branch of Shiites (including Iranian President [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]]) that hopes to have some sort of cataclysm to bring about the coming of the 12th Imam. Are there other religious sects that have a sort of "paradise will result if we can bring about a disasterous end of the world" philosophy?--[[User:Filll|Filll]] 14:20, 16 February 2007 (UTC)
 
: Again, it has already been added to the [[Warren Chisum]] page. [[User:JoshuaZ|JoshuaZ]] 17:00, 16 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::FYI [http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/012504.php]; adds some more context. Apparently Bridges and Hall were involved in trying to ban the teaching of evolution in GA in 2005. Which reminds me...do we have an article on the GA textbook disclaimer thing? [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 18:16, 16 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::It's here: [[Selman v. Cobb County School District]]. [[User:151.151.21.99|151.151.21.99]] 19:35, 16 February 2007 (UTC)
 
==New AfD==
 
[[Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Level of support for evolution]] Please comment. --[[User:ScienceApologist|ScienceApologist]] 19:43, 16 February 2007 (UTC)
::The decision there was that this article was ''keep'' '''[[User:DGG|DGG]]''' 21:30, 18 February 2007 (UTC)
:::Huh? I've no objection to keeping or deleting. But this has only been under discussion for two days, and does not appear to properly be a candidate for a "speedy keep". There were many opinions expressed thus far on both sides of that issue. Why do admins so often make these kinds of hasty judgments without allowing the community the full reasonable range of their input?? ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 21:40, 18 February 2007 (UTC)
:::::My point had to do with the sometimes premature implementation of "speedy keep" prior to the 7-day minimum normally alloted for community discussion. I just ran across an instance of this happening at [[Category_talk:Articles_with_unsourced_statements#This_category_should_not_even_be_here,_AFAICS|Category:Articles with unsourced statements]]. But I see the discussion is still ongoing in this instance-- sorry, I took it as closed based on DGG's comment above. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 23:55, 18 February 2007 (UTC)
:::: It's a clear keep - the article may not be entirely encyclopaedic, but it's well written and well researched. Any other decision would have been pedantic IMHO. [[User:Tomandlu|Tomandlu]] 22:50, 18 February 2007 (UTC)
::::The discussion still looks live, as of now: no indication of a decision or of the discussion being archived. .. [[User:Dave souza|dave souza]], [[User talk:Dave souza|talk]] 23:01, 18 February 2007 (UTC)
* '''I need to apologize here,''' -this AfD is still live--I was judging by the support that some of the more prominent evolutionists have given this article. Anyway let me also mention the debate on [[Creation according to Genesis]] which is also still open. '''[[User:DGG|DGG]]''' 01:22, 19 February 2007 (UTC)
 
== Status of Intelligent Design elsewhere ==
 
I've added a section on "Status of Intelligent Design elsewhere" to deal with a suggestion in the Featured Article candidacy, but it could use a bit more work. Please help. Also, what do you think of temporarily removing the section on Intelligence to the talk page, so that we can work on it without it delaying the FA? [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 05:36, 18 February 2007 (UTC)
:I adjusted this material to include a treatment of the international status generally, with subsections on UK, Australia, and "other nations". I left the material added by Adam untouched except for the resectioning [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Intelligent_design&diff=prev&oldid=109009771 here]. This all takes into consideration, of course, that ID is primarily a response to the 1987 US Supreme Court decision [[Edwards v. Aguilard]]. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 05:55, 18 February 2007 (UTC)
Aye, understood. But we were asked by an FA contributor to include more on ID outside of the english-speaking world, and, well, this is what I could find and source. He made a couple suggestions, but they were actually Creationists - I'm going by the "If they say it's ID, it is, else, no" method, which seems the only sane way to judge without OR. [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 09:38, 18 February 2007 (UTC)
::Adam, I would point out to a user advocating a non-US-centric treatment as an expectation for this article, that the relevant information is already in the article. “Intelligent design” is a response to [[Edwards v. Aguilard]] (U.S. Supr. Ct., 1987), which prevented U.S. states from enacting legislation to teach [[creation science]] or [[creationism]] in the publlic schools, while allowing that "teaching a variety of scientific theories about the origins of humankind to school children might be validly done with the clear secular intent of enhancing the effectiveness of science instruction." Within two to three years of this decision, the intelligent design movement had begun to publish its first books ([[Charles Thaxton]]’s ''[[Of Pandas and People]],'' which changed uses of the word “creationism” to the words “intelligent design”, published in 1989; and [[Phillip E. Johnson]]’s book ''[[Darwin on Trial]]'', published in 1991, with the [[Discovery Institute]] founded in 1990, etc.). ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 16:47, 18 February 2007 (UTC)
:::True. [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 17:37, 18 February 2007 (UTC)
:Is there any link between the [[Letizia Moratti]] affair and ID or ID proponents? Or was it simple creationism? [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 15:15, 18 February 2007 (UTC)
::According to [http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v444/n7118/full/444406a.html "Anti-evolutionists raise their profile in Europe"] in the journal Nature, she removed evolution from the curriculum because it "promoted materialism". That's more of a Creationist line. [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 17:45, 18 February 2007 (UTC)
:::"Materialism" is a key word for the whole DI CSC/wedge strategy, so it works as well for ID as other creationism. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 02:03, 19 February 2007 (UTC)
 
Starting to get diminishing returns, but: is this notable? http://www.ideacenter.org/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/784 [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 17:50, 18 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:Interesting find, but a 3.5-year-old press release, noting the first non-US IDEA club isn't really evidence of great deeds, especially given the final line: ''For more information about the IDEA Club at Braeside High School in Nairobi, Kenya, please contact Caleb O. Seda at .'' Hmm...when I type "." into the address line of Thunderbird, nothing happens. Is it a bug in my software? :) [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 04:44, 19 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::Looks like Seda has moved up in the world [http://www.maxyellowpages.com/foreign_importers_buyers/imitation_artificial_fashion_jewellery] [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 04:53, 19 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:Full list of international clubs [http://www.ideacenter.org/clubs/locations.php] - one in Kenya (links to press release), one in the Philipines (press release + dead link), one in Ukraine (link leads back to "About student clubs"), '''''one''''' in Canada, which has a live website which asks you to stay tuned for summer events. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 04:53, 19 February 2007 (UTC)
 
Found another definite hit: [http://www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=19570&sec=4&con=44] - Unfortunately, I feel just now like my head's packed with cotton wool and can do nothing about it. [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 04:27, 19 February 2007 (UTC)
 
== Condensing footnotes ==
 
Zleitzen suggested condensing some of the footnotes down in the lead, into single references (except, of course, the ones that are cited more than once. It seems reasonable, per readability. Any objections? [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 21:23, 19 February 2007 (UTC)
:I fully support this. [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 06:28, 20 February 2007 (UTC)
 
== The criticism that anti-evolutionists deny the omniscience of God ==
 
The article includes many criticisms of ID from a scientific perspective. It would benefit from a semantic criticism. The quote "undirected process such as natural selection" is a semantic confusion between "undirected" and "randomly directed". Further the semantics actually lead to a theological criticism which in light of the controvecy the article would also benefit from including. The criticism in full:
 
Natural selection does not deny that creation is directed. It proposes a mechanism by which random events interact to create. The key failure of those who reject natural selection is their failure to grasp what is meant by the term "random". A random sequence of events is one whose information content is infinite. God being omniscient is quite capable of infinite knowledge of an event. Humans on the other hand cannot predict the outcome of a random event because that would require them to be omniscient. Thus random events are distinguished from events that have finite information content, i.e. those knowable by humans.
 
By rejecting the role that randomness plays in creation, anti-evolutionists are claiming that creation takes place through events that only contain finite information and are thus knowable by individuals. Thus they deny the need for an omniscient presence in the process all together.
 
In other words, not only are the anti-evolutionists not proposing empirical science they are, through their lack of understanding, arguing against the need for an omniscient, omnipresent God. <small>—The preceding [[Wikipedia:Sign your posts on talk pages|unsigned]] comment was added by [[Special:Contributions/82.203.4.2|82.203.4.2]] ([[User talk:82.203.4.2|talk]]) 15:01, 22 February 2007 (UTC).</small><!-- HagermanBot Auto-Unsigned -->
 
:Can you cite an authority who wrote something to that effect? —[[User:xyzzy_n|xyzzy]]<sub>[[User talk:xyzzy_n|n]]</sub> 20:17, 22 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::There might be references we could find that demonstrate that the God advocated by creationists and Intelligent design advocates is a weak and error prone bumbler. The reason they do this however is a frantic desire for God to be understandable and personally involved in day to day events. However, I am not sure that this discussion belongs in this article.--[[User:Filll|Filll]] 00:07, 23 February 2007 (UTC)
 
== do not delete parts of this discussion page please ==
 
When discussion pages need to be archived, or something really, really, really, and very, inappropriate is posted here, an admin can be called upon to properly format the page. Otherwise, discussion pages are add only. [[User:Jerimee|Jerimee]] 15:44, 22 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:What policy says that? [[User:151.151.73.166|151.151.73.166]] 22:13, 22 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:Greetings, Jeremee. My earlier deletion (reverted by Orangemarlin) was prompted by the sentence above: "Any attempts at trolling, using this page as a soapbox, or making personal attacks may be deleted at any time." The section I deleted was not dealing with the article, it dealt with a general debate of the topic.
 
:Now, if the community prefers that such deletions be done only by admins, that's fine--but if that is the case, the "Please read before starting" box needs to be changed. [[User:Justin Eiler|Justin Eiler]] 22:25, 22 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::There's nothing that says that Justin can't archive sections which appear non-productive. On the other hand, I'm not sure that the issue raised ''is'' non-productive - the poster ''seems'' to be asking about is about religious criticisms of ID - the whole "not only bad science, but also bad theology" line (now I wish I could remember who that came from). [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 23:58, 22 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::Um, actually I didn't archive that section, I deleted it. Again, if that's a problem, the Please Read box probably needs to be updated. [[User:Justin Eiler|Justin Eiler]] 00:12, 23 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::::"Archived in the page history" ;) - that's the correct way to archive trolling (not that I think this was, but anyway...) [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 00:51, 23 February 2007 (UTC)
 
==Astonishment at the first phrase of the article==
 
"Intelligent design is an argument for the existence of God..." sayeth Wikipedia. Really? I thought that was the [[teleological argument]]. Intelligent design is a claim that an "intelligence" created the universe "by design". The creationists who advocate it are careful to keep the door open a crack so that it isn't just about proving God's existence. --[[User:71.57.90.96|71.57.90.96]] 10:31, 23 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:I'd agree that the phrasing is a little dogmatic (although essentially true). How about "Intelligent design, whenever examined by US courts, has been found to be an argument for the existence of God..."? [[User:Tomandlu|Tomandlu]] 10:51, 23 February 2007 (UTC)
 
Exactamundo! Any credibiity this aricle may have had is overshadowed by that whopper at its very beginning.{{unsigned|216.52.235.101}}
 
:: How about "Intelligent Design is an attempt by certain US religous institutions to circumvent various court rulings that prevent teaching Creationism in US science classes?" That seems to be a pretty accurate summary. [[User:SheffieldSteel|SheffieldSteel]] 00:54, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::Or: "'''Intelligent design''' is a legal strategy specifically designed to circumvent the U.S. Supreme Court's 1987 ruling in [[Edwards v. Aguilard]], which prevented teaching [[creationism]] as an alternative to [[evolution]] in public school science classes.". It could give the whole article a fresh start-- a bit more honest and direct about the verified facts. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 01:35, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::: all of these things are true (in my opinion), but why not let people say what they mean (and pick it apart later)? the lead sentence is nearly inflammatory anti-ID POV. is it not obvious? (as obvious that ID as science is a load of crap?) [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 05:25, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::::No it is not obvious, and it is not solely a personal POV of any of the participants in this page. What it is is thoroughly verified by [[WP:reliable sources]] in the scientific and legal communities. This article has been discussed more thoroughly than nearly any article on the wiki. It is highly restrained in its judgments, thouroughly sourced with nearly 150 footnotes, and has been repeatedly gone over by numerous participants with an exteremely fine-toothed comb. The term "intelligent design" was only evident in modern discourse after [[Charles Thaxton]] changed roughly a hundred instances of the word "creationism" to "intelligent design" in a later draft of the 1989 book ''[[Of Pandas and People]]''. This, and the events that followed, were in direct response to the Supreme Court decision [[Edwards v. Aguilard]]. The court in [[Kitzmiller v. Dover]] ruled that it was ''not'' science'' but instead an [[teleological argument|argument for the existence of God]], and therefore could ''not'' be taught as an alternative to evolution in public school science classes in the US. The opening statement, and indeed the entire article, is quite consistent with the verified sources concerning the subject. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 05:49, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
 
:::::: Kenosis, even though it is my judgement as well that ID is, in the final analysis, a Teleological argument, and is not science. and i am completely sympathetic with detractors that are alarmed that they want to put this in the science or biology classroom, it is really not good faith to define a person or a group of people, not as they define themselves, but in a negative analysis of them. i may think that Republicans are crooks and hypocrites (and i ''do'' in most cases), but to go to the article on the [[Republican party]] and define in the lead that it is the party of crooks and hypocrites (rather than the party that supports less government, strong military, free enterprise, family values, whatever) is obviously POV. '''let people define for themselves who they say they are.''' THEN deconstruct it, if the evidence allows (which it does, in my opinion). [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 05:53, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
:::::::Personally I agreed with earlier versions of the article, but this was changed by a fairly strong consensus in recent months, which decided to "cut right to the chase", so to speak. If the article is to read differently then it should be re-consensused. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 06:03, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
I'm open to revision, but think the one suggested today was a poor choice of quote, and that it needs a bit more attention paid to the rest of the paragraph after the addition of the quote, so that it doesn't keep repeating itself. Perhaps we could jump between the two extremes - mention the most pro-ID definition we can find, followed immediately by Edwards vs Aguilard? That might be a bit much, of course
Remember, though, that ideally the first sentence should stand on its own as a fair assessment of the whole. [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 07:00, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
: just say, very briefly and concisely, what IDers say that ID is (they've coined the term, they get to define the term they've coined otherwise i'm gonna go define Republicans as lying stinking bastards - but somehow, i don't think that edit would stick). and then, immediately say what science and/or the courts or whatever say that ID is. that will capture the controversy (not in science, there is no controversy there, but in the overall political millue) in a nutshell. [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 07:17, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
::Agreed, but if we spend a little time selecting quotes, we'll probably hit consensus faster. Anyway, the front page is hard to edit with all those reference tags interrupting the flow, so we'll save a lot of grief by planning it out here. So... suggested quotes? [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 07:29, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:: I wouldn;t object to some version of RtG's that started as "according to its proponents...", semicolon, and then the part about it being an argument for the existence of God. Or some similar arrangedment. [[User:JoshuaZ|JoshuaZ]] 07:32, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
"The defining purpose of the IDM is to advance the argument that neo-Darwinism has failed to explain the origin of the highly complex information systems and structures of living organisms, from the first cells to new body plans. This makes it reasonable to infer that the evidence of biology, if not the philosophy that dominates this science, suggests the need to consider that some intelligent cause may have played an indispensable role in the origin and development of life." [http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=3914&program=DI%20Main%20Page%20-%20Article&callingPage=discoMainPage]
 
Do you think that "Intelligent design is an attack on evolution that claims it is insufficient to explain the origin of complex information in biology" is a fair summary? [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 07:37, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
 
However the first line is exactly phrased, it should somehow make clear that intelligent design is a religious argument, which is the same as the [[teleological argument]] in all but name, that it is scientifically bogus, and yet indicate that the distinction between it and the teleological argument is meant to get around existing US law against teaching creationalism in public schools. [[User:Wikipediatoperfection|Wikipediatoperfection]] 08:15, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
 
== Huzzah! FA! ==
 
Great work, everyone! Only wish I had done more - my role in the FA is miniscule. [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 13:26, 23 February 2007 (UTC)
:Congratulations and well done all – from someone whose role in the FA was nil, since y'all seem to be doing pretty well here without my less well informed attention. The article's been excellent for a long time, and recent changes have made modest but useful improvements. ... [[User:Dave souza|dave souza]], [[User talk:Dave souza|talk]] 09:37, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::Well done! That's excellent work. I'd long ago given up on it ever being possible (despite the article's quality), so am another negligible contributor. It certainly should give hope to editors working on similarly controversial subjects. Again - fantastic! --[[User:Plumbago|Plumbago]] 09:55, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::I made precisely one edit, so I didn't do much. It's hard to edit something that is so disgusting to me personally. But it really is a great article, if you want to know how the anti-science fringe thinks. I'm curious as to why it is categorized under FA as "Philosophy." Anyone have any ideas? [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 17:51, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
==Page protected==
I'm seeing a lot of reverting here, so I've protected to give people a break and time to work on a compromise. Let me know when you're ready to start editing again. [[User:SlimVirgin|SlimVirgin]] <sup><font color="Purple">[[User_talk:SlimVirgin|(talk)]]</font></sup> 07:24, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:My vote is for the prior consensus header using the definition of ID from the federal court. Using a definition from a proponent of ID is problematic, because they say one thing to the general public and a different thing to their religious supporters. -- [[User:Cat Whisperer|Cat Whisperer]] 12:51, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
::Without wanting to tar the few intelligent creationists we have about as editors, I have to say I don't think this is terribly problematic with a little research, because, frankly, the leading ID proponents aren't very good at keeping their mouths shut about what they're doing.
::This holds true for rather a lot of creationism. For instance, I was working on the [[Baraminology]] article. Here's one of the references:
::Robinson and Cavanaugh, [http://www.creationresearch.org/crsq/abstracts/sum34_4.html A Quantitative Approach to Baraminology With Examples from the Catarrhine Primates]. ''...We have found that baraminic distances based on hemoglobin amino acid sequences, 12S-rRNA sequences, and chromosomal data were largely ineffective for identifying the Human holobaramin. Baraminic distances based on ecological and morphological characters, however, were quite reliable for distinguishing humans from nonhuman primates.'' See also [http://home.austarnet.com.au/stear/baraminology_ta.htm A Review of Friar, W. (2000): Baraminology - Classification of Created Organisms.]
::This is an outright confession to choosing data after the fact. (With secondary reference to make it clear it's not OR, as others have made the same interpretations of such things.) [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 13:22, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
Similarly - I did post this above, but...
 
"The defining purpose of the IDM is to advance the argument that neo-Darwinism has failed to explain the origin of the highly complex information systems and structures of living organisms, from the first cells to new body plans. This makes it reasonable to infer that the evidence of biology, if not the philosophy that dominates this science, suggests the need to consider that some intelligent cause may have played an indispensable role in the origin and development of life." [http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=3914&program=DI%20Main%20Page%20-%20Article&callingPage=discoMainPage]
 
Seems to say, in summary, "Intelligent design is an attack on evolution that claims it is insufficient to explain the origin of complex information in biology." If this is considered a fair summary, we can probably use it without problems. [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 07:37, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:[[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam]] and [[User:Glen S|Glen]] both feel that full protection isn't necessary, so I've unprotected. Let me know if you need full or semi-protection again. Cheers, [[User:SlimVirgin|SlimVirgin]] <sup><font color="Purple">[[User_talk:SlimVirgin|(talk)]]</font></sup> 14:42, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
==What is it?==
 
Intro:
 
:'''Intelligent design''' is an [[Teleological_argument|argument for the existence of a God]]
 
I would say rather:
*'''Intelligent design''' (ID) is an alternative explanation for [[biological evolution]] which incorporates the [[teleological argument]] that [[God]] or a similar being must have [[Intelligent Designer|designed]] the various forms of life observed on earth, from [[fossil]]s to modern times.
 
::It's not an alternative explanation for Evolution. It is a religious dogma that has nothing to do with [[Evolution]], biological notwithstanding. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 17:49, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::We need a source for that. For example:
:::*Prof. Charles A. Zebra of Michigan University wrote, "Intelligent Design is a religious dogma that has nothing to do with evolution" {{cn}}
 
::::I guess I never knew how to put verifiable statements in Wikipedia. Thank you for your teaching assistance. By the way, I don't want the intro changed, you're the one who wants to put in an explanation of how ID has something to do with science. I was just telling you that ID is religion. Therefore, the original intro makes complete sense. Your stuff is unverifiable garbage. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 19:57, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
We need to mention straight off that ID posits a "designer". I assume it's [[God]], as do virtually all ID opponents. The quibble about whether it "might be something else" has a whole article of its own: [[Intelligent Designer]]!
 
::I don't care, since ID is bogus anyways. If you want to write aliens did it, it doesn't make it nothing else but pseudoscience.[[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 17:49, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::To be sure, the intro should 'wedge in' the word "[[pseudoscience]]", which I think it already does. --[[User:Ed Poor|Uncle Ed]] 18:09, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::::It is pseudoscience. No need to wedge in anything. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 19:58, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
Then I would add:
*ID is at adds with modern biology because it argues that science should not confine its search for causes to material forces in the material world. It insists that, unlike the force of gravity (which keeps the planets in the solar system moving like clockwork {{cn|needed for this simile}}) major changes in [[common descent|descended forms]] are too complex to have "evolved" through "random" forces such as mutation. It specifically denies that [[natural selection]] can create new species.{{cn}}
 
::ID adds nothing to modern biology. Seeking supernatural causes for a natural process is still pseudoscience. Intelligent Design should be described as a religious dogma (as it is in the current article), and not imply nor infer that it is a real science. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 17:49, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::This needs a source, something like:
:::*Ima Brayne, research biochemist at Taylor University, wrote, "Intelligent Design adds nothing to modern biology." {{cn}}
 
::::Once again, I appreciate your skills in teaching me the ins and outs on how to edit Wikipedia. However, once again, I don't want anything changed. You do. I was merely refuting your desire to convert ID into something that it is not. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 19:59, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
 
:::A source for the supernatural objection would be good, too. Even a whole section, somewhere further down in the body of the article, since it touches on one of ID's main points. I'd like to see a quote like this:
:::*Jerome Weinerberger of the Walker Plank Institute wrote, "It is pseudoscientific to seek supernatural causes for any natural process." {{cn}}
:::But does the article specifically call ID "religious dogma" or merely say that certain US courts ruled that it is part and parcel of Creationism? (Or do you see that as the same thing?) --[[User:Ed Poor|Uncle Ed]] 18:09, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
After that, the usual reply by scientists and jurists should follow:
*Scientists dismiss ID out of hand as [[pseudoscience]] because (1) it's not falsifiable and (2) science does not study the supernatural.
 
::Fine. Don't care. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 17:49, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::So that part can go in? --[[User:Ed Poor|Uncle Ed]] 18:09, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
*US courts have ruled that ID is a form of Creationism and thus does not merit "equal time" in science classes.
 
::I thought the article says that, right in the first paragraph. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 17:49, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::Well, sure, it does, but not in so many words. I'd want to use the phrase ''equal time'' because that references the [[Wedge Strategy]], which wants to get the Creationist idea of "maybe God made them" '''grounds''' or '''standing''' in science class. --[[User:Ed Poor|Uncle Ed]] 18:09, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
I would venture to say that my proposed intro is both factually correct and neutral. I might be a mite off in details, but the main points I make are agreed to by ID proponents and ID opponents alike. Moreover, my proposed intro does not say that either side is right, while carefully avoiding any hint of [[Wikipedia:Undue weight]].
 
Note that ID is an "attack on" or "response to" evolution. The intro should indicate clearly that it is view espoused by a tiny minority. Perhaps we should add that, amoung bioligists, it is supported by only 0.2% (or whatever the figure is - maybe 0.0%). I'd be happy with '''Not a single bioligist supports ID.''' with a ref indicating a survey or other authoritative statment. No one's going to call Jon Wells a "biologist", for example: he's just an author with a Ph.D. who churned out a few papers in grad school. --[[User:Ed Poor|Uncle Ed]] 14:38, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:I prefer "response to" or "attack on" evolution - "alternative explanation" makes it sound like it's a variant of evolution. [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 15:38, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::Yes, your wording is better. Moveover, the article needs to clarify better which aspects of evolution are accepted or rejected by major ID proponents. I think most accept the [[fossil record]] as geologically accurate; i.e., when biologists say a certain species first appeared 400 million years ago, they are right. But some design theorists may reject [[common descent]], regarding the appearance of species as divine actes (see [[progressive creationism]]).
 
::I'd also like to see more about the main argument of ID, that life is "too complex to have evolved" with God's help.
 
::What may interfere with the process is the political attempt by some to distance (or link!) ID with [[scientific creationism]]. SC is an attempt to present theology as scientifically sound, and ID looks like more of the same. --[[User:Ed Poor|Uncle Ed]] 15:59, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
If ID proponents say ID is not religious but scientific and the scientific community and the courts say it is religion and not science, tell us how your version when it replaces "Intelligent design is an argument for the existence of a God, based on the premise that..." with "Intelligent design is an alternative explanation for biological evolution which incorporates the teleological argument that God or a similar being must have designed the various forms of life observed on earth, from fossils to modern times" does not promote the POV ID proponents to the detriment of the majority view on the topic. Not to mention being weasely and unecessarily wordy... [[User:151.151.73.167|151.151.73.167]] 17:08, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:I am unaware of a proponents who says both things you mentioned:
:#that ID is not religious
:#that ID is scientific
 
:Can you provide a quotation from a source? --[[User:Ed Poor|Uncle Ed]] 17:39, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::If you are actually unaware that IDers have said these things then you haven't read the sources already in the article and have no business editing it. I think you're simply being contentious, not genuine with your question. [[User:151.151.73.167|151.151.73.167]] 18:31, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::The article did not adequately present the views of those asserting that ID is scientific. I did some googling, and I have some quotes at [[User:Ed Poor/Evolution]]. When I have time, I will present them here.
 
:::I gather you would prefer I made '''no changes whatsoever''' to the article without discussing them first. Am I hearing you right? --[[User:Ed Poor|Uncle Ed]] 19:03, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::::I'm sorry, but that claim is laughble. The intro of the article says right there 'Its leading proponents, all of whom are affiliated with the Discovery Institute, claim that intelligent design is a scientific theory' and gives a great source: [http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=1780]
::::What I'd prefer is not relevent. What is relevant is that you are the subject of an arbitration committee ruling placing you on probation for disruption [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_arbitration/Ed_Poor_2#Ed_Poor_placed_on_Probation] of this article and others. Regardless of whether you choose to take it seriously or not, others do. And you have a history of pretending like you are seeking clarification while trying to sneak your POV in through subtle changes, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_arbitration/Ed_Poor_2/Evidence#Ed_editing_in_areas_he_is_unfamiliar_with], so don't make the mistake of thinking we're not on to you and start try it all over again. [[User:151.151.73.167|151.151.73.167]] 19:28, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::::::::Didn't know this one. So I wasted my words above. It did read like POV pushing, but I thought I was just cranky this morning. Well, he is POV pushing, and therefore, I wish I'm glad no one is jumping on board with his Intro changes. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 20:04, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
Apparently Ed, you missed my points. NO CHANGES ARE NECESSARY. It's clear that my sarcasm was lost on you. Everything you suggested makes the intro less useful intellectually. ID has nothing to do with science, so to infer anything else is not acceptable.[[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 20:01, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
==Conflicting statements about ID==
From the Panda's Thumb:
 
:For a recent example of ID proponents from the Discovery Institute making conflicting statements for political effect, consider these DI statements made in August 2005:
 
:Discovery Institute’s William Dembski, August 4, 2005
 
:* President Bush is therefore completely on target in wanting intelligent design taught in the public school science curriculum.
 
:Discovery Institute’s John West, August 8th, 2005
 
:*Discovery Institute opposes any effort to mandate the teaching of design. All it is asking for is the teaching of scientific criticisms of modern Darwinian theory as well as the best evidence for the theory.
he teaching of design [http://www.pandasthumb.org/archives/2005/08/santorum_shines.html Santorum shines]
 
Perhaps the article should say that ''Panda's Thumb'' asserts that ID propononts have made conflicting statements about the teaching of ID in public schools: Dembski is for it; West says the D.I. is against it. --[[User:Ed Poor|Uncle Ed]] 17:58, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
== Opening sentence ==
 
I've had a go at a revision. I think it's balanced and fair. I suppose, given how this sort of thing tends to go, that means that it'll be universally hated and my name shall be taboo forever more. [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 19:31, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:I think it's less accurate. First and foremost ID is a version of the [[teleological argument ]]. That it is an attack on evolution is clearly secondary. Furthermore, it's better to rely upon a direct quote from the most notable ID proponents for the definition since it is a very specific claim, otherwise there will endless twindling with it from every new arrival who thinks their understanding of ID is the only right one. The previous version was better. [[User:151.151.21.102|151.151.21.102]] 19:46, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::I agree with 151. Why exactly did you feel a revision was indicated at all? thanks - [[User:KillerChihuahua|KillerChihuahua]]<sup>[[User talk:KillerChihuahua|?!?]]</sup> 20:03, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::First of all, I'll never hate you Adam. However, the revision looks good, but I'm not sure it was required. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 20:06, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::: '''why''' does there have to be so much vitriol in the lead sentence??? i don't get it, guys, why do you want to set the impression on the outset that this is an anti-ID article. it should be ''about'' ID. and the IDers coined the phrase, so they get to first say what they say ID is (in a nutshell), '''then''' do the analysis, get all of the data pro and con and put it in there. i want to make clear that i also think that ID (capital "I", capital "D", the stuff that comes out of the DI org not the general philosophical teleological thing which might sometimes be referred to as "intelligent design" with small case letters) is pseudoscience masquarading as legit science (which means it has no legit business in the science classroom of a public school), and i think that this article is pretty well balanced and accurate ''except for the lead sentence''. i mean holy crap, don't you want to at least make it have the ''appearance'' of neutrality at the outset? [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 20:59, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:<removed indents arbitrarily, but kindly> RBJ, I'm not sure if I get your point. I don't see the vitriol. Evolution is a fact and is science. What ID does is attack Evolution and, by extension, science. The article is completely neutral, up to and including the lead sentence. If I were to extend your logic, I guess you'd want the start of the [[Holocaust]] article to state: "the holocaust was actually meant to be a birth-control methodology, but it accidentally got confused with something else." You kind have to say what it is right from the beginning, and not use weasel-words. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 21:11, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:I see where Rbj is coming from. When I first came across the article the lead sentence did seem somewhat POV, and it would probably irritate people who support ID, but I think Orangemarlin is right. However, comparing the Holocaust with ID is a pretty extreme, although I do see the analogy.[[User:CerealBabyMilk|CerealBabyMilk]] 21:27, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
::I can't help what the ID Proponents say. [[Phillip E. Johnson]] specifically said ""The defining purpose of the IDM is to advance the argument that neo-Darwinism has failed to explain the origin of the highly complex information systems and structures of living organisms, from the first cells to new body plans..." If they want to to say the main goal of ID is to attack evolution to make room for an intelligent designer, all I can do is take them at their word. What are we supposed to do, ignore what they say to try and make them look better? [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 21:35, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::I just think the word "attack" has a negative connotation and upsets CIers. In the context of the actual opening, however, it doesn't seem so bad. But perhaps one could say:
::::'''''Inteligent design''' is an argument against evolution that claims...''
::: I would also support the splitting of that opening sentence into multiple parts. Perhaps:
::::''...organisms. The argument states that an ''inteligent designer'' is needed for that purpose: a variation....''
 
:::---[[talk:trlkly|trlkly]] 21:54, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
 
:::: Intelligent design theory accepts most of the theory of evolution so I do not see how it could be attacking it. It says that at least some parts of some living organisms had to be designed. Some IDers accept all of evolution theory except that humans were designed. Or that the first organism was designed and the rest evolved. Or that the coding was designed and the rest evolved. The point is that ID is compatible with most of evolutionary theory. Seems like it is just saying that evolutionary theory cannot adequately explain everything [[User:68.109.232.53|68.109.232.53]] 22:29, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::::I think this is Raspor. Wasn't he banned? [[User:151.151.21.101|151.151.21.101]] 23:48, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::::Maybe we should describe it as a "challenge" to evolution. Many sources write as if Evolution were an all or nothing thing. I tried to start an [[Aspects of evolution]] article to clarify this. For example, one can accept the [[fossil record]] while thinking that God personally intervened for each and every instance of [[speciation]], which is called [[Progressive creationism]]. Some ID advocates accept the fossil record while denying [[common descent]]; I believe Wells is one of these.
 
:::::ID is interesting to our readers because of its role in the creation-evolution controversy, and because of the Wedge thing. With just under half of Americans rejecting evolution outright (i.e., in all its aspects), getting ID into classrooms would tip the balance away from evolution as "solid science". Certain people just won't tolerate that.
 
:::::I would love this article to be only about ID and not touch anything else, but by branding ID as "[[Creationism]]" the anti-ID crowd have created a connection. Come to think of it, one of the biggest points of contention is whether ID '''*is*''' creationism. One writer makes a point of always referring to ID as "intelligent design creationism", ensuring that readers always get the point that she regards ID as a form of creationism.
 
:::::Meanwhile, some ID proponents claim that "intelligent design makes all claims under purely empirically-based scientific arguments, and makes no appeal to the supernatural and does not derive its claims from religious texts nor theological doctrines." [http://www.ideacenter.org/about/index.php] This is plainly at odds with [[Barbara Forrest]]'s view.
 
:::::The thing about NPOV is that, when there is a dispute, Wikipedia articles are not supposed to take sides. They can say that 99.8% of scientists in a field support or reject something, as long as the percentage itself is not in dispute. --[[User:Ed Poor|Uncle Ed]] 22:52, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::::::Wow Ed promote a particular viewpoint often? In that single comment you manage to repeat ID rhetoric ('getting ID into classrooms would tip the balance away from evolution as "solid science"'), take a cheap shot at those who wrote the article (Certain people just won't tolerate that) while downplaying the majority viewpoint and the Dover trial ruling ('Come to think of it, one of the biggest points of contention is whether ID *is* creationism'). [[User:151.151.73.164|151.151.73.164]] 23:22, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::::::'Challenge' suggest it stands a chance. -- [[User talk:Ec5618|Ec5618]] 22:56, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::::'Critique', then. --[[User:Ed Poor|Uncle Ed]] 22:58, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
(undent) All of which is ignoring the Wedge document. I see no need to ignore that in the lead - the goal is to promote religion. Teleological argument. I'm willing to work with others, but not to be inaccurate. [[User:KillerChihuahua|KillerChihuahua]]<sup>[[User talk:KillerChihuahua|?!?]]</sup> 23:13, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:And the Dover trial. [[User:151.151.73.164|151.151.73.164]] 23:22, 27 February 2007 (UTC)
 
I'll chime in here about the new intro. I don't like it. The version as of a few days ago, I thought was outstanding. Those are my € 0.02 --[[User:CSTAR|CSTAR]] 01:11, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
: Just to clarify, [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Intelligent_design&oldid=111272125 this version].--[[User:CSTAR|CSTAR]] 03:09, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
:If the version I just saw (and watched disappear) was the old version, I agree. However, now that the article has been (re-)reverted, I'll comment again, taking what I consider the most valid of Uncle Ed's arguments into account. He is right that ID accepts certain parts of evolution, primarily "micro-evolution." So why not replace the word "evolution" in the intro with "the Theory of Evolution"? It fixes the problem. And, perhaps "critique" or "challenge" might be better. (I needed a noun, and "argument" fit.)
 
:---trlkly 01:38, 28 February 2007 (UTC)~
 
:: No, the rejection is of evolution in the ways that matter (and we don't need to support the essentially creationist POV of how to dinstinguish between "micro" and "macro" evolution), the current wording is short and works fine. [[User:JoshuaZ|JoshuaZ]] 03:13, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::I'll agree on the current language as a reasonable alternative to the prior consensused versions. both of which were also acceptable in my opinion.
:::The current version reads: '''''Intelligent design''' is an attack on evolution that claims it is insufficient to explain the origin of complex information in biological organisms, and that an intelligent designer is required for that purpose.[1][2] It is a variation of the teleological argument for the existence of God.[3]''
:::The prior versions were:
:::((A) (the longstanding version through most all of 2006)): '''''Intelligent design''' (ID) is the concept that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection."[1][2][3] ''
:::((B) (The more recent version of the last month or so)): '''''Intelligent design''' is an argument for the existence of God,[1] based on the premise that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection."[2][3][4]'' ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 03:40, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
:::<p>I also think the day is not far away where we will need to mention in the article lead that ID is primarily a ''legal strategy'' born of the 1987 Supreme Court decision [[Edwards v. Aguillard]]. That is how current discussion about ID is increasingly seeing it, and I think it's now fairly likely, if not inevitable, that we will need to report it that way at some point in the future when the number of [[WP:reliable sources]] increases which refer to it as such. For the present, among the many possible ways to write the article lead, the way it's written is quite objective and well verified. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 03:50, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
 
I can't say this is an improvement over the previous version (which carried the article through FA BTW) for all the reasons already mentioned. The previous version was more precise and accurate, and for that reason alone it should be restored. [[User:FeloniousMonk|FeloniousMonk]] 04:14, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:would have to agree with felonius.... i think the FA version (now current) is much better than what was here - also, please note that the ID = argument for God is properly sourced, so the opening is a truthful, verified statement. thanks [[User:Petesmiles|Petesmiles]] 04:46, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
::For what it is worth, I like the current version. --[[User:Michael Johnson|Michael Johnson]] 06:12, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
 
== Implication of a Christian God ==
 
I apologize if I may be beating a dead horse here; however, I noticed an edit that caught my eye and thought I might interject. The edit that caught my eye was namely [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Intelligent_design&diff=111518924&oldid=111504655 this one]. I understand Kenosis' reasoning here; however, I must disagree and argue that this single 'a', frivolous as it may seem, makes a dramatic difference to the entire implication of the first paragraph. As it stands currently, "Intelligent design is an argument for the existence of God," the sentence implies, quite specifically, the Christian God. As the major debate regarding ID involves whether or not it is merely Christianity pretending to be science, I believe it to be of utmost importance that we excercise extreme caution in making any implication that could indicate a bias in this debate on our behalf. Furthermore, ID theorists often attempt to distance themselves as far from the word "God" as possible. If I may cite Dembski in his ''Design of Revolution'':
<blockquote class="templatequote" style="margin-top:0;">The supernatural agent presupposed by scientific creationism is usually understood as the transcendent, personal God of the well-known monotheistic religions, specifically Christianity. ... By contrast, intelligent design nowhere attempts to identify the intelligent cause responsible for the design in nature, nor does it prescribe in advance the sequence of events by which this intelligenct cause had to act.{{#if:Dembski, William. ''The Design Revolution''. 2004|<p style="line-height:1em;text-align:left;padding-left:2em;"><small>—<cite style="font-style:normal;">Dembski, William. ''The Design Revolution''. 2004{{#if:{{{3|}}}|,&nbsp;{{{3}}}}}</cite></small></p>}}</blockquote><!-- [[Template:Quote]] -->
 
Furthermore, ID theory does not ever attempt to discuss God after Creation took place; he is discussed within the context of ID only as a creator, or an intelligent cause for creation. Yet the word "God" carries with it the connotation a supreme, ultimate being, and the term God is also most commonly associated with the Infinite. ID theory in no way attempts to discuss the Intelligent Designer as anything more than a creator--not infinite, not supreme, not ultimate.
 
As such, I would like to propose we reach a compromise that, though it in many ways gives ID the benefit of the doubt, makes as little of a biased implication as I believe is possible. My suggestion would be to rewrite the sentence to the following: "Intelligent design is an argument for the existence of a divine creator." I'd appreciate your thoughts. Thanks. [[User:AmiDaniel|AmiDaniel]] ([[User talk:AmiDaniel|talk]]) 06:44, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:You are still using a singular term (creator), rather than a plural (creators). What terminology would you suggest that could encompass intergalactic teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles designer(s) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtles_all_the_way_down]. Of course, we'd have to alter the Kitzmiller ref, as that's the legal basis for finding that ID is not based on *a* God, but simply "God". ''ID is not a new scientific argument, but is rather an old religious argument for the existence of God. He traced this argument back to at least Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century, who framed the argument as a syllogism: Wherever complex design exists, there must have been a designer; nature is complex; therefore nature must have had an intelligent designer.'' [[User:Ronabop|Ronabop]] 07:04, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::The [[WP:reliable sources]] used in this article say it's the [[teleological argument|teleological argument for the existence of God]], period. I'd want to ask [[User:AmiDaniel]] just which "God" the ID proponents might be referring to for purposes of deciding how to write this WP article? perhaps possibiy an ancient [[Sumerian]] God? [[Caesar]]?, [[Extraterrestials]]? (well, per the verified shell game, three-card monte presented by the affiliates of the [[Discovery Institute]], extraterrestrials, ancient Sumerian gods (pardon me, ancient Sumerians) and Caesar the Eternal God, all theoretically qualify for the role of [[intelligent designer]]). In general, the reference to "teleological argument" has to do with the estimation that the ''entire'' cosmos is not merely littered with competitive gods, but involves one coherent scheme of [[teleology]] (read that: "one God" with an "evolution" or forward progress towards an end of some kind, argued in the context of ID to involve the whole of life). But I don't want to get too far off-point for this article. Perhaps I'll make another comment here and might also be willing to continue the discussion of AmiDaniel's points on another appropriate page. More importantly to the topic of [[intelligent design]], ID is primarily a legal strategy arising out of a 1987 US Supreme Court decision [[Edwards v. Aguilard]] , even leaving aside its related aspects of socio-political advocacy recently brought to bear in the US. Conceptually it's been shot down by the scientific community as not scientific, by the courts (thus far at least) as not eligible for teaching within secular [[pedagogy]] in public schools, and also by-and-large avoided by the churches and by experienced theologians as too weak a description of what God is. Nonetheless educated philosophers immediately recognize it as a teleological argument for the existence of God, and so has the US federal court system to date. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 07:36, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::I will have to admit that I may need some more reflection on this point (it's 1am presently, and my argumentative abilities are slowly fading), and my opinion may change when I have some time to think about this some more. However, presently, I would just like to rebutt one major presumption that you've made, namely the point that all reliable sources define ID as a theological argument for the existence of God. The U.S. Supreme Court ruling does indeed express the official opinion that this is so; however, that is not the only source that speaks to this point. The texts of Behe, Dembski, and many other ID theorists state the exact opposite, one of which I quote above, and I do not see these sources as any less reliable. True, their claims can be interpreted as biased attempts to dilude readers into thinking ID is something it is not to make their philosophy more popular, or rather to push their belief that ID should be tought in school; however, that is just another element of the ongoing debate. The truth is that this is still an issue of heated debate in the scientific, philosophical, and legal community; the Supreme Court's ruling in no way finalizes the debate, just as their ruling in Roe v. Wade in no way concluded the national debate regarding abortion as a federal or state issue. As we have multiple sources on both sides of this debate, it seems to me that picking and choosing which sources to honor in our introductory paragraph serves only to interject a biased perspective on this debate. Apropos, do you consider Behe and Demski to be among the "educated philosophers [who] immediately recognize it as a teleological argument"?
:::In response to [[User:Ronabop]], I must say, and I say this without the intention to offend, that your argument regarding my phrasing reminds me of a similar argument made by a proponent of leaving the words "Under God" unchanged and in the pledge--unfortunately I cannot recall where I read this, but the argument was basically "Should we then change it to 'one nation under one or more gods or godesses, devils, divine or ultimate entities or realities, sacred creatures, prophets, or lack there of'?" Nonetheless, I do admit that my phrasing here may not be perfect; however, I do not presently believe that the current wording is correct either. I do, however, believe that the correct wording exists and can be found. [[User:AmiDaniel|AmiDaniel]] ([[User talk:AmiDaniel|talk]]) 08:09, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
::::::AmiDaniel, please read up on this subject before arguing further. You have said just above: "The U.S. Supreme Court ruling does indeed express the official opinion that this is so [that ID is a teleological argument for the existence of God]; however, that is not the only source that speaks to this point. The texts of Behe, Dembski, and many other ID theorists state the exact opposite, one of which I quote above, and I do not see these sources as any less reliable."
::::::It is not the case that 1987 [[Edwards v. Aguilard]] ruled in this fashion, but rather that the [[Kitzmiller v. Dover]] District Court case held that it was a [[teleological argument for the existence of God]], as stated in the footnote in the article. The WP editors are well within their rights within WP policy to use this particular [[WP:reliable source]], along with others, to make the statement that ID is a teleological argument for the existence of God. The assertions of ID advocates online and in several books need not, according to WP policy, be given treatment on face value in the lead when the weight of the reliable published evidence is that there is a hidden agenda in "intelligent design", which is to teach creation as an alternative to evolution in the public school science classes. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 15:14, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::::This rather begs the point - if the designer is not God what is it? Of course by God I mean anyones god, of for poythiests, gods. Or is the proposition that there is a supernatural entity that has the power to create biological organisms, but nothing else? Or are the proponents of ID in fact agnostics, and argue that while we have no way of knowing if there is a god, there must be a designer? I'm confused. --[[User:Michael Johnson|Michael Johnson]] 08:46, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
 
::::::Intelligent Design theory makes no claim about what "the designer" is. It simply attempts to assert that creation cannot be explained solely as a natural phenomenon, but rather required the influence of an intelligent designer. I suppose you could say ID is sort of an agnostic pholosophy--although most (if not all) of the proponents of the philosophy are most certainly not agnostic. Some have taken this to extremes of saying that little green men from mars could have created humanity--ID does not rule this possibility out; rather, it refuses to comment on what the nature of the designer is except to say that it, in some form, exists. This is of course from the perspective of ID proponents, not opponents, who debate instead that ID is an attempt to prove and convince others of the existence of a Christian god and that this "agnosticism" in the philosophy is merely an illusion. [[User:AmiDaniel|AmiDaniel]] ([[User talk:AmiDaniel|talk]]) 08:57, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
:::::::All well and good except that a number of neutral sources such as a US federal judge have agreed that the opponents were correct. [[User:JoshuaZ|JoshuaZ]] 09:01, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
:::::::<p>I left a comment above with a request that AmiDaniel research the subject more thoroughly before arguing further about it. It is plain that some important things are being missed in the debate in this talk section. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 15:17, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
 
:::::::Every notable ID proponent is on record saying that they believe the designer to be the Christian God -- this is covered at this article and others. Also sufficiently covered here and elsewhere is the fact that their claim of "Intelligent Design makes no claim about what "the designer" is" is actually a rhetorical device to avoid to running afoul of Edwards v. Aguillard. [[User:151.151.21.104|151.151.21.104]] 18:15, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
 
== Invisible changes ==
 
I've made a few invisible changes to the introduction, using HTML comments to make it easier to find the text in between the references. I've flipped between the two versions repeatedly and can find no difference in display of the text outside of the edit window. [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 15:18, 28 February 2007 (UTC)
 
== you guys ought to be ashamed of yourselves. but i know you're not. ==
 
 
even though [[User:Michael Johnson]] claimed in his [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Intelligent_design&diff=111459224&oldid=111458359 edit summary] that he was "removing POV introduction", in fact he reinserted a highly POV introduction ("attack", come on) and removed an attempt to tone down the naked POV here. simply claiming something as true does not make it so. he did the opposite of what he said.
 
even so, that was not good enough for [[User:FeloniousMonk]] in reverting back to the even more naked POV introductions [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Intelligent_design&diff=next&oldid=111479474 claiming it as having consensus] when the opposite is true. (i'm not counting myself since i wasn't watching when such bogus "consensus" was determined, it's just obvious when someone comes here to resist the obvious bias in the article that they get repeatedly slapped down.)
 
at [[WP:NPOV#Fairness_of_tone]] it says:
:If we are going to characterize disputes neutrally, we should present competing views with a consistently fair and sensitive tone. Many articles end up as partisan commentary ''even while'' presenting both points of view. Even when a topic is presented in terms of facts rather than opinion, an article can still radiate an implied stance through either selection of which facts to present, or more subtly their organization — for instance, refuting opposing views as one goes along makes them look a lot worse than collecting them in an opinions-of-opponents section.{{dubious|Opinions-of-opponents sections}} We should write articles with the tone that ''all'' positions presented are at least plausible,...
 
at [[Criticism_of_Wikipedia#Censorship]] is says:
:Wikipedia's policy is to ''fairly represent'' all sides of a [[dispute]] by not making articles state, imply, or insinuate, that only one side is correct; however it can be difficult to maintain this policy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ravikiran.com/2005/11/04/criticisms-of-wikipedia/|title=The Examined Life|date=[[2005-11-04]]}}</ref>
 
i imagine that i am farther left of center than any of you because i find myself farther to the left of nearly anyone i meet. but this stinks. you guys oughta be ashamed of yourselves.
 
this is obviously not an article about ID, but one that is against it. i believe that ID (with capital letters, not to be confused with the many believers, within the science community and without, of some kind of intelligent design of the [[fine-tuned universe]]) as put forth by the DI organization is also full of crap. these guys are clearly trying to inject a religious POV where it doesn't belong at all, but this article stinks. and it is the lead sentence and the tone of the introduction that stinks up the rest of the article which would otherwise be good.
 
it does not adhere to Wikipedia policy (as i've cited above, but it was obvious even without the citation) and to claim it as worthy of FA status when it is so clearly biased in tone at the very beginning is shameful. you are giving the conservatives ([[Conservapedia]]) ammunition and you just don't give a rat's ass because you'ld rather see ID utterly crushed in the article (which will end up defeating the purpose of Wikipedia). [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 06:43, 2 March 2007 (UTC)
 
::Excuse me, is it Sir? Madam? ''Hundreds'' of editors have participated in researching, writing, shaping, arguing and debating this article. Who the hell is [[user:Rbj]] to use this kind of ad-hominem attempt to shame those currently maintaining it into making the article read the way r-b-j wishes it would read. Or does the title of this talk-page section refer to ''all'' participants? except for r-b-j of course, and perhaps those who've argued for WP to essentially be a public relations conduit for the [[Discovery Institute]]. I'll help address the errors in [[user:Rbj]]'s statement(s) above later on; after I cool off a bit. Have a very nice day. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 15:02, 2 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:::that is a deliberate misrepresentation (otherwise known as a lie) and it is noted. what i am arguing for is that WP does not play into the hands of the DI and other conservative critics of WP by having such blatent POV in the very lead sentence of an article. [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 07:47, 3 March 2007 (UTC)
 
: I'm not sure I understand what you are objecting to in the current version - yes, there is some bias in the current article. That's unavoidable IMHO - ID has consistently failed to stand up to any proper scrutiny. An unbiased article about ID would make no more sense than an unbiased article about a flat earth. Asking for an unbiased article is pretty much what the ID promoters have done in real-life - i.e. that ID be treated as respectable science.
 
: As far as it goes, the current version seems to state the ID position without any histrionics - are you sure you are not referring to a previous version? [[User:Tomandlu|Tomandlu]] 09:41, 2 March 2007 (UTC)
 
::This is not the first time that I've seen an ID opponent try and defend the bias in this article by comparing it to another article ''which doesn't show the same bias''. The [[Flat Earth]] article comprises a history of the belief in a flat Earth and a round Earth, and an account of modern claims of a flat Earth. The modern claims are simply ''and neutrally'' presented as the claims, ''and they are not rebutted'', as the claims of ID are in this article. I agree that an unbiased article would make no more sense than an unbiased article about a flat Earth, ''but as there is an unbiased article about a flat Earth, then this one could be also''! [[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 13:30, 2 March 2007 (UTC)
 
::: Heh - fair point... sort of. My impression reading the flat earth article is that it doesn't even think it's worthwhile even discussing the 'controversy' - besides, I don't think there is a meaningful one - no one is suggesting that geography classes should teach the controversy with regard to a spherical(ish) earth...
 
:::[[holocaust denial]] would be a better comparison, but one I avoided for obvious reasons: a) it's too emotive and b) it would be insulting to suggest that there is a moral equivalence (whether inferred or implied) between IDers and HDers.
 
:::In the end, ID is not just pseudo-science (something an encyclopedic article must address), but also a fundamentally (sic) dishonest campaign to disguise creationism. To treat ID as just another 'theory' (lame or otherwise) would be to ignore its essential aims and character, and would not be encyclopedic IMHO.
 
:::Re-reading the article, I cannot find any bias that is not properly sourced (I'm sure there are exceptions, but they are exceptions). [[User:Tomandlu|Tomandlu]] 14:59, 2 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:::::[[Holocaust denial]] is a better choice to support your argument, but even this article is ''not as critical as the ID article''! It spends barely half of the introduction criticising the idea (compared to around two thirds of the ID introduction) and contains almost all remaining criticism to one section ("Holocaust denial examined"). This section, which is actually a bit ''shorter'' than the preceding section where the holocaust denial claims are listed, fails to actually answer many of the specific claims. In contrast, the ID article follows pretty well every ID claim with a rebuttal of that claim.
:::::The bulk of the article looks at the history of holocaust denial and the participants. The ID article has a much smaller proportion devoted to such aspects. This makes comparisons a bit harder.
:::::Another difference is that there is much eyewitness evidence in support of the holocaust, unlike with ID (who has seen the original development of the blood-clotting mechanism?). Thus you would expect the [[Holocaust denial]] article to be ''more'' critical of the idea than the ID article, but it is the ID article that is more critical!
:::::You admitted earlier that there is some bias in the article, and you are now claiming that the bias is properly sourced. You are confusing two issues. The ''criticisms'' are, for the most part it seems, properly sourced. But the ''bias'' is in the article itself, in having so many criticisms, and so prominently, as mentioned above.
:::::[[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 07:28, 3 March 2007 (UTC)
 
::::I agree, Tomandlu. I've spoken to P. Rayment about this very subject before- the articles on pseudoscience that we have here do not mention the major criticism of the pseudoscience because there hasn't been an outspoken response by the scientific community to those claims. As in the above-mentioned page on Hollow Earth beliefs, the reason it does not go into a serious discussion of controversy and commentary on its validity because the reliable sources that Wikipedia relies on for documentation have not seriously spoken up about it.
::::If Hollow Earth was a hotbutton issue to ID, about which parallels other than the pseudoscience angle could be drawn, then it would be more useful, but as it stands, ID has caused sufficient objection in the academic community, in my opinion, to merit the sourced criticism provided in the article. --[[User:HassourZain|HassourZain]] 16:20, 2 March 2007 (UTC)
:::::It was the [[Flat Earth]] article that Tomandlu made the comparison with, not the [[Hollow Earth]] article that you previously tried to compare ID with.
:::::Yes, ID is different to both those ideas because it is more actively promoted. But it would be nice if you actually admitted that your argument had failed and that you were switching to a different argument. At least Tomandlu did half-heartedly admit this.
:::::But the prime point of this alternative argument is to show that the comparisons with [[Flat Earth]], [[Hollow Earth]], [[Holocaust denial]], etc. are not valid comparisons. They are ''not'' arguments that the ID article requires more rebuttal. That is, it does not automatically follow that because a subject is more promoted that it therefore has to include more criticism, to the point of because an article about why ID is wrong instead of an article about ID.
:::::[[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 07:28, 3 March 2007 (UTC)
::::::To be fair, I never said that because ID was "more promoted" that its article should reflect more criticism- I said that because it is more widely criticized and spoken out against that it should include more cited criticism. --[[User:HassourZain|HassourZain]] 21:50, 5 March 2007 (UTC)
:::::::Sorry for misdescribing it; you are correct on that point. And despite impressions that I might have given, I'm not opposed to documenting that widespread criticism exists. But that is still no excuse for turning an article that should be ''about'' ID into an article ''criticising'' ID. [[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 02:09, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
::Mr. or Ms "r-b-j" isn't objecting to diddlysquat about what the article ''says'', nor about what it ''documents'' or ''explains'' about intelligent design. This user is objecting to the way it ''feels'' to Rbj, and because it doesn't read the way Rbj would like it to read. And moreover this user is arguing, essentially, that the many editors who wrote this article are, essentially, idiots who'd better come 'round to seeing it r-b-j's way so they won't be called idiots without any sense of shame anymore. Beyond the fact that r-b-j has made several statements already that betray either a major lack of having studied this topic or an insistence on seeing it from some as-yet-undetermined POV of r-b-j's choice, I should point out that it appears to me that perhaps r-b-j hadn't reviewed the massive talk archives on the subject. If so, the ''feeling'' of r-b-j iwould be more understandable than it currently is, and can be better addressed if r-b-j were to gain a better understanding of how both the broad tone of the article as well as virtually every little point within it have been gone over quite intensively by many, many editors. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 15:21, 2 March 2007 (UTC)
:::::for the most part (heck, for the entire part) i agree with you guys about every major deficit of ID (with capital letters) coming from the DI. i fully agree with Robert Stevens that this "ID was created to advance the cause of a specific religion and to subvert science". i '''fully''' agree with that. it is my belief and judgement about both the quality of the "science" and the intent of the proponents of ID (capital "I" capital "D") that are affiliated with DI. but you wrote an introduction, ''particularly the first sentence'' that betrays bias and that poisons the credibility of the rest of the article. it makes it more difficult for a neutral reader (say a decent reporter for a decent journal such as NYT) to overlook this initial declaration of emnity for ID and get into the facts regarding the phony claims of scientific method or of "controversy" (as in "teach the controversy"). if you, like me, oppose what the DI is trying to do, you are hurting the cause by opening with such a blatently biased statement. for contrast, look at the [[Nazism]] article and you have to get down to the bottom of the intro to see the legitimate synopsis that
::::::''Nazism is not a precise, theoretically grounded ideology. It consists of a loose collection of ideas and positions: extreme nationalism, racism, eugenics, totalitarianism, homophobia, anti-Semitism, anti-communism, and limits to freedom of religion.''
::::: which is worse? Nazis or DI? who is treated more gently?
::::: this defense of the status quo ignores the points and references to Wikipedia policy i made above about [[WP:NPOV#Fairness_of_tone]] and [[Criticism_of_Wikipedia#Censorship]].
::::: if you look a little bit, you will see some participation from me in the talk page that ''is'' in the archive. [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Intelligent_design&diff=prev&oldid=98368921 e.g.] i didn't just stumble upon this yesterday. but it is getting increasingly clear that there is an [[echo chamber]] going on here when blatent bias ''in the tone'' of the article is being mutually praised by the participants. as i have suggested before, for an neutral tone in an opening sentence, you might do well to define a group of people or a philosophy as they or it defines themselves or itself. then pick it apart with the hard facts.
::::: something like:
:::::: '''Intelligent design''' is the belief that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection." It has been determined by scientific consensus to be a pseudo-science, not adhering to the scientific method, and by legal ruling to be "not a new scientific argument, but is rather an old religious argument for the existence of God." Its leading proponents, all of whom are affiliated with the Discovery Institute claim that intelligent design is a scientific theory that stands on equal footing with, or is superior to, current scientific theories regarding the evolution and origin of life and have stated goals for the teaching of ID alongside of Darwinian [[evoluton]] as a plausible alternative to evolution. Opponents understand this as a disguised strategy to reintroduce [[Creationism]] to the classroom after being banned from state supported education by the Edwards v. Aguillard ruling.
::::: stuff like that. i don't mean that to be verbatim, but you can see that the tone is far less harsh, yet still states the facts (and the facts do not support ID as science). but by making such nasty opening sentence (calling it an "attack" rather than a "dispute") or by jumping immediately to the conclusion (that it is a teleological argument, which it is in my opinion, but it is denied by the other side) biases the tone of the article.
::::: try not to confuse my criticism of the opener as one of a supporter of ID. i am not. far from it. i just don't want this (along with so many other [[Wikipedia:WikiProject_Countering_systemic_bias|systemically biased]] articles in Wikipedia, to play into the hands of [[Rush Limbaugh]] or the DI or [[James Dobson]] or others of their ilk and that is what you guys are doing. this could very well become an example of the "liberal bias of Wikipedia" that some NYT reporter uses in reporting about this ongoing controversy and with that kind of tone cited, readers will very well nod their heads in agreement. you guys have to be able to [[Wikipedia:Neutral_point_of_view/FAQ#Writing_for_the_.22enemy.22|look at this from the enemy's perspective]] and you are not. [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 01:45, 3 March 2007 (UTC)
 
::::: and Kenosis: ''"And moreover this user is arguing, essentially, that the many editors who wrote this article are, essentially, idiots who'd better come 'round to seeing it r-b-j's way so they won't be called idiots without any sense of shame anymore."'', i never once said anything about anyone here being idiots. the issue is bias '''in tone''' and particularly that of the very first sentence, ''at least the appearance of bias'' and not caring what such appearance of bias looks like to others, friend, enemy, or disinterested observer alike. i'm outa here for now (traveling). i'll get back to it later. [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 01:54, 3 March 2007 (UTC)
::::::The last paragraph above is duly noted. So the participating editors are not idiots, but merely lacking in a sense of shame, which, according to Rbj, they ought have. And the participating editors are not necessarily ''comparable'' to Nazis, or even Nazi sympathizers, but merely have written the article in what ought be regarded as a shameful manner, by merit of the allegation that the tone of this article, in the opinion of [[User:Rbj]], is more negative towards the [[Discovery Institute]] than the tone of the article on [[Nazism]] is negative towards Nazis. Yet the participating editors of this article on [[intelligent design]] are ''known'' by Rbj to be shame-''less'' about the state of ''this'' article, a sitiuation of which they ''ought'' be ashamed. Gimme a break. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 02:33, 3 March 2007 (UTC)
::::::: at least one thing is '''mis'''noted in my previous paragraph. i said nor implied nothing comparing Nazis or Nazi sympathizers to the "participating editors". i was comparing the introductions of two articles depicting different things, both considered bad by the present company but at one time or another had some measure of support from humans. one is depicted in a manner contrary to proponents in the very first sentence ("so ID must be decidedly undisputedly bad, hunh?") and the other is depicted in a completely neutral manner in tone, but in the final sentence of the introduction you first start getting the idea that these guys are or were doing something wrong ("so Nazis must be less decidedly and less undisputedly bad, that so?"). what do you need a break from? illumination? [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 07:40, 3 March 2007 (UTC)
:::As I see it, there is one very important and noteworthy distinction between ID and most other forms of pseudoscience (astrology, hollow-Earthism, "pyramid power" or whatever): and that's the "Trojan Horse" issue. From the outset, ID was created to advance the cause of a specific religion and to subvert science (we know this from the Wedge document, among other things). That's why I think it's fair to say so from the outset, in the introdution. Generally, this is not the case for all pseudoscience: astrology, for instance, isn't a movement recently founded with the intention of presenting astrology as a branch of astronomy or of overthrowing astronomy. The need to convey this information to the reader will inevitably give this article a different "feel" to most other pseudoscience articles. --[[User:Robert Stevens|Robert Stevens]] 17:08, 2 March 2007 (UTC)
::Well said, Robert, My feeling is that Rbj should be ashamed of him(or her)self for introducing this with an inflammatory heading, and since Rbj imagines "that i am farther left of center than any of you", it raises the intriguing question if that means Trotskyite or Communist, or just a lack of imagination about how far left one or two of us are. More to the point, a rough redrafting of the intro has been introduced, and I've no objection to it being discussed under a less unsuitable heading if someone wants to start that off. .. [[User:Dave souza|dave souza]], [[User talk:Dave souza|talk]] 15:30, 3 March 2007 (UTC)
:::The notion as put forward by Rbj that this article should be written with a cautious eye to how Rush Limbaugh and the political right will view Wikipedia editors is not in keeping with WP policy, guidelines and convention, nor is it in keeping with the consensus developed by many participants about how to write this particular article. Among the many assertions above, mixed as they are with ad hominems, shame-on-you's, associations with divisive political isses, such statements as "you guys have to be able to look at this from the enemy's perspective and you are not" assume incorrectly that this article should be written, or perhaps already is written, from a vantage point of political friends and enemies. It is an approach that, in my opinion, the editors should continue to diligently avoid in consensusing issues about this WP article. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 16:43, 3 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:::Oh give it a rest. The article is accurate and neutral. [[User:FeloniousMonk|FeloniousMonk]] 06:35, 5 March 2007 (UTC)
 
==Rbj's proposal==
<p>After parsing through the ad-hominems and arguments about article tone in comparison to certain other article(s) on the wiki, this is what I see as substantive in the section above. Rbj has proposed that the article lead read as follows:
<blockquote>'''Intelligent design''' is the belief that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection." It has been determined by scientific consensus to be a pseudo-science, not adhering to the scientific method, and by legal ruling to be "not a new scientific argument, but is rather an old religious argument for the existence of God." Its leading proponents, all of whom are affiliated with the Discovery Institute claim that intelligent design is a scientific theory that stands on equal footing with, or is superior to, current scientific theories regarding the evolution and origin of life and have stated goals for the teaching of ID alongside of Darwinian evoluton as a plausible alternative to evolution. Opponents understand this as a disguised strategy to reintroduce Creationism to the classroom after being banned from state supported education by the Edwards v. Aguillard ruling. </blockquote>
<p>Sure, if the consensus had been to write it this way, it would presently read this way, with clusters of footnotes and wikis wedged in there. Fair enough. The only thing new that I see here is a proposal by Rbj for the inclusion of the specific statement that opponents understand ID as a "disguised strategy to reintroduce creationism to the classroom after being banned from state supported education by the Edwards v. Aguillard ruling." Yes, we can find citations enough to include this in the lead, I imagine. But to me it gives the appearance, at this stage in time, of being more negative in tone than the present lead. I'd be interested to see how the participating editors would phrase such a sentence so as to make clear that ID is a legal strategy in the article lead, assuming of course that a consensus could ultimately be achieved to include this insight that early in the article ... merely hypothetically at this point in time. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 15:41, 3 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:Hmm. We might get more support with "However, opponents claim this is a disguised stratagy..." [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 19:45, 3 March 2007 (UTC)
:::: it's fine by me. i reiterate that it was an example of how to set a decently NPOV '''tone''', not as a vebatim (and referenced) proposal Kenosis seemed to ignore that. [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 05:39, 4 March 2007 (UTC)
::Given the wedge document, how is it disguised?[[User:Trishm|Trishm]] 22:47, 3 March 2007 (UTC)
:::The Wedge Document was not intended for public consumption; it was leaked. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 01:27, 4 March 2007 (UTC)
:::: on that we certainly agree. [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 05:39, 4 March 2007 (UTC)
:::::I am aware of the leak. The question is is it still disguised? Isn't it blatant once you have read the Wedge strategy? Or do we pretend the game is the same, and ignore unintended leaks?[[User:Trishm|Trishm]] 22:45, 4 March 2007 (UTC)
 
== ID=DI? ==
 
While your considering whether or not to make the introduction more of a criticism, here's something else to consider. The introduction says, "Its leading proponents, all of whom are affiliated with the Discovery Institute...". I know I've read somewhere here that this article is supposed to be about ID as promoted by the Discovery Institute, or something like that, but (a) should it be?, and (b) is that clear? I'd suggest that the line quoted above misleadingly gives the impression that there are no significant proponents of 'intelligent design' outside the Discovery Institute. So doesn't something like the following deserve a mention?
:<div style="border:none; background:#fff3f3; padding:0.5em 1em;">Dr Henry Morris, the founder of the modern YEC movement, recently wrote a review of The Design Revolution, by the scientific leader of the IDM, Dr William Dembski. Morris pointed out, with ample justification, how YECs developed many of the insights now claimed by the IDM, long before the IDM was even thought of. For example, the late Dr Richard Bliss long ago used the electric motor of the bacterial flagellum as an example of design, now a favourite of the IDM (the IDM doesn’t seem to have caught up with YECs on the ATP synthase motor); Morris himself has long differentiated horizontal and vertical changes, equivalent to noninformation-gaining and information-gaining; triple doctorate A.E. Wilder-Smith influenced many IDM people, such as Drs Charles Thaxton and Dean Kenyon, about the whole information concept. Also, in 1991, CMI (then called Creation Science Foundation) was using the information concept to elucidate the boundaries of the created kinds, years before Johnson and Dembski came on the scene.</div>
There's [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/2895/ more] following that, in which Dembski acknowledges that YECs gave him his ideas. Anyway, something for you to consider (if you haven't already). [[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 22:58, 3 March 2007 (UTC)
::The editors have been over this many times before, indeed since prior to my participation in the article. You will find it in various places throughout the archives, including those linked to in "points that have already been discussed", #20, at the top of this page, and also a continuation of a lengthy discussion in Archive 33
::There's only one "intelligent design" worth writing an article about, and that's the approach taken by the [[Discovery Institute]] affiliates after [[Edwards v. Aguilard]], starting with [[Charles Thaxton]]'s publication of the book [[Of Pandas and People]] in 1989, proceeding forward with the formation of the [[Discovery Institute]] in 1990, around which the IDM revolved and within which all the leading proponents of ID operated for about the succeeding decade and a half. It's all in the article, or at least the important points, including references, about 150 of them, if you count the ones that recently were consolidated by combining multiple references into single footnotes. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 01:50, 4 March 2007 (UTC)
::: [[Owen Gingerich|this Harvard astronomy/astrophysics prof]] might not agree that all "intelligent design" worth writing about is what comes from DI. he differentiates between the term in small case and the same that is capitialized (the latter term he associates with DI)[[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 05:33, 4 March 2007 (UTC)
::A lot of ID proponents are YECs. But that doesn't mean that all YECs are IDists, or that ID is synonymous with YEC, or for that matter than all YECs are the same. All major ID proponents are associated with the DI. That is not a causal statement. I have no idea whether they joined the DI because they were IDists, or whether they became IDists because of their association with the DI. We aren't asserting causality, we are reporting on a correlation pointed to by others. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 02:05, 4 March 2007 (UTC)
:::Speaking as just one WP user-cum-editor here, I personally don't care whether the advocates of ID are [[Young_Earth_creationism|YECs]], [[Old_Earth_creationism|OECs]], [[panentheist]]s, [[pantheist]]s, [[theist]]s, [[theistic evolutionists|theistic evolutionists]], or whatever. ID is primarlily a ''legal strategy'' to get "God" into the public schools.
::: But I wouldn't want the article to sound too negative towards ID, so I maintain it should be left as already consensused, having extensively argued the numerous points in the article with no less than 3mB of Talk. Note that the [[teleological argument]] for the existence of God, which resigns itself to being, ho-hum, "philosophy" and/or "theology", has gotten about 32 kB (a kB being one-thousandth of a mB [1/1000 or 1/1024, depending on which measurement method is used] ) of talk in its entire history, about as much as this article gets in a typical week. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 04:37, 4 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:::: don't presume any of the rest of us don't know what a kilobyte or meg is. or what a teleological argument or what is science. you play into the hands of the DI by doing exactly what they want: you are giving them ''cred'' to be the definers and owners of the concept. a lot of people wish a pox on both your houses. [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 05:33, 4 March 2007 (UTC)
:::::I removed Rbj's comment placed in the middle of my submission above, which stated: ''":: that's a false statement. the DI stuff is such a legal strategy but not everyone who asserts at least a note questioning if something qualifies as "intelligent design" is at all for teaching this in the science class or anywhere in the schools at all. [[Owen Gingerich]] is you are painting the whole use of the word with the same colored brush. but it ain't so. [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 05:33, 4 March 2007 (UTC)"'' Rbj, please feel free to quote me as needed, but please don't break up my submissions with your own responses to them. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 05:51, 4 March 2007 (UTC)
:::::: you make multiple (variably problematic) points, each that has to be responded to specifically. people can check the edit history but i'll restate this as below, it's just easier to thread off the separate points where they are.
:::::: [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] said:
:::::: <blockquote>I personally don't care whether the advocates of ID are, [...], [[theistic evolutionists|theistic evolutionists]], or whatever. ID is primarlily a ''legal strategy'' to get "God" into the public schools.</blockquote>
:::::: that's a false statement. the DI stuff is such a legal strategy but not everyone who asserts at least a note questioning if something qualifies as "intelligent design" is at all for teaching this in the science class or anywhere in the schools at all. [[Owen Gingerich]] again is the counterargument that you are painting the whole use of the word with the same colored brush. but it ain't so.[[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 06:09, 4 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:::::The idea or concept that the universe is "intellgently designed' is not at all new, except that ordinarily different words have been used for the idea that the whole world is not just set with numerous competitive "gods" or merely random sets of chance, but instead appears to the person(s) making the teleological argument that the whole world involves a coherent plan of some kind in advance of the events--''despite the obvious conflicts''. That's all more than fair enough as philosophy or theology or religion. Among the main problems with the view that "ID" is somehow merely a [[teleological argument]] are: (1) The words "intelligent design" had no (read that "0" or "zero") notability until the DI affiliates used these words in an attempt to end-run or end-around the 1987 [[Edwards v. Aguilard]] decision by the US Supreme Court. (2) The use of the words "intelligent design" to mean a purported scientific theory claiming to be competitive with evolution by natural selection is far and away the dominant usage in today's lexicon, all backed by [[WP:VER|verified]] sources in this article. (3) Even the churches by-and-large have disavowed any knowledge of this "theory" as presented by the DI; for one thing, it presents the odd dillemma of what to do with the concept of "faith" and "hope" when it is replaced by assertions of "scientific proof" of God and a sure bet about [fill in your preferred rendering of what happens to people when they don't play ball with the rules of the Church]. (4) The [[WP:reliable sources|reliable sources]] in public media have by-and-large identified the words "intelligent design" in a way that is consistent with the current content of the WP article on [[intelligent design]]. There are other points, but these are, as I said, among the major ones ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 06:23, 4 March 2007 (UTC)
:::::: so you're letting DI own the terms of debate. whatever it is that DI says is ''i.d.'' (small case) is, that is what ''i.d.'' is? [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 06:50, 4 March 2007 (UTC)
:::::::Interesting way of putting it, whoever "you" is in the statement "so you're letting DI own the terms of debate". There exists only one intelligent design worth arguing about or writing an article in WP about, and that's the DI's ID. So the persons or groups who formulated and used the legal strategy help to define the terms of the debate, initially at least. Others have responded, such as the scientific community, and various other communities, and as of December 2005, the US Federal Court system has had its initial say on the issue. To date there's been no visible indication that other federal district or appellate courts would likely rule much differently than in [[Kitzmiller v. Dover]]. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 13:45, 4 March 2007 (UTC)
<reduce indent> That's like saying that usage of [[conservative]] is letting capitalists own the terms of debate, when many left-wingers support conserving things. The term in common usage as published overwhelmingly means "a new 'science' claimed by the DI". Thanks for the link to Gingerich, he makes the same point that the term is "owned" by the DI crew. His closing quote relates to something I was just thinking – the biblical account and faith "addresses entirely different questions: not the how, but the motivations of the 'Who.'" So sit down in front of your Ché poster and put on "[[Won't Get Fooled Again]]". .... [[User:Dave souza|dave souza]], [[User talk:Dave souza|talk]] 10:24, 4 March 2007 (UTC)
 
----
 
<span style="background:#B0ffff;">The editors have been over this many times before, indeed since prior to my participation in the article. You will find it in various places throughout the archives, including those linked to in "points that have already been discussed", #20, at the top of this page, and also a continuation of a lengthy discussion in Archive 33</span>
 
Oops, sorry. I suppose that I should have had at least a quick look there first. However, having a quick read of the sections you mentioned, I can't see anything that completely addresses the matter I raised.
 
<span style="background:#B0ffff;">There's only one "intelligent design" worth writing an article about, and that's the approach taken by the [[Discovery Institute]] affiliates ... It's all in the article, or at least the important points, including references, about 150 of them, if you count the ones that recently were consolidated by combining multiple references into single footnotes.</span>
 
First I'll remind you of my questions: "(a) should it be?, and (b) is that clear?". I can see reason why it should be just about the Discovery Institute (so the answer to "(a)" is a partial "yes"). However, I think the answer to "(b)" is "no".
 
The article starts off by describing ID as a ''concept''. As a ''concept'', ID is wider than just the Discovery Institute. As I quoted above, YECs claim to have been using ID ''concepts'' since before the Discovery Institute got involved (and I can personally vouch for this). However, as the ''name'' of a particular concept, and as a ''movement'' to do with that concept, I'll accept (in the absence of contrary evidence) that it is associated with the Discovery Institute. And on that basis, I'll also accept that the article should be about the Discovery Institute's version of that concept. However, I don't believe that this is clear from reading the introduction. Without getting into other arguments about how the introduction should be changed, perhaps the existing opening sentence should read something like "Intelligent design is ''a particular'' argument for the existence of God ''as promoted by the Discovery Institute''" (emphasis simply to show differences).
 
However, even granted that the article should be about the Discovery Institutes's ID, the article does cover the history of the ''concept'' (in the section "Origins of the concept") from the 4th century BC to the present, but skips any mention of YECs using the ''concept'' prior to the rise of the modern ID movement.
 
[[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 12:59, 4 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:You say "The article starts off by describing ID as a ''concept''." Where? .. [[User:Dave souza|dave souza]], [[User talk:Dave souza|talk]] 13:29, 4 March 2007 (UTC)
 
::The first sentence. But to clarify, that is my term, not one that the article uses in that sentence. To put it another way, it is not describing ID as a ''movement'' ("ID is a movement/industry/business/etc. that promotes the idea of...", nor as a ''term'' ("ID is the name/term/etc. used by..."), but as an idea/concept/notion/principle/argument/etc.
::The ID ''movement'' is something particular to the last couple of decades, and involves (mainly?) the Discovery Institute. The ID ''name'' is a recently-coined term for the old teleological concept. The ID ''concept'' has been around for a long time, even though the name and the movement are recent. That's the distinction I'm discussing, even if my terms are not 100.00% correct. Is that clear enough?
::[[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 14:13, 4 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:::Yes, in some sense the underlying concept has been around for ages, at least since [[Plato]]. As the article explains, ID is a modern reformulation of the [[teleological argument]] that claims to be a scientific theory competitive with evolution by natural selection, which has been advanced by affiliates of the DI. As a growing number of [[WP:reliable sources|reliable sources]] are stating, it is a legal strategy designed to teach a form of [[creationism]] in the public schools in the US. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 14:28, 4 March 2007 (UTC)
:::And actually, PJR, ID was indeed introduced as a "concept" in the lead paragraph up until about a month or six weeks ago, when, after a somewhat protracted discussion, it was changed to "based on the premise that..." The reason for the change, to quickly summarize, was the new consensus to specifically identify ID as a teleological argument in the opening paragraph, with a citation to [[Kitzmiller v. Dover]], rather than wait till the second and third subsections of the "overview" to state this to the reader of the article. So, not long ago, by using "concept" you'd have been using exactly the same word as the article did for almost all of 2006 and the beginning of 2007. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 20:30, 4 March 2007 (UTC)
 
::::Thanks for all that clarification, and you could add that the article still has a heading "Origins of the ''concept''". But my question remains, is the fact that this is about the Discovery Institute's "version" of intelligent design clear, particularly in the introduction? And there is still the matter of the history of ID skipping the YECs' use of the ID concept and arguments, even if they didn't use the term. [[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 02:06, 5 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:::::I should think so. The second sentence says: "Its leading proponents, all of whom are affiliated with the Discovery Institute,<sup>[3][4][5]</sup> claim that intelligent design is a scientific theory that stands on equal footing with, or is superior to, current scientific theories regarding the evolution and origin of life.<sup>[6]</sup>" Footnotes 3, 4, and 5 actually are about eight footnotes combined into three, and Footnote 6 cites to the Discover Institute's website. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 02:38, 5 March 2007 (UTC) ... As to the other forms of philosophical or theological arguments or speculations used in various theological approaches, they can be found in the relevant articles dealing with topics such as [[teleological argument]], [[anthropic principle]], [[fine-tuned universe]], and others that are quite commonly used without dependence on the words "intelligent design". ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 03:57, 5 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:::::Rayment, there is no other "version" of ID. Read the archives. Also read the the Dover trial ruling, which said "''As Plaintiffs meticulously and effectively presented to the Court, [[Of Pandas and People|Pandas]] went through many drafts, several of which were completed prior to and some after the Supreme Court's decision in Edwards, which held that the Constitution forbids teaching creationism as science. By comparing the pre and post Edwards drafts of Pandas, three astonishing points emerge: (1) the definition for creation science in early drafts is identical to the definition of ID; (2) cognates of the word creation (creationism and creationist), which appeared approximately 150 times were deliberately and systematically replaced with the phrase ID; and (3) the changes occurred shortly after the Supreme Court held that creation science is religious and cannot be taught in public school science classes in Edwards. This word substitution is telling, significant, and reveals that a purposeful change of words was effected without any corresponding change in content ...''" [[s:Kitzmiller_v._Dover_Area_School_District/2:Context#Page_32_of_139|Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District, page 32]] Considering that it's already covered here and at [[Of Pandas and People]] that some the most notable first promotors of ID, the authors of ''Pandas'', [[Percival Davis]] and [[Dean H. Kenyon]], are YEC's who simply did a "find and replace" from "creation science" to "intelligent design" in creating Of Pandas and People, there's no "of the history of ID skipping the YECs' use of the ID concept and arguments" as you claim, only your unawareness of the history of ID. [[User:FeloniousMonk|FeloniousMonk]] 06:32, 5 March 2007 (UTC)
 
::::::FeloniousMonk, please refrain from the patronising and insulting remarks.
::::::You appear to be contradicting yourself. On the one hand I'm supposed to believe that this article is about something that is virtually confined to the Discovery Institute, as distinct from the same basic arguments also used by YECs, and on the other hand you are claiming that ID is indistinguishable from the arguments used by YECs. So which is it?
 
::::::Kenosis, I don't understand the relevance of the footnotes you referred to, with regard to my questions.
::::::<span style="background:#B0ffff;">I should think so. The second sentence says: "Its leading proponents, all of whom are affiliated with the Discovery Institute...</span>
::::::I gather that you are arguing that the introduction is clear that this is only about the Discovery Institute "version" of ID. But that's not what that's saying. In effect, the article is now saying/implying/presuming that there is ''one'' version of ID, with the Discovery Institute being the main promoter of that. What I'm arguing is that there is more than one "version" of ID, but that this article is about the Discovery Institute "version". Somebody reading this article would think that virtually nobody except the Discovery Institute is promoting the idea of an intelligent design of nature.
::::::I'll try asking it in a different way. I gave a suggested new introductory sentence above. What (in principle; don't worry too much about the precise words) is actually incorrect or misleading about that proposed sentence?
::::::[[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 07:44, 5 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:::::::You mean other than the fact that it is inaccurate? What you're going on and on about is simply the [[Teleological argument]], not ID, which has a very clear history, which you'd know if you'd bother to read the Kitzmiller testimony and ruling. [[User:151.151.73.169|151.151.73.169]] 18:44, 5 March 2007 (UTC)
 
::::::::Thank you for that unhelpful comment. In what way is it inaccurate? [[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 02:26, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:::::::Why did I get the feeling the answer would be unsatisfactory to the poser of the question in advance of giving the answer? Because the thought the answer was wrong?, or because the question keeps changing? Philip J. Rayment posed a question above, which read as follows: "But my question remains, is the fact that this is about the Discovery Institute's "version" of intelligent design clear, particularly in the introduction? " His supposition that the response I gave was in response to that question is correct. Now the question is different, and is more obviously designed to make the point that there is some version of ID different than the one that's gotten all the press coverage of late, some back-alley version, or merely philosophical version that's worthy of note under the words "intelligent design". That's not the way the reliable sources found by the many editors of this article have used the words "intelligent design", and there's no reason to suppose that there's the DI's version, and then there's some other version. There's only one version that's notable, and that's the one put forward by the DI affiliates following [[Edwards v. Aguilard]]'s closing the door on teaching creationism in public school science classes. This remains true even if the YEC's are now using the words, the concept, or both. Other such arguments are presented in the article about the class of argument called [[teleological argument]], or in their own respective articles. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 19:35, 5 March 2007 (UTC)
 
::::::::I don't know. Why do you get that feeling? The only way the question keeps changing is by me putting it in different words in an attempt to make myself clearer, because I've asked the question several times now without getting much of an answer at all. I don't know why you would think that I wouldn't accept your answer, ''given that I've already accepted your answer to one of the two questions I asked''. I accept that this article should be about the Discovery Institute's idea of intelligent design. But what has not been adequately answered is my second question about whether the article is clear about that.
::::::::You say that I believe that there is a different version of ID. Other than my use of "version" with quote marks (which is done to indicate that it is not necessarily the appropriate word), I can't see where I indicate that there is more than one version. My suggested opening sentence does not do that.
::::::::I suspect that you are getting hung up on my use of the word "version" in quotes. So I'll rephrase the question (note that I'm rephrasing it, not changing it): is the fact that this is about the Discovery Institute's version of the teleological argument clear, particularly in the introduction? I don't believe that the reference to ID's main promoters being from the Discovery Institute does that, by the way.
::::::::[[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 02:26, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
:::::::::RE the first paragraph above: It is clear that the question keeps changing, or at least repeated in somewhat different phrasing, in order to elicit an answer which will assist in making a claim that there is some ID that's worth writing about other than that put forward by the DI affiliates in response to [[Edwards v. Aguilard]]. At some point, despite good faith responses already given, it becomes clear there is no satisfactory answer to PJR's question(s) about it, other than an answer which might imply that there ''is'' some other notable use of "intelligent design" than that which is widely written about in the press, by the scientific community, by the legal community, and by the WP editors in the article on "intelligent design".
:::::::::RE the second paragraph above: If there is a proposal to try to find a new consensus for the intro, by all means start a new talk section and put forward the desired proposal, justifying the purpose and keeping in mind the many editors who've been involved in arriving at the current consensus.
:::::::::RE the third paragraph above: The answer to the question, again, in any of the restated variations implying that the question wasn't answered, is "yes, I should think it's quite clear". When the article says "it's leading proponents, all of whom are affiliated with the Discovery Institute" (the longstanding consensused language), it ought be plain that the ID the article is talking about is that engineered by the Discovery Insitute affiliates, the leading proponents of the approach, the "engine" behind the intelligent design movement as one of the cited reliable sources put it. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 03:08, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
 
I would question that your answers ''are'' in good faith if you are presuming that I have an ulterior motive. I am ''not'' trying to elicit an answer that indicates that there are other IDs than the Discovery Institute's. I have already acknowledged that it is appropriate that this article be about the Discovery Institute's version of the teleological argument.
 
As for starting a new section to propose a new consensus for the introduction, that effectively is what this section is! Admittedly when I started it I didn't have any wording for a new introduction in mind, but it was to discuss whether or not there was a problem with the article that would require a change.
 
As for whether it's clear, I don't believe that it is, and I've asked for an explanation of how my proposed new introductory sentence is incorrect or misleading. I figured that if somebody actually tried critiquing my proposal I might get a better idea of why they think that the introduction is sufficiently clear now, but apart from claiming that it is already clear and citing the reference to the Discovery Institute in support (a reference which I've already said does not make it clear, in my opinion), nobody has actually explained what's wrong with my suggestion.
 
[[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 09:45, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:This is already well underway to becoming tendentious argumentation. For now, "suit youself", so to speak. If need be I'll take the extra time to review and identify in writing evidence of PJR's developing pattern of eliciting statements from others, then cherrypicking them for minutiae in support of the argument he originally set out to make in opposition to an already extensively discussed and thoroughly consensused aspect of this article. (Please also see [[WP:point]]. That said, I express my personal appreciation for PJR's use of the talk page to bring up issues rather than simply attempting to impose preferred approaches on the article itself without discussion.)
:<p>As I already indicated, if there's a proposal for a different way of writing the article lead, by all means start a new talk section and put forward the desired proposal, justifying the purpose and keeping in mind the many editors who've been involved in arriving at the current consensus. Please also keep in mind that the article was just thoroughly peer reviewed and given a "featured-article" rating by the broader WP community, thereby requiring a stronger justification for significant changes than would be the case with, say, a start-class article, or, say, an agreed to be in need of "cleanup" or references.. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 15:22, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
 
::I give up. I wonder about your priorities when you suggest taking the extra time to analyse my debating style, yet are unwilling to explain what is wrong with my proposal for a new introductory sentence. Tomlandu (below) has seen the same problem, but in both cases the answer seems to be that consensus has been reached (despite many people being unhappy with the article, incidentally), and you see no need to change it, but no actual explanation as to why the current wording is better than that proposed or clear defence of the clarity of the article on this issue. [[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 01:03, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
:::I give up too. I believe Tomandlu and Orangemarlin have indicated that their points are in ''response'' to the questions posed by Rbj and PJRayment in this section, and the discussion thereof. As other long-tem participants in this article appear to be re-engaging a bit more below, I think I'd like to take a break and defer to them for now. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 02:44, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
 
== Moved Behe testimony in intro ==
 
I moved the Behe testimony in the intro out of the section dedicated to the the scientific community's response of to ID to the following paragraph. As an notable ID proponent Behe is not part of the greater scientific community, meaning his testimony was out of place in that section. I shifted it to the next section, the Dover trial, which makes more sense seeing Dover is where Behe gave his testimony. [[User:FeloniousMonk|FeloniousMonk]] 06:31, 5 March 2007 (UTC)
 
== A suggestion about ID=DI ==
 
I tried to read through the various commentaries about this topic, and it seems like everyone is getting angry with each other. From my observation point, it does appear that the Discovery Institute has hijacked "Intelligent design." It's almost like Intelligent Design is a registered trademark of the Discover Institute. It is almost impossible to separate the theory from the theorists. Now you all know I think Intelligent design is a load of hooey, but you can assume good faith on what I'm about to propose. I think that this article should describe the "generic" version of Intelligent Design, whereas the Discovery Institute article should describe their version of Intelligent design. In other words, the DI version, should be a subset of the generic version. I'm not going to take whatever is written below personally, but I wanted to digest everything written above and output it into its simplest form. I do apologize in advance if I've oversimplified what PJR and FM are discussing. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 17:42, 5 March 2007 (UTC)
 
::It is Kenonis who has been discussing it with me. About all FeloniousMonk did was to insult. [[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 02:43, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:Uh, the "generic version" of Intelligent Design is the [[Teleological argument]], and it already has it's own article. You're way off base here. [[User:151.151.73.169|151.151.73.169]] 18:41, 5 March 2007 (UTC)
 
I am not sure, but if I go out on the street and ask 100 people what intelligent design is, at least 99 of them will describe something associated with the DI. So in light of this, should the present situation not remain?--[[User:Filll|Filll]] 19:00, 5 March 2007 (UTC)
 
I agree with Filll and the anon. I am not convinced that there was any "hijacking" either. While the underlying elements are not new, this combination is a new contribution by (primarily) Johnson, Behe and Dembski. Certainly it is built on its intellectual antecedent, but it isn't just recycled ideas. Bad idea, maybe, but cobbled together into something new. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 19:13, 5 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:I'm not taking any of this personally. It's just that the discussion between PJR and FM was getting rather long--I threw up a suggestion. Never going to do that again around this article. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 20:17, 5 March 2007 (UTC)
::Never you mind my boy. All suggestions welcome. Anyhoo, it wasn't so much hijacking as finding a little used term and using it as something quite distinct from the ancient argument for the existence of God, converting old fashioned creationist use of this argument into a new argument for the existence of an intelligent designer who we all think is God but if we don't say so we can claim it's science and get it into school science lessons, but don't tell anyone. Pretty sure if you went out onto the street pre 1990 and asked the question, at least 99% would say huh? or refer you to a kitchen outfitters. .. [[User:Dave souza|dave souza]], [[User talk:Dave souza|talk]] 20:23, 5 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:::Filll and Guettarda at least make sense to me. The anonymous editor probably needs to read [[WP:CIVIL]]. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 23:53, 5 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:::::He was mild compared to the incivility of FeloniousMonk towards me. [[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 02:43, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:::::::Well, I was trying to find a compromise position between you two. I failed. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 02:55, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
 
::Maybe a review is in order:
<div class="boilerplate metadata" id="attention" style="background-none; margin: 0 5%; padding: 0 10px; border: 1px solid #aaa;">
*1986: To this date, no notable use of the words "intelligent design" such that it would even merit its own article in Wikipedia without being subject to deletion in an AfD
*1987: [[Edwards v. Aguilard]]
*1988: [[Charles Thaxton]] of the [[Foundation for Thought and Ethics]] mentions the words "intelligent design" at a conference attended by [[Stephen Meyer]]
*1989: Over a hundred instances of the word "creationism" or variations thereof such as "creation science" have been changed to "intelligent design" in the book ''[[Of Pandas and People]]'', published by the [[Foundation for Thought and Ethics]]
*1990-1991: The [[Discovery Institute]] is formed by [[Bruce Chapman]], [[Stephen C. Meyer]] and others.
*1991: The book ''[[Darwin on Trial]]'' is published.
*1992: "The movement we now call the wedge made its public debut at a conference of scientists and philosophers held at Southern Methodist University in March 1992, following the publication of my book Darwin on Trial (1991). The conference brought together as speakers some key wedge figures, particularly Michael Behe, Stephen Meyer, William Dembski, and myself." (Quote of [[Phillip E. Johnson]]).
*1993-1995: [[Stephen C. Meyer]] and [[George Gilder]] formulate a plan for a think tank opposed to materialism. [[Bruce Chapman]] secured money in the form of a grant from Howard Ahmanson, Jr. and the MacLellan Foundation. Meyer had previously tutored Ahmanson's son in science and Meyer recalls being asked by Ahmanson "What could you do if you had some financial backing?" They initially received $750,000 over three years from the Ahmansons and a smaller grant from the conservative Christian MacLellan Foundation, which they used to further develop the [[Wedge Strategy]] and found the Center for the Renewal of Science and Culture. The Discovery Institute and its offshoots would subsequently receive tens of millions of dollars from the Ahmansons and others.
*1996: The Discovery Institute's [[Center_for_Science_and_Culture#History|Center_for_Science_and_Culture]] is formed, originally as [[Center_for_the_Renewal_of_Science_and_Culture]]. The Center for Science and Culture serves as the hub of the [[intelligent design movement]]. Nearly all of the luminaries of intelligent design are either CSC advisors, officers, or fellows. [[Charles Thaxton]], author of ''[[Of Pandas and People]]'', is a fellow. [[Stephen C. Meyer]], a founder of the [[Discovery Institute]] and CSC serves as Senior Fellow and Vice President. [[Phillip E. Johnson]], the author of ''Darwin on Trial'', is its Program Advisor. Johnson is considered the movement's "father" and architect of the center's [[Wedge strategy]] and "[[Teach the Controversy]]" campaign, as well as the [[Santorum Amendment]]. Also in 1996, ''[[Darwin's Black Box]]'', by [[Michael Behe]] is published. Behe is considered a "senior fellow" of the CSC. The CSC begins to offer fellowship grants to fund projects consistent with its objectives.
*1997: [[Phillip E. Johnson]]'s book, ''Defeating Darwinism by Opening Minds'' is published.
*1998: [[William A. Dembski]] publishes ''[[The Design Inference]]: Eliminating chance through small probabilities'' ( (Dembski is a fellow of the Discovery Institute and also is the "Academic Editor" of the [[Foundation for Thought and Ethics]].)
*1999: The [[Teach the Controversy]] campaign is set into motion, and the press begins to take note of the [[intelligent design movement]] in increasingly visible articles and commentary. William A. Dembski and Michael J. Behe, coauthor ''Intelligent design: The bridge between science and theology'',
*2001: The [[International Society for Complexity, Information and Design]] is co-founded by [[William Dembski]]. Notable among its fellows are fellows of the [[Discovery Institute]]'s [[Center for Science and Culture]], including Dembski, [[Michael Behe]], [[Jonathan Wells (intelligent design advocate)|Jonathan Wells]], [[William Lane Craig]], and [[Henry F. Schaefer]].
:And so on and so forth.
</div>
::... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 01:34, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
 
::::Despite what the anonymous editor said above, it really appears that ID does equal DI. It isn't used until the mid-90's. I was in Biochemistry programs, studying something about genes or molecules (I was trying to get A's, not really trying to understand the stuff), and I don't recall ever hearing the words, Intelligent and Design together, except to say that "this Apple II computer really was designed by some intelligent guys." Being bored with my science education, I took a bunch of courses in Religion and comparative religions, and nowhere was Intelligent Design mentioned. I really think it is a DI invention. IMHO. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 02:59, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:::::Might it not be worth adding/modifying the opening section to clarify this? There are two good reasons to do so 1)It's worth clarifying and 2)critics of the "tone" of this article will use this as an excuse to say "oh, it's just about the DI, not ID, and the DI got it wrong, and wikipedia is just attacking a strawman".
 
:::::Something like:
 
<div class="boilerplate metadata" id="attention" style="background-color: #FFFCE6; margin: 0 10.5%; padding: 0 10px; border: 1px solid #aaa;">
:Intelligent design is an argument for the existence of God, based on the premise that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection."<br>&nbsp;<br>
 
:The term "intelligent design", and the avoidance of direct reference to a deity or deities, is exclusively linked to the work of the Discovery Institute, and no significant use prior to the institute's promotion of the term exists.<br>&nbsp;<br>
 
:Its leading proponents, all of whom are affiliated with the Discovery Institute,[3][4][5] claim that intelligent design is a scientific theory that stands...(etc.)
</div>
:::::[[User:Tomandlu|Tomandlu]] 09:56, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
 
I think what Gregory Peterson has to say sheds some interesting light on the matter:
:"''According to one view, theories of intelligent design are as old as the philosophical traditions of the West... While the modern ID movement draws from this historical well, its primary affinity is with the more scientifically (some might say scientistically) minded design arguments of the eighteenth and nineteenth century...''
 
:"''The great difference between modern proponents of IDT and their predecessors is, to put in succinctly, one hundred years of evolutionary theory.''
 
:"''The framework for IDT comes almost entirely from Dembski and Michael Behe… IDT conceives itself as ... providing not just an alternative scientific account for biological origins, and specified complexity but an account that breaks down the wall between theology and science. Indeed, if Dembski and Behe are correct, IDT would truly be the most significant scientific theory even, for it would in essence prove the existence of God.''" (He goes on to say that he doesn't believe ID can do what it claims).
 
From: Peterson, Gregory R. 2002. The intelligent-design movement: science or ideology? ''Zygon'' '''37''':7-23. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 18:31, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:A related point was made in a recent American Chronical article [http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=21402]:
::"Similarly, in his book 'Darwin’s Black Box' Behe compares life (like a bacteria’s flagellum) to a carefully-designed mousetrap. Remove one piece, i.e. the spring or hook, and it becomes useless; thus, a biological mousetrap couldn’t have evolved from singular individual springs and hooks because, as Behe claims, they would have been useless on their own. He relates this to a flagellum, which operates like an “outboard motor” for bacteria. If you remove any of the proteins responsible for it, then it doesn’t work at all."
 
::"Darwin himself pointed out the fallacy of this argument," write Robert and Dr. Steven Novella of the New England Skeptical Society, a fact that calls into question the scholarship and/or intellectual honesty of anyone who would trot it out a century and a half later."
 
::"The Novellas point out what evolutionary biologists have known for some time. "There is no reason within evolutionary theory to assume that the flagellum had to evolve directly to its current usage." In other words, what is being used for one function has likely been adapted from earlier functions. Dr. Novella points out that there is "compelling evidence that some of these crucial proteins were once used as part of a membrane pump in the cell walls of bacteria."
:I don't think any of the proposed changes to the introduction make much sense after reading articles like these. [[User:151.151.73.168|151.151.73.168]] 19:43, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
 
::I'm not sure - or, to be more accurate, I'm not sure that a convincing case has been made for *NOT* making any change. IMHO the article should make clear in the introduction why it links ID with the DI so explicitly. If the issue of the definition of the term is controversial, then we should at least be able to highlight that the term has no usage prior to its promotion by the DI. It's a pertinent and significant point. I'll make what I consider an appropriate edit. [[User:Tomandlu|Tomandlu]] 22:42, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:::Well, the first problem with that statement is ''and no significant use prior to the institute's promotion of the term exists'' - that isn't quite in keeping with the time line (since the idea comes before the institute). [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 22:48, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:::The idea is within the class of argument known as the [[teleological argument]] wich goes back to Aquinas, Cicero, Plato, etc., of which the specific version we're talking about is the synthesis of arguments put forward by the DI affiliates. Were it not for [[Edwards v. Aguilard]], there would be no need to have called it "intelligent design". But they did call it "intelligent design", so those are the words by which we refer to this particular synthesis of teleological arguments today. That's what this article is about. The article already explains that the basic idea has a long history, and that there were also instances of the words that can be found in several places, though they had no significance, no notability that would merit an entire article.
:::<p>The various isses that come into play are already in the article, but they can't all be stated in the lead section, so we need to pick which of the major points to introduce to the reader in the lead. The editors have already consensused this as follows. The first paragraph would provide a rendering of what ID is, including identifying its proponents; the second would deal with the response of the scientific community; the third paragraph would summarize ID's current legal status. Those of us who were involved before and choose to still be involved in the talk page mainly just report how the existing consensus was arrived at, and try to summarize how the article got to the current stage, refer users to earlier discussions in the archives, etc.. The content can of course be reconsensused at any time. But the onus to provide justification is currently on those arguing for a different approach, not on those seeking to maintain the version that was just reviewed and given FA-status by the wider WP community. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 23:09, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
 
::::Fair enough - feel free to revert my edits. Personally, I have no problem with the article as it stood, but I was trying to resolve accurately an accusation that was laid on the introduction - namely that it didn't make it clear in the intro why the article linked ID primarily with the DI. [[User:Tomandlu|Tomandlu]] 23:26, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
::::::Yes, I readily understand. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 23:34, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
:::::::BTW I've had a quick skim through the article (mainly section 1), and although it's implied in both the origins of concept and term sections, no where does it specifically state that there is a strong justification for explicitly linking ID with the DI (or would making such a statement count as original research?). In retrospect, I'm not convinced that it needs inclusion in the intro, but it might have a place somewhere. [[User:Tomandlu|Tomandlu]] 23:45, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
::::::::Yes, that's the problem. The DI is ''behind'' ID, but it isn't really accurate to say that it's ''responsible'' for ID. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 02:22, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
:::::Tomandlu, I removed what you added and reformatted to the earlier version. You had added: "The term "intelligent design" is strongly linked to the work of the [[Discovery Institute]], and only isolated usage exists prior to that (see [[#Origins_of_the_term|Origins of the term]])." ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 23:31, 6 March 2007 (UTC)
 
Tomandlu's suggested change creates a false distinction: The DI are not the only ID proponents that avoid referencing God in their claim; starting with the [[Foundation for Thought and Ethics]] all ID proponents pose their claim in that manner. And the main (if not the only) reason for doing it in such a manner to avoid running afoul of 1987's [[Edwards v. Aguillard]] (and to create a "big tent" for theists of all persuasions). [[User:FeloniousMonk|FeloniousMonk]] 05:24, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
:Noneheless, the leading proponents are all affiliated with the Discovery Institute, including [[Charles Thaxton]] who also is associated with the [[Foundation for Thought and Ethics]]. If I recall correctly, after repeated discussions now viewable in the 34 archives, not one proponent who is [[WP:notability|notable]] on the issue is ''not'' affiliated with the DI. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 10:07, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
:<p>At some point, IMO, a note about Edwards v. Aguilard will need to be integrated into the lead. I suggest discussion begin cautiously and without any rapid maneuvers involving anything less than a very clear-cut consensus. As the third paragraph is already agreed to be devoted to legal standing, perhaps an appropriate approach might ultimately be to replace the sentence about Behe's testimony in Kitzmiller with a sentence about Edwards v. Aguilard. That, if anything, was the "smoking gun" in Kitzmiller-- the fact that drafts of [[Of Pandas and People]] prior to Edwards v. Aguilard used the word "creationism" and derivatives thereof, while the drafts of the same book ''after'' Edwards v. Aguilard used the words "intelligent design" without any corresponding change of content other than swapping all the uses of word "creationism" with the words "intelligent design". So in some sense Thaxton may properly be regarded as the ''grandfather'' of intelligent design (though I know of no sources that say this) with Philip Johnson, a lawyer, being widely regarded as the "father" of intelligent design. Thus it's primarily a legal strategy to avoid running afoul of Edwards v. Aguilard and develop a method of offering a competing "science" in keeping with the caveat the Supreme Court offered in that case. Enter, ''voila!'' the Discovery Insitiute. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 10:07, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:IMHO the main point remains - if ID=DI we need to say so directly and provide appropriate references. If it doesn't, then the article should reflect this, otherwise it can be legitimately accused of bias. There seems to be strong evidence for the former, rather than the latter, but as it stands the article seems vulnerable to criticism in this regard. [[User:Tomandlu|Tomandlu]] 10:14, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
::Understood. The sentence "It's leading proponents, all of whom are affiliated with the Discovery Institute,<sup>[seven sources provided within three footnotes]</sup> claim that intelligent design is a scientific theory ..." already says this. ID = DI is just shorthand used on the talk page in response to those (of which I was one until doing the research) who may say "well, how can ''all'' of the leaders of an idea like this be affilated with one advocacy group or "research"-group/think-tank?" Turns out to be an organized campaign, not merely an idea that arose out of free and independent academic discourse, or scientific research developed with any actual peer review. Point being: what different language expresses this accurately, concisely, in keeping with the many sources provided and/or available to be provided in the article? If an alternative is suggested that can be consensused to be an improvement, then discussion should begin about it. But thus far I don't believe we've seen such an alternative that can be agreed to be a concise, accurate, properly sourced improvement over the longstanding language.
::<p>The issue of ID being verifiably a response to [[Edwards v. Aguilard]], on the other hand, is an issue that might reasonably be presented ''separately'' in the lead as part of the concise introduction to the legal issue(s) already agreed to be presented in the third paragraph.Please read the WP article on the Edwards case (and/or other summaries elsewhere), and note carefully the door that the Supreme Court left open for the approach that ultimately was taken by the IDM (except that the scientific community quickly said "no way", and the Kitzmiller court also said "no way".) Just a thought for now, and sourcing still needs to be lined up and discussed on that issue. The need for careful discussion of this arises out of the inherently controversial nature (or is it supernature?) of the topic, out of a respect for long-debated and intensively discussed consensus, and out of the fact that the article was just thoroughly peer reviewed within WP and that significant changes on the heels of the very recently conducted Featured Article review should be approached accordingly. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 11:50, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
::''[I]f ID=DI we need to say so directly '''and provide appropriate references''''' - It's the latter part that is the problem. The article currently says what the available references support. If you have some references that say it more directly, please point us towards them. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 13:14, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
 
I have to admit, I've come around 180 degrees on this one now. Re-reading, although the DI rightfully has a significant place in the article, the article does not state that ID=DI - it just lists and provides references for the various ways in which they do connect... and that is how it should be. ID (the phrase) did not originate with the DI (however insignificant usage may have been prior to the DI). Furthermore, ID doesn't end with the DI - various groups seem to be claiming ownership of the phrase - or at least roundly criticising each other for various perceived ideological failings. All in all, it's become clearer to me why the article is nuanced as it is, and I congratulate the long-term contributors and editors of the article. I can only apologise that I have not been as diligent in studying the full archives on this talk page as I might have been - what can I say? That they're not nearly as funny as the [[Deathstar]] discussion page? [[User:Tomandlu|Tomandlu]] 19:54, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
::Your generous comments are definitely appreciated. Thanks Tomandlu. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 22:00, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
:I did follow your invitation to read the [[Deathstar]] talk page. I was laughing so hard I was crying. I really do not know what to say. I suggest that everyone read this absolutely amazing document.--[[User:Filll|Filll]] 21:11, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
 
== A Spade is a spade after all.... ==
 
I broadly support the article as it stands - but i wonder if there might be an opportunity to make something clearer. What people seem to either misunderstand or not accept is what the article is about - does this opening offer any benefits in terms of clarity at the lead?
 
'''Inteligent Design'' is a term coined by members or affiliates of the DI in early 1990s, and is an argument.... current article continues.....
 
whaddya reckon? - [[User:Petesmiles|Petesmiles]] 02:17, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:No, it's gets the sequence wrong. ID predates the DI. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 02:19, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
 
Then we're not only describing the DI version of ID - i was certain we were. Or is it that they subsequently joined / became the DI? [[User:Petesmiles|Petesmiles]] 02:20, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:Yes - DI ID predates the DI :) [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 02:58, 7 March 2007 (UTC)
==A distinctly American phenomenon==
[[User:KarlFrei]] left a note on my talk page after I removed the word [[American]] from the second sentenece of the article. Breifly it had read: "it's leading proponents, all of whom are affiliated with the [[American]] [[Discovery Institute]],<sup>[3][4][5]</sup> claim that intelligent design is a scientific theory that stands on equal footing with, or is superior to, current scientific theories regarding the evolution and origin of life.<sup>[6]</sup>" ([http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Intelligent_design&diff=113300513&oldid=113182396 here]) .
<p>He wanted to know why I removed it, so I gave a brief explanation and said essentially "Well, let me go ask on the Talk page". So I'm asking, just in case. [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 11:54, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
 
::I don't see any harm in the clarification, although I'm not aware of any other DI's with which the DI could be confused.
 
::With regard to amer. phenom., the section on the UK is pretty clear. There is no prohibition against religion in schools - rather the opposite, since RE is mandatory (although it is not limited to christianity iirc). However, the dispute, such as it is, is that [[Truth in Science]] are pushing for ID to feature in science rather than RE or more appropriate arenas. [[User:Tomandlu|Tomandlu]] 14:17, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
:::Yes, the issue has been settled fairly quickly in other countries. When it was proposed in Australia and the Netherlands, they quickly found other people to take over the positions as minister of public education. In the UK, they merely clarified which classroom(s) it should be limited to, which is ''not'' biology class. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 15:17, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
The point was not to avoid confusion but to localize the phenomenon at an early stage in the article. I will wait to see if anyone objects to putting this word back in. --[[User:KarlFrei|KarlFrei]] 14:22, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
:I think that although the DI is american, some of its outreach is foreign, to places like the UK and Turkey and other countries. Also, some of the DI fellows are foreign like that Polish guy etc.--[[User:Filll|Filll]] 18:44, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:: "american-based" might therefore be more appropriate, but only marginally. It's worth bearing in mind the wikipedia does tend to have an unconcious american bias (imho) (although you wouldn't think so from reading conservapedia). if it adds to clarity without adding orig research or bias, it seems ok to me (i.e. I can't see any reason to oppose the change). Err... vote "OK"?
 
::[[User:KarlFrei]] please note that this is a controversial article that has reached featured status (a fairly rare phenom.). It is understandable that editors are very cautious regarding edits. No offence is intended by the caution in this matter IMHO.[[User:Tomandlu|Tomandlu]] 22:50, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:::I certainly understand that this is a controversial topic, but I honestly had not expected that there would be controversy about this particular word (American). --[[User:KarlFrei|KarlFrei]] 10:53, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
 
::::Well, it should probably be "US" anyway... :) [[User:Tomandlu|Tomandlu]] 12:24, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:::::ID is as American as Coca-Cola. I don't say that as a joke. Coca-cola is very much associated with American culture yet for better or worse is international - pushed by commercial interests. ID likewise is American but is being pushed into the iternational stage by religious interests. --[[User:Michael Johnson|Michael Johnson]] 13:12, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
:::Alright, how about something like this? A sentence at the end of the first paragraph, stating:
:::*"Although the words "intelligent design" have been used sporadically since the nineteenth century, they first gained public attention in the 1990s when, after the [[U.S.]] [[Supreme Court]] decision [[Edwards v. Aguilard]], all of the uses of the word "creationism" were replaced with "intelligent design" in the textbook [[Of Pandas and People]].<sup>[cite to [[Kitzmiller v. Dover]] and one or more [[secondary source]]s]</sup>"
:::<p>We would, of course, need to thoroughly discuss and achieve a clear consensus for an addition such as this before implementing it. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 14:38, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
 
==OT RFC regarding sep of church and state and ID==
If a science-teacher in the US wanted to explain why ID violated principle of science (not falsifiable etc.), would they be able to do so? i.e. given that judge jones at kitzmiller said ID was essentially religious, would that mean that science-teachers could not discuss it as bad science?
 
This is decidedly OT for this discussion page, but if anyone has any particular insight, etc. please add to my talk page. tnx [[User:Tomandlu|Tomandlu]] 22:57, 8 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:Why not? There's nothing wrong with discussing ID, just with teaching it as science. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 13:22, 9 March 2007 (UTC)
 
==New comment==
This article is an example of why people don't take Wikipedia or "NPOV" seriously. {{unsigned|70.108.101.57}}
 
:Care to explain what you mean? [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 23:09, 13 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:: why should [[User:70.108.101.57]] go around the maypole for the zillionth time when it's obvious that exactly why this article is such ''an example of why people don't take Wikipedia or "NPOV" seriously''. you have (in very recent times): [[Talk:Intelligent_design#Astonishment_at_the_first_phrase_of_the_article]], you have me citing:
:::[[WP:NPOV#Fairness_of_tone]]:
:::If we are going to characterize disputes neutrally, we should present competing views with a consistently fair and sensitive tone. Many articles end up as partisan commentary ''even while'' presenting both points of view. Even when a topic is presented in terms of facts rather than opinion, an article can still radiate an implied stance through either selection of which facts to present, or more subtly their organization — for instance, refuting opposing views as one goes along makes them look a lot worse than collecting them in an opinions-of-opponents section.{{dubious|Opinions-of-opponents sections}} We should write articles with the tone that ''all'' positions presented are at least plausible,...
::: [[Criticism_of_Wikipedia#Censorship]]:
:::Wikipedia's policy is to ''fairly represent'' all sides of a [[dispute]] by not making articles state, imply, or insinuate, that only one side is correct; however it can be difficult to maintain this policy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ravikiran.com/2005/11/04/criticisms-of-wikipedia/|title=The Examined Life|date=[[2005-11-04]]}}</ref>
:: and nothing but empty denial (it ain't just a river in Egypt) without even beginning to take on the content of the critique. e.g.: [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Talk:Intelligent_design&diff=112755228&oldid=112754915 Oh give it a rest. The article is accurate and neutral. FeloniousMonk 06:35, 5 March 2007 (UTC)]
:: you guys don't even bother to engage the criticism and then just declare victory (for your POV). you are so enmeshed in your POV that you are unable to see it from a neutral stand and certainly not from the [[Wikipedia:Neutral_point_of_view/FAQ#Writing_for_the_.22enemy.22|enemy's POV]]. this article begins with a blatent POV and this place is such an [[Echo_chamber#As_a_metaphor|echo chamber]] that the defenders of this blatent POV are blinded by this very POV. [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 00:57, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
:::The only reason people don't take Wikipedia seriously is because anybody can jump on and run serious editors of scientific articles raggard with their quack religious POVs. -- [[User:Michael Johnson|Michael Johnson]] 01:18, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
 
::::So you admit that this is a scientific article? :-). Seriously, I totally endorse r b-j's comments, and this reply from Michael Johnson is wrong in so many ways:
::::* It is an example of the "empty denial ... without even beginning to take on the content of the critique" r b-j mentioned.
::::* It denigrates his ideological opponents ("quack religious POVs").
::::* It implicitly denigrates editors with opposing views (they must be ''non''-serious editors).
::::* It is blatantly false, in that some people '''have''' said that they don't take Wikipedia seriously because of the anti-creation and/or anti-ID stance it takes.
:::: [[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 02:03, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:::::Philip, with respect, this really cuts to the quick of the problem. No-one with a biological background (and let's not get into discussion about the handful scientist supporters of ID) can seriously consider ID anything more than religious quackery. ID as a POV would not get a run in [[Citizendium]], for instance. I doubt very much if [[Encyclopaedia Britannica]] would pay an ID supporter to write about evolution, either. The concept is so alien to science that supporters had to write their own science textbook. Personally I would be more than happy with the Gould compromise - this is religion, this is science. But it is the creationists who consistantly seek to insert their POV into science articles. And I'm comfortable that some creationists don't take Wikipedia seriously, so long as it reflects the best scientific interpretation of the natural world we have today. And, I must add, so long as it continues to change to reflect growth in our scientific knowedge. -- [[User:Michael Johnson|Michael Johnson]] 02:24, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
 
::::::That "handful" probably numbers hundreds, by the way. Small in percentage terms, but not exactly a "handful".
::::::The problem with Gould's non-overlapping magisterium&mdash;one problem anyway&mdash;is that we are not talking about theology vs. scientific observations, but about ''history''&mdash;what actually ''did'' happen. Like it or not, both "religion" (at least some, including Christianity) and evolutionism make conflicting claims about what ''did'' happen&mdash;about the ''history''. They ''do'' overlap, whether you like it or not.
::::::Your claim that it is creationists who consistently seek to insert their POV into science articles is itself a POV that you have not demonstrated, and one that I reject. Sure, there may be a few who do, but no more than anti-creationists inserting ''their'' POV into articles, especially articles ostensibly ''about'' creation (and ID).
::::::And I don't know what you meant by "this really cuts to the quick of the problem", because nothing in your reply actually answered anything that I said, or that r b-j said, unless you were trying to justify your use of denigration as a debating tactic.
::::::[[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 12:01, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
:::::::You are right about one thing, my comment probably didn't belong here, and my apologies to all. So I will put the remainder of my reply on your talk page. -- [[User:Michael Johnson|Michael Johnson]] 12:30, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
:::[edit conflict]Wikipedia articles are supposed to be written from secondary and tertiary sources. This article does that. Obviously, this means that the article differs from the DI party line...or does it? It's impossible to write a canonical ID article because they talk through both sides of their mouth constantly. What is ID? It depends on who their audience is. Is ID an argument about God? Oh, no, it might be space aliens (wink, wink).
:::No, I am not asking the anon to "''go around the maypole for the zillionth time''". Why should I ask someone to waste their time repeating specious arguments? How about maybe raising some ''real'' issues, something with substance? Maybe. The article presents the dispute fairly in a neutral and balanced manner. It works from secondary and tertiary sources, as we are supposed to. Sure, it doesn't present the ID talking points and propaganda as if they were true - but that's the point of Wikipedia articles.
:::Even the version of the NPOV policy that you quoted is tagged as "dubious", and it's (quite properly) gone from the page. There's a reason why bits of Wikipedia policy pages cannot be quoted in isolation - that "opinions-of-opponents" stuff contradicts the way articles are supposed to be written. It's poor form and generally a bad idea to segregate criticisms from the party line.
:::If you and the anon believe that NPOV is a joke because it fails to replicate the party line...then it would seem like neither of you understand what NPOV is all about. Sorry. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 01:48, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
 
::::: denial ain't just a river in Egypt. as i wrote before, you guys didn't even engage the criticisms of [[WP:NPOV#Fairness_of_tone|lack of fairness of tone]] nor of [[Criticism_of_Wikipedia#Censorship|censorship]]. you just keep repeating to each other that the article is [[Fox News|fair and balanced]] and that those who challenge that have "quack religious POVs". the funny thing is that i don't side with the claims or aims of ID at all (i am convinced it's pseudoscience from the mostly American religious right and that to put it in the biology classroom in a state-supported public school is nearly criminal), yet i can easily see the bias in the article. ''at least in tone and in insinuation.'' it's so blatent it slaps the reader on the face. the bias of the article became more obvious and blatent when the lead sentence was changed (with this bogus "consensus") to attack ID from the very beginning. at least, in the first sentence, try to neutrally present what ID says it is (and qualify that as "claim" or "belief", not as fact), even if you (or the scientific community or some federal judge in Pennsylvania) do not agree with what ID claims what it is. there is plenty of space left, both in the intro and in the rest of the article to let the legitimate scientific and legal deconstruction of ID be documented. you don't have to do that in the very first sentence and to insist that this deconstruction happen right out of the blocks betrays the bias in the article. it's very easy for someone reading it to pick up on that bias and this does the article, nor Wikipedia as a whole, no good. [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 02:04, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:::::* "''[Y]ou guys didn't even engage the criticisms of lack of fairness of tone nor of censorship''" - not true, I addressed the only substantive point I could find, that you were quoting something that not only wasn't on the policy page, it should never have been there in the first place. Presenting the party line in one section and the criticism in a separate section makes for a very poor article, and has been discouraged as long as I have been on Wikipedia.
:::::*"''[Y]et i can easily see the bias in the article''" - and yet, you don't come up with anything from secondary sources to support your POV. Dozens, if not hundreds, of papers have been published which look at the question of what ID is. Many of them are sympathetic to ID, but they still end up with the conclusion that ID is an argument for the existence of God.
:::::*"''[T]he bias of the article became more obvious and blatent when the lead sentence was changed (with this bogus "consensus") to attack ID from the very beginning''" - no, actually the article has gotten more accurate. ID is presented as "science", not as dogma. If it were religious dogma, then yes, the DI definition should be used. But it isn't. It has been studied and analysed by dozens of people, and the conclusion - from philosophers of science, from scientists and from theologians, is that ID is an argument for the existence of God. NPOV requires us to present all sides fairly. The article does that, and does it very well. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 04:24, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:::::<span style="background:#B0ffff;">If you and the anon believe that NPOV is a joke because it fails to replicate the party line...</span>
:::::That is not what r b-j said. Twisting criticism into a straw-man argument is not a valid form of debate.
:::::[[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 02:08, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
 
::::::Yes Philip, it is what he said. That and a lot of insults. If you can't figure that out from what he has said, have a look at the changes he wants to make to the article. And would you please stop using that formatting. It's distracting, and rude to your fellow editors...sort of like using a highlighter in a library book. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 04:24, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
:::::::No, r b-j did ''not'' say that it should replicate the party line. That is your ''interpretation'' of his comments. He said that it should be NPOV, but there is a difference of opinion on what is POV and what isn't. [[User:Philip J. Rayment|Philip J. Rayment]] 12:01, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
::::::::True, he didn't use those words, so if you want to be overly literal, he didn't "say" so. But it's pretty obvious if you look at the entire context of what he has said and what he was done (for example, replacing the existing intro with the DI party line). If someone's "''opinion on what is POV and what isn't''" is that DI party line is NPOV and a balanced description that weighs all positions fairly isn't NPOV, then it would appear that their understanding of NPOV shares nothing but a name with Wikipedia's NPOV policy. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 14:02, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
 
Wow. ''Deja vu.'' I swear this discussion, in almost the same exact words was done before, maybe 3 months ago. And I don't drink or take drugs. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 03:21, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:it won't go away, because the POV, even at the very outset, is evident. (and i am no creationist nor from the religious right.) if they don't fix this blatent POV pushing, there will always be people who stumble across the article and will object to this naked bias. i just want to see it toned down a little and a little intellectual honesty displayed. [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 03:49, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
 
::How is it POV to describe a subject accurately? If it is a scientific hypothesis (which is how is has always been presented) then it should be described accurately. If it's a theological doctrine or a political slogan, then that's a different matter. But if that's the case, we still can't take the DI's definition at face value, since they say it isn't theological or political. ID has been presented as a scientific hypothesis. As a result, its predictions and implications are the predictions and implications of the hypothesis. Dembski or someone can't come along and by fiat declare that certain implications must be ignored. It doesn't work that way. One can propose an idea, one can be an advocate of an idea...but no one ''owns'' an idea, no one can declare certain implications non-existent. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 14:11, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
 
::The article seems accurate and well supported to me. Exactly where is this "evident POV" you keep yammering about? [[User:151.151.21.100|151.151.21.100]] 17:05, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:::Why is that whenever someone's POV is perfectly protected, then the argument is made that somehow an article is wrong. There is absolutely no scientific evidence of ID. ID assumes faith in a supernatural being. Those may not support someone's POV on the subject, but they are, in fact, verifiable and supportable statements. Yes they are POV, but it is a completely neutral POV. Does it support many of the editor's belief set? Yes, because many of the editors on here are scientists. This article is a fair and well-written article that would give any casual reader quite a bit of information about ID. If they believe in this Christian stuff, they may click on a link and find it interesting, even supportive of their belief set. If someone doesn't care about Christian stuff, they might want to know about ID, and after reading it think to themselves, yup, ID is all about some supernatural being guiding the world. That sounds very neutral to me. If you want the article to state, "ID is science," well, that's just too much POV. RBJ, this is a great article. BTW, from my very Jewish standpoint, Wikipedia is Christian-centric and apologetic website, and I'm glad that there are a lot of people who try to bring balance. Your world would just be a bunch of Christians running things. How sad. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 17:58, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
 
== ...another gentle attempt to make it clearer.... ==
 
I've just visited Philip's talk page (having posted there, and I'm afraid taken ages to check back in - sorry, Philip..) - and reading the comments above reinforces my thinking that we might be served by making a small change.....
 
here's another attempt that might help (further to my previous in the Spade section above....)
 
 
'''Inteligent Design'' is a term made notable by members or affiliates of the DI in early 1990s, and is an argument.... current article continues.....
 
does that help? cheers, [[User:Petesmiles|Petesmiles]] 02:16, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:Where do you propose this addition? [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 04:27, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
 
== rbj'sShorten opening....the SD ==
The definition of Intelligent Design should be as follows:
is a philosophical/theological movement and subsequent teleologically scientific movement which seeks to reinvigorate and expand scientific language concerning the Aristotelian category of telos and thus expand the parameters of modern science and its tendency towards positivistic emphasis in the natural sciences.<!-- Template:Unsigned --><small class="autosigned">—&nbsp;Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Mountbrocken|Mountbrocken]] ([[User talk:Mountbrocken#top|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Mountbrocken|contribs]]) </small>
 
:I'll bite: what has ID to do with Aristotle? I followed many arguments, by proponents and opponents of ID, and Aristotle wasn't mentioned even once. [[User:tgeorgescu|tgeorgescu]] ([[User talk:tgeorgescu|talk]]) 18:28, 16 April 2025 (UTC)
you know, first impression is that it's pretty good.... I think i like it! (will cogitate further.....) [[User:Petesmiles|Petesmiles]] 02:49, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
{{collapse top|title=Time wasted with claptrap}}
The [[WP:Short description]] should be improved. One, the overall article is about the creationist argument. With this in mind we can describe ID as an "argument" and thereby give the potential reader the essence of the topic. But two, more importantly, "pseudoscientific" adds unnecessary POV. Would we be happy with an article title of [[:Pseudoscientific arguments about the creation of the universe]]? ''No''. But we do have various articles in [[:Category:Cosmogony]] and [[:Category:Physical cosmology]]. Would any of the articles benefit from SDs that said "[[:Scientific argument about such & such]]"? Again, ''no''. Let's just say that [[:Intelligent design]] is an argument and leave out the unnecessary "pseudoscientific" adjective. – [[User:Srich32977|S. Rich]] ([[User talk:Srich32977|talk]]) 01:16, 27 October 2022 (UTC)
:"'pseudoscientific' adds unnecessary POV". Can't see it myself. 'pseudoscientific' is used in the first sentence of the lede, so is clearly considered an integral NPOV element of the topic. As such, it merits inclusion in the SD; as [[WP:Short description]] says "These descriptions ... help users identify the desired article", so including 'pseudoscientific' functions to aid in identifying 'Intelligent design' as the article about the pseudoscientific argument. -- [[User:Jmc|Jmc]] ([[User talk:Jmc|talk]]) 01:44, 27 October 2022 (UTC)
::I observe that the [[simple:Intelligent Design]] article on the simple English Wikipedia treats the subject drastically differently than this one and doesn't even mention pseudoscience. ~[[User:Anachronist|Anachronist]] <small>([[User talk:Anachronist|talk]])</small> 04:46, 27 October 2022 (UTC)
:::Wikipedia is not a reliable source. But maybe someone should change the [[simple:Intelligent Design]] article. I have experience there. Does one replace "pseudoscientific" by "stupid" or "wrong" to change it from English to Simple English? --[[User:Hob Gadling|Hob Gadling]] ([[User talk:Hob Gadling|talk]]) 05:21, 27 October 2022 (UTC)
::::This is not a question of RS for either WP or Simple WP. (No matter what, the Simple ID article must be NPOV. And changes to the Simple article are best discussed there.) I "simply" ask that we remove the POV-laden "pseudoscientific" from the short description in this regular WP article. – [[User:Srich32977|S. Rich]] ([[User talk:Srich32977|talk]]) 05:02, 28 October 2022 (UTC)
:::::{{tq|This is not a question of RS}} Yes it is. You were trying to change this Wikipedia article based on what another Wikipedia article says, so you were trying to use the other article as a source for this one. --[[User:Hob Gadling|Hob Gadling]] ([[User talk:Hob Gadling|talk]]) 05:17, 28 October 2022 (UTC)
 
::If something is science and looks like science, one does not need to mention that it is science. That is the reason why the "scientific" adjective is not used.
: well, if you continue to feel that way, i hope you defend it (and/or improve it) because there are some hard-core POV pushers here who fancy themselves as NPOV (''cough, cough'') who will certainly act to revert it. i cannot defend this by myself. also i have no need for it to be left verbatim, only that the previous blatent POV intro be toned down. [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 02:58, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
::Pseudoscience is something that pretends to be science, so it looks like science but it is not science. That is the reason why the "pseudoscientific" adjective is used. --[[User:Hob Gadling|Hob Gadling]] ([[User talk:Hob Gadling|talk]])
::: My concern is about the POV vs. NPOV tone of the SD. We can describe the article as "an argument about ...." and avoid saying it is "arcane", "former", "inaccurate", "irrelevant", "dismissed in scientific circles", "[[:hogwash]]", etc. The [[WP:SDAVOID]] guidance says "avoid 'former', 'retired', 'late', 'defunct', 'closed', etc.." Removing "pseudo" helps us comply with this guidance. – [[User:Srich32977|S. Rich]] ([[User talk:Srich32977|talk]]) 04:42, 28 October 2022 (UTC)
::::No, it does not. Calling a pseudoscience "pseudoscience" is perfectly NPOV when reliable sources consistently call it pseudoscience. I think you need to actually read [[WP:NPOV]] instead of just saying it. Also [[WP:FRINGE]], [[WP:PSCI]] and [[WP:FALSEBALANCE]].
::::Also, the logic "the rules say we should avoid X, therefore we should avoid Y" leaves something to be desired. --[[User:Hob Gadling|Hob Gadling]] ([[User talk:Hob Gadling|talk]]) 05:17, 28 October 2022 (UTC)
:::::If the words "pseudoscience" or "pseudoscientific" are to be replaced, I do appreciate Hob's suggestion to use the words "stupid" or "wrong" instead. - [[User:Roxy the dog|'''Roxy''' ]]the [[User talk:Roxy the dog|'''dog''']] 06:46, 28 October 2022 (UTC)
::::::@[[User:Srich32977|S. Rich]] You've failed to address the point I made in immediate response:
::::::'pseudoscientific' is used in the first sentence of the lede, so is clearly considered an integral NPOV element of the topic. As such, 'pseudoscientific' merits inclusion in the SD; as [[WP:Short description]] says "These descriptions ... help users identify the desired article", so including 'pseudoscientific' functions to aid in identifying 'Intelligent design' as the article about the pseudoscientific argument.
 
::::::You don't seem to have any issue with 'pseudoscientific' being used in the article itself, so your objection to it in the SD seems perverse. --[[User:Jmc|Jmc]] ([[User talk:Jmc|talk]]) 07:44, 28 October 2022 (UTC)
::Well, most editors don't. And I guess you'll accuse us of being hard-core POV pushers. Nice. [[User:Orangemarlin|Orangemarlin]] 03:23, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
:::: you can't call it "consensus" and if you counted all of the editors who pop in here and complain about the bias in the article, i doubt the use of the word "most" in addition. i'm done with it for the day. [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 03:28, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
:::Make inflammatory edits, then claim that anyone who reverts it is a POV pusher - a classical case of [[Poisoning the well]] [[User:Raul654|Raul654]] 03:26, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
:::: it's not inflammatory, but the intro that you guys keep insisting on putting in there ''is''. [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 03:28, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
:::: and it's mistaken to say it's [[Poisoning the well]], because i have been repeatedly bringing this up ever since i discovered the new POV version (and variants). the judgement of hard-core POV pushing is evident from the POV intro that violates multiple WP guidelines regarding NPOV in tone as well as insinuation that one particular side is the "correct" side came from earlier discussion. it is '''after the fact''', not pre-emptory. [[User:Rbj|r b-j]] 03:32, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:[[User:Srich32977]] Can you put the existing SD alongside something proposed ? I am doubtful you will make headway for [[WP:SDLENGTH]], but a definite comparison might at least get a focus back to about being shorter. Cheers [[User:Markbassett|Markbassett]] ([[User talk:Markbassett|talk]]) 07:21, 1 November 2022 (UTC)
:It is inaccurate and uses the rhetoric of ID promoters; therefore it is less neutral, not more. [[User:151.151.21.100|151.151.21.100]] 17:03, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
:I agree. The inclusion of the qualifier "pseudoscientific" is superfluous to the point that it reeks of bias.
:I don't think it's a battle worth fighting.
:Yes, the short description is… not short. Especially when you compare it to the length of the rest of the article. Further, some of its content is redundant with the body content.
:But it's not just the first sentence that has a POV problem. The entire short description—nay, the whole article—is marred with bias to the point that it to me looks not salvageable. And even if it were, it seems that it's guarded by a group of ideologues: fanatics who will pile on their fallacious rhetoric until the hope is sucked dry from you by the tyranny of their majority. [[User:Emilimo|Emilimo]] ([[User talk:Emilimo|talk]]) 10:19, 11 April 2023 (UTC)
::Yup, the tyranny of [[WP:BESTSOURCES]]. <sarcasm warning>How sad!</sarcasm warning> [[User:tgeorgescu|tgeorgescu]] ([[User talk:tgeorgescu|talk]]) 11:43, 11 April 2023 (UTC)
:::Straw Man. I am ''not'' criticizing [[WP:BESTSOURCES]]. When I say tyranny of the majority (which I definitely feel is happening on a large scale around discussion of this topic) I'm criticizing use of specific rhetorical devices and fallacious reasoning such as (but not limited to) [[argumentum ad populum]] and secondary implications such as [[groupthink]], overconfidence in conventional wisdom and secular orthodoxy, false sense of inerrancy, and myriad intellectual vices such as [[appeal to ridicule]] which you just used on me with your sarcasm.
:::I'm not without hypocrisy; I admit my previous comment used blatant ad hominem attack. But just because I indulged in intellectual vice for a moment doesn't invalidate my sentiment.
:::A new article need to be written about what ID really is at a fundamental level—a theory of the origin of life—outside of and disconnected from its social contexts. [[User:Emilimo|Emilimo]] ([[User talk:Emilimo|talk]]) 13:02, 11 April 2023 (UTC)
::::It isn't a scientific theory. Not even a scientific hypothesis. Because nobody took care to formulate it as a cogent scientific hypothesis. [[Phillip E. Johnson]] died without knowing the hypothesis of intelligent design. [[User:tgeorgescu|tgeorgescu]] ([[User talk:tgeorgescu|talk]]) 13:09, 11 April 2023 (UTC)
:::::That sounds like an appeal to ignorance. The theory is not valid because there hasn't been a person who has put it in a form that acceptable to you and the consensus/majority? Who is the authority on what constistutes a "cogent scientific hypothesis"? Why would we need Phillip E. Johnson to come back to life and do it for us? How do you know one is not already out there? [[User:Emilimo|Emilimo]] ([[User talk:Emilimo|talk]]) 13:35, 11 April 2023 (UTC)
:::::Wait you got me on another red herring there; I never claimed it to be a scientific theory. Which is why I think there needs to be a page presenting it without any claims of it being a scientific theory, similar to the page on the [[Big Bang]]. Just because I am suggesting the theory—in and of itself—as not scientific does not mean that it is pseudoscience. On the contrary it would arguably call for it to be, by definition of pseudoscience, no longer labeled as pseudoscience. You don't see the [[Big Bang]] theory labeled as pseudoscience. As should be the case with ID. [[User:Emilimo|Emilimo]] ([[User talk:Emilimo|talk]]) 13:45, 11 April 2023 (UTC)
::::::Big Bang, despite your protestations, ''is'' a widely-accepted scientific theory. For the metaphysical correspondent of ID, see [[Teleological argument]]. That, my friend, is a bona fide philosophical argument, but alas it has nothing to do with [[science]]. [[User:tgeorgescu|tgeorgescu]] ([[User talk:tgeorgescu|talk]]) 13:49, 11 April 2023 (UTC)
::::::{{tq|That sounds like an appeal to ignorance}} Oh, the irony. ID itself is one huge heap of appeal to ignorance ("I tried to find a way how evolution can make things like X, and I failed"; insert every biological feature for X); it does not have any actual content beyond that. And that is the very reason why ID is no scientific hypothesis. You are talking to people with lots of experience debating "Cdesign proponentsists", and every time one asks one of them for the theory of ID, one gets crickets.
::::::{{tq|How do you know one is not already out there?}} The burden of proof is on the person who claims that it exists. Bring it here, and everybody will be baffled, stunned, and surprised.
::::::Independent of that, this is [[WP:NOTFORUM|not a forum]]. Your claim of bias is commonplace for every article about any pseudoscience - see [[WP:YWAB]] - and does not impress anybody. --[[User:Hob Gadling|Hob Gadling]] ([[User talk:Hob Gadling|talk]]) 15:09, 11 April 2023 (UTC)
:::Sources are sometimes bias as well. Given that it is a controversial topic we should add further in the article that "it is considered by most scientists a pseudoscientific argument" given the right sources, but not in the opening paragraph. Is like if someone made the opening paragraph of [[Gender pay gap]] to be "The gender pay gap or gender wage gap is the ALLEGEDLY difference between the remuneration for men and women who are working." - [[User:Barumbarumba|Barumbarumba]] ([[User talk:Barumbarumba|talk]]) 23:39, 29 December 2023 (UTC)
::::The thing is, all pro-Intelligent Design sources are notoriously unreliable, and "unbiased sources" are invariably accused and denounced as being negatively biased due to accurately describing Intelligent Design as religiously-inspired, anti-science flimflam. [[User:Apokryltaros|Mr Fink]] ([[User talk:Apokryltaros|talk]]) 00:00, 30 December 2023 (UTC)
:::::I fully agree with you. Since the professional editors of the Encyclopedia Britannica didn't consider it appropriate to apply the label "pseudoscientific" to ID theory, it seems reasonable to avoid that in order to preserve neutrality. The better approach would be to neutrally include the statement by the US National Academy of Science saying that it isn't a legitimate scientific theory. I would argue that the term 'pseudoscience' is appropriately applied to theories like Flat Earth. Because ID has support from a number of scientists with relevant educational backgrounds, I believe it is more accurately categorized as 'fringe science' or 'questionable science' prominent supporters of ID include: award winning chemist Dr. Henry F. Schaefer III, professor of biochemistry Dr. Michael Behe, and Microbiology professor Dr. Scott Minnich. Further, a 2018 Pew Poll of members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science found that 2% of members believed humans had always existed in their present form, and another 8% believed that human evolution was guided by a supreme being. [Elaborating on the Views of AAAS Scientists, Issue by Issue | Pew Research Center] [[User:BeLikeBritannica|BeLikeBritannica]] ([[User talk:BeLikeBritannica|talk]]) 20:43, 18 March 2024 (UTC)
::::::Read the FAQ. --[[User:Hob Gadling|Hob Gadling]] ([[User talk:Hob Gadling|talk]]) 12:57, 19 March 2024 (UTC)
::I created an account just to agree and complain about the rampant and abhorrent bias and POV narration in the article. While I do not subscribe to the belief myself, the rampant author judgments within is disgustingly transparent and, if I can be crass, immature and embarrassing to read to someone looking for information on the subject. When you have editors like Hob Gadling or Roxy the Dog using charged language like "stupid" to describe belief systems, it worsens the content of the site and makes this article read like the tangents of a lonely Redditor upset that they had to go to Sunday school when they were eight, rather than a source of information.
::For comparison's sake, the article on Scientology reserves such personal judgments, attributing labels of ingenuity and falsehood to third parties, not from the author's own original judgments. Similar belief systems are treated with more respect, but this one is marred entirely because of its prevalence in western culture.
::Such impartial author viewpoints are rampant throughout the article. A few keypoints of contention I noticed from a cursory search include the tangent of the Discovery Institution (cited from someone saying they're "a leader" because several members of the movement are "associated," as if there's any other article out there that pulls such vague weasel wording. To air out dirty laundry, it's very apparent that this is for the purpose of associating the article with conservative think tanks as a prelude, rather than as a detail later on in the history of the article, where such information should be placed). The line "Detailed scientific examination has rebutted several examples for which evolutionary explanations are claimed to be impossible." strikes me too (the preceding claims should be included in a summary, with these examinations placed in a proceeding criticism section. Such is the norm for most articles, but this one gets an exception because the editors REALLY want everyone to know their takes on it). "The Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District court ruling held the latter to be the case." line is out of place and only contextualized by scouring the references and notes before when this should have its own section, the line itself following what reads like original research on the dilemma of what the belief states. The article itself is littered with details that add very little ("A Discovery Institute report says that Charles B. Thaxton, editor of Pandas, had picked the phrase up from a NASA scientist, and thought, "That's just what I need, it's a good engineering term."") There is a separate article for that book; include the information there! In the section on concepts of the belief system, while generally more well-constructed, it still has its fair share of issues. The paragraph of "Critics point out that the irreducible complexity" is vague in referring to whom these critics are, which is embarrassing when the section on Specified complexity does this tactic of citing a vague "scientific community" correctly. The "Fine-tuned universe" paragraph has only one citation, and it doesn't even link to anything! The distinction of the ideology from the movement is made too little too late for how the article presents the relevance of the Discovery Institution...
::I could go on, but I have a feeling the people responsible for the poor state of the article have their heels dug in so deeply that they will refuse to acknowledge the myriad of problems within the article, so I'll abridge my grievances: the article is absolutely filled with author judgments more concerned with refuting the subject rather than presenting a clean, readable text, and as a result the article is filled with poor citations, clunky and out-of-place details, and an astonishing amount of frontloaded bloat. It has been an absolute chore to read this thing.
::I know this is going to be taken in bad faith to be misconstrued as "remove all criticism from the article," which is absolutely not backed up by anything I just said, so let me repeat that's not what I'm asking. I'm asking that the few people with self-restraint here actually structure the article to read like something trying to give an overview of the subject foremost, criticisms debunkings and all, in a clean, readable manner, and not like it was written foremost as a sloppy blog entry wearing the skin of an encyclopedia.
::[[User:OldManYellsAtClouds|OldManYellsAtClouds]] ([[User talk:OldManYellsAtClouds|talk]]) 20:56, 12 September 2024 (UTC)
:::ID is a paragon of pseudoscience, according to [[WP:BESTSOURCES]], and we have the website policy [[WP:PSCI]].
:::About Scientology: we don't say that because that is a matter of judging intentions rather than judging facts. [[User:tgeorgescu|tgeorgescu]] ([[User talk:tgeorgescu|talk]]) 21:09, 12 September 2024 (UTC)
::::I would implore you to actually read the post you're replying to.
::::I do not care about validity of the subject matter (though I do think the "pseudoscience" label could benefit from a citation and end a lot of talk on this page if added, since one thing I keep seeing while reading posts here is that there's apparently a lot of sources calling it one). I'm discussing the poor state in which this article is written because it's entirely from people foremost interested in taking the ideology down a peg thinking they have article ownership and loading it with original research, to a point that it reads worse than other infamous pseudoscience topics. Similar articles have clear and lengthy sections for criticisms and debunkings that serve just fine. This one opts to make a massive mess of the subject. It's a badly written article.
::::You can agree or disagree with the subject, but from an objective point of view the article is a mess. If I find the energy/time, I'll clean up a lot of my grievances myself.
::::[[User:OldManYellsAtClouds|OldManYellsAtClouds]] ([[User talk:OldManYellsAtClouds|talk]]) 22:10, 12 September 2024 (UTC)
:::::The tone can get copy/edited. But the fact that it is patent pseudoscience should remain inside the article, very clearly and unambiguously expressed. In that respect we have no choice, since website policy is binding. [[User:tgeorgescu|tgeorgescu]] ([[User talk:tgeorgescu|talk]]) 22:16, 12 September 2024 (UTC)
::::::{{tq|The tone can get copy/edited. But the fact that it is patent pseudoscience should remain inside the article}}
::::::For probably the third time now, I don't give a crap about that label. I would even agree that it should be there if it was sourced. My problem is the article is poorly written. I have given several examples demonstrating this, please actually read those instead of arguing against a point nobody is making.
::::::[[User:OldManYellsAtClouds|OldManYellsAtClouds]] ([[User talk:OldManYellsAtClouds|talk]]) 22:48, 12 September 2024 (UTC)
:::::::Okay, to the point: criticism sections are dissuaded. Criticism should be spread inside the article, refuting each point being made by the pseudoscientists.
:::::::In other words: the fact that this article does not have a criticism section is a net positive, and the articles which do aren't good examples to imitate. [[User:tgeorgescu|tgeorgescu]] ([[User talk:tgeorgescu|talk]]) 23:02, 12 September 2024 (UTC)
::::::::{{tq|Criticism should be spread inside the article, refuting each point being made by the pseudoscientists.}}
::::::::Do you have a policy you can point to that illustrates that to be the case? This is one of the only articles I have seen on the site whose reading goes out of its way to meticulously try to debunk everything stated within it. This type of writing isn't employed in many other religious articles if at all, and reads choppy and unfocused.
::::::::[[User:OldManYellsAtClouds|OldManYellsAtClouds]] ([[User talk:OldManYellsAtClouds|talk]]) 01:24, 13 September 2024 (UTC)
:::::::::[[Wikipedia:Criticism#Avoid sections and articles focusing on criticisms or controversies]]. [[User:tgeorgescu|tgeorgescu]] ([[User talk:tgeorgescu|talk]]) 02:05, 13 September 2024 (UTC)
::::::::::While I do honestly appreciate the attempt at giving a policy, the subject of this page should fall under an exception mentioned:
::::::::::"For topics about a particular point of view – such as philosophies (Idealism, Naturalism, Existentialism), political outlooks (Capitalism, Marxism), or religion (Islam, Christianity, Atheism) – it will usually be appropriate to have a "Criticism" section or "Criticism of ..." subarticle. Integrating criticism into the main article can cause confusion because readers may misconstrue the critical material as representative of the philosophy's outlook, the political stance, or the religion's tenets."
::::::::::In the case of this article, there are several instances where this kind of information is haphazardly placed about because of the lack of refrain. I listed one in the article trying to link the subject to a conservative think tank, but there are more.
::::::::::[[User:OldManYellsAtClouds|OldManYellsAtClouds]] ([[User talk:OldManYellsAtClouds|talk]]) 02:47, 13 September 2024 (UTC)
:::::::::::ID is propagated by a Christian conservative think-tank. It's not some accidental detail of it, it is so by design. [[User:tgeorgescu|tgeorgescu]] ([[User talk:tgeorgescu|talk]]) 03:24, 13 September 2024 (UTC)
::::::::::::The section as worded reads like a clear violation of [[WP:AWW]]. A stronger relationship than "The leading proponents of ID are associated with" should be provided, and this information should be listed in the section regarding the movement. While the information is important to include, in its current state it's not important enough to include in the opening section, much less before the early history of the ideology before YECs.
::::::::::::[[User:OldManYellsAtClouds|OldManYellsAtClouds]] ([[User talk:OldManYellsAtClouds|talk]]) 03:50, 13 September 2024 (UTC)
:::::::::::::Let me tell you something: the people who hate mainstream science already got the message that Wikipedia is against them. So, we're writing for a certain audience, not for everybody.
:::::::::::::Our bias is not concealed. People who love Wikipedia, love it for such bias. [[User:tgeorgescu|tgeorgescu]] ([[User talk:tgeorgescu|talk]]) 05:11, 13 September 2024 (UTC)
::::::::::::::This is an open encyclopedia, not your personal blog. I don't give a crap what windmill-tilting you seem to think is being waged against a couple hundred creationist nutjobs, the article is written like crap and I've given several clear examples and policies that showcase very specific examples.
::::::::::::::[[User:OldManYellsAtClouds|OldManYellsAtClouds]] ([[User talk:OldManYellsAtClouds|talk]]) 17:37, 13 September 2024 (UTC)
{{od|::::::::::::::}} @[[User:OldManYellsAtClouds|OldManYellsAtClouds]] Rather than yell at clouds, it'd be better to positively address issues. Here's a small example with a big issue behind it: you say, "The "Fine-tuned universe" paragraph has only one citation, and it doesn't even link to anything!". The reason it (and many pseudo-links like it) doesn't link to anything is the big issue and it needs someone with your energy to address it. -- [[User:Jmc|Jmc]] ([[User talk:Jmc|talk]]) 03:19, 13 September 2024 (UTC)
 
:While I do appreciate the invitation, and will probably take it up when I have more time on my hands, un
== Info boxes ==
:Judging byIsome of the rather... let's say "brash adamancy" of some of the regulars on this talk page i. I worry that such radical changes such as removing that problematic paragraph and rearranging the criticisms into a cleaner format would be misconstrued as trying to hide or mitigate criticisms against the subject matter. Rather than risk a one-sided edit war, it would be better for the people adding these text to just provide a proper citation and not make the article a complete mess.both carrying the article's current style, I suspect I may need to take your advice regardless.
<s>
:[[User:OldManYellsAtClouds|OldManYellsAtClouds]] ([[User talk:OldManYellsAtClouds|talk]]) 03:36, 13 September 2024 (UTC)
As having two info boxes on one page often leads to bad behaviour (click the "hide" button on the table of contents, and they bunch up hideously) can I suggest we either make the creationism, evolution, and intelligent design templates the same width, so they can be put in a holding box together; or make combined templates for use wherever needed? Any thoughts? [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 03:59, 14 March 2007 (UTC)</s>
:As the article is protected, I'm working at a proposed rewrite that cleans up some of the grievances I have with the page on my userpage. As of writing I have the introductory paragraph glanced at. If you're not being coy, I'd like honest feedback on my proposed changes.
:[[User:OldManYellsAtClouds|OldManYellsAtClouds]] ([[User talk:OldManYellsAtClouds|talk]]) 18:10, 13 September 2024 (UTC)
 
::The [[WP:LEAD|introduction]] of an article contains the summary of the body of that article. So, unless the version you are proposing is very closed from the current version, any new introduction not properly summarizing the '''current version''' of the article is likely to be a non starter. --[[User:McSly|McSly]] ([[User talk:McSly|talk]]) 19:09, 13 September 2024 (UTC)
:Ha! Fixed! [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 04:39, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
:::{{tq|So, unless the version you are proposing is very closed from the current version}}
:::[[User:OldManYellsAtClouds/sandbox|It is, just a tad more streamlined, cleaned, and worded more impartially.]] I left commentary, including two explicit requests for citations.
:::[[User:OldManYellsAtClouds|OldManYellsAtClouds]] ([[User talk:OldManYellsAtClouds|talk]]) 19:43, 13 September 2024 (UTC)
::::You are requesting a citation for "pseudoscience". But no citation is given, according to [[WP:CITELEAD]]. So, yes, there is a reason why no citation is given.
::::I saw the changes you advocate for: the changes are minor, and often not compliant with [[WP:PAG]]s. About impartiality, see [[WP:FALSEBALANCE]].
::::Also, I don't see why [[WP:RS]] should be provided for a ''hidden comment.'' [[User:tgeorgescu|tgeorgescu]] ([[User talk:tgeorgescu|talk]]) 00:26, 14 September 2024 (UTC)
:::::{{tq|You are requesting a citation for "pseudoscience". But no citation is given, according to WP:CITELEAD. So, yes, there is a reason why no citation is given.}}
:::::I believe the exceptions listed in [[MOS:CITELEAD]] are applicable here, given how contentious the label has been in these talk pages, and from the opening sentence of the article itself having ''five ''citations within it. Moving the fifth reference to specifically address the pseudoscience label adds no new citations to the lead and satisfies my complaint with that particular point. I ask in my suggestions for someone to provide a source since (1) I believe there may be a more readily-available source that could be used in its place, and (2) I typed it on mobile and don't like using the article editor for more than basic formatting.
:::::{{tq|I saw the changes you advocate for: the changes are minor, and often not compliant with WP:PAGs. About impartiality, see WP:FALSEBALANCE.}}
:::::I'm tempted to evoke [[WP:SARC]] here, as "and often not compliant with WP:PAGs" is possibly one of the most vague and thus irrelevant complaints that could be levied. I ask for forgiveness in being heated for a moment; the idea that a simple cleanup to the article, a cleanup in which I've not added anything to even hint at the validity of ID and attempted to avoid [[WP:POVDELETION]] by retaining criticisms except in cases where it would be better to move information, is even remotely the same thing as trying to make a false balance is overly simplistic and a tad insulting. Wikipedia is not obliged to validate pseudoscience, I can agree and don't think either of us said otherwise, but it's also [[WP:NOTOPINION|not a place for authors to engage against the subject]] (much less [[Wikipedia:Fringe_theories|focus on discrediting fringe theories]]) to make it a messy read or use the notion of bias existing to [[WP:SOAP|go on tangents about the subject]] in ways that harm the objective tone and pacing of the article.
:::::The thing that really gets me scratching my head about all of this is that the sources and facts are against ID, so making a clearer article helps ID proponents none.
:::::[[User:OldManYellsAtClouds|OldManYellsAtClouds]] ([[User talk:OldManYellsAtClouds|talk]]) 06:43, 14 September 2024 (UTC)
::::::[[WP:FALSEBALANCE]] was a reply to {{tq|more impartially}}. You proposed minor edits, so I don't see those as either cleanup of the article or making the article more impartial. This all debate seems therefore as much ado about nothing. [[User:tgeorgescu|tgeorgescu]] ([[User talk:tgeorgescu|talk]]) 07:12, 14 September 2024 (UTC)
:::::::{{tq|WP:FALSEBALANCE was a reply to more impartially}}
:::::::I never asked for more impartiality, I described this as a perk of the cleanup. Please follow the conversation.
:::::::{{tq|You proposed minor edits, so I don't see those as either cleanup of the article or making the article more impartial.}}
:::::::I'll ignore the non-sequitur in that and reassert the context of what's happening: I am pulling teeth against a user who thinks [[WP:NOOBJECTIVITY]] means an author should argue against the subject of an article, and am being met with resistance for miniscule cleanups in the opening paragraphs. I would go through cleaning up the entire thing for its other myriad issues, but lack any trust that such exhaustive efforts would be met with anything besides someone violating [[WP:OWNER]].
:::::::This debate being "for nothing" can be amswered with one question: what is going to happen if I try to get even those simple cleanups in the lead put in? I hope, in that front, I'd have made a stink for nothing.
:::::::[[User:OldManYellsAtClouds|OldManYellsAtClouds]] ([[User talk:OldManYellsAtClouds|talk]]) 07:28, 14 September 2024 (UTC)
::::::::Well, friend, I'm only one editor, so I never decide myself the [[WP:CONSENSUS]].
::::::::[[WP:NOOBJECTIVITY]] is an essay, meaning it is neither policy, nor guideline. [[WP:PSCI]] on the other hand is website policy. So, obviously, website policy trumps an essay. [[User:tgeorgescu|tgeorgescu]] ([[User talk:tgeorgescu|talk]]) 08:05, 14 September 2024 (UTC)
:::::::::{{tq|Well, friend, I'm only one editor, so I never decide myself the WP:CONSENSUS.}}
:::::::::I'm really interested in what conversation you're having in which you're debating if ID is pseudoscience.
:::::::::It seriously is grating to read so many replies from you that fail to address even one point being brought up and instead go after some paranoia.
:::::::::{{tq|WP:NOOBJECTIVITY is an essay, meaning it is neither policy, nor guideline.}}
:::::::::That argument is on-par with the "evolution is just a theory" sound bite creationists love. [WP:NOOBJECTIVITY] summarizes a policy which reads {{tq|"which means representing fairly, proportionately, and, as far as possible, '''without editorial bias,''' all the significant views that have been published by reliable sources on a topic."}}
:::::::::Emphasis mine. Meanwhile you're on here justifying an article littered with [[WP:OR]] with {{tq|"Our bias is not concealed. People who love Wikipedia, love it for such bias."}} I
:::::::::
:::::::::{{tq|WP:PSCI on the other hand is website policy}}
:::::::::Is '''anyone''' here arguing that ID isn't pseudoscience?
:::::::::[[User:OldManYellsAtClouds|OldManYellsAtClouds]] ([[User talk:OldManYellsAtClouds|talk]]) 19:33, 14 September 2024 (UTC)
::::::::::[[WP:PSCI]] requires a certain tone of the article. While you admit that ID is pseudoscience, you seek to soften the tone of the article. E.g. downplaying that it is essentially a movement propagated by a conservative Christian think tank. And that it caters to fundamentalist Christians and evangelicals, since Catholics and mainline Protestants made peace with the theory of evolution. And that instead of seeking to discover new objective facts in biology, it is essentially a ploy to introduce God in sciences, i.e. despite the boundaries established by Immanuel Kant, who said he had to deny knowledge in order to make room for faith. [[User:tgeorgescu|tgeorgescu]] ([[User talk:tgeorgescu|talk]]) 21:21, 14 September 2024 (UTC)
:::::::::::{{tq|WP:PSCI requires a certain tone of the article}}
:::::::::::I do not believe you are meeting that tone. You are going beyond meeting explaining that the content of the article is wrong and are more focused on a personal mission to debate everything within it with [[WP:OR|Original Research]]. There's several instances where you're barely citing scientific experts or explaining that the counterarguments come from these experts.
:::::::::::* "A sufficiently succinct summary of the argument from design shows its unscientific, circular, and thereby illogical reasoning" '''<-- This is ''your ''conclusion presented without a source'''
:::::::::::* "Whether this lack of specificity about the designer's identity in public discussions is a genuine feature of the concept – or just a posture taken to avoid alienating those who would separate religion from the teaching of science – has been a matter of great debate between supporters and critics of intelligent design. The Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District court ruling held the latter to be the case." '''<-- Debated by whom? This is the closing paragraph of a section, not the beginning summary. Don't just reference the court ruling in-sentence either, put its verdict at the end and cite the case.'''
:::::::::::* "Variations on the phrase appeared in Young Earth creationist publications (...) there in the first place."" '''<-- Move source 34 earlier, since there's a clear split in the paragraph where it stops referencing material from it and starts referencing material from 33.'''
:::::::::::* "Critics point out that the irreducible complexity argument assumes that the necessary parts of a system have always been necessary and therefore could not have been added sequentially." '''<-- I don't have anything suggesting needing fixed here, I want to point out that this paragraph is mostly good. The vague "critics" is part of the introduction, but even it's cited, and later on it starts giving names with specific arguments. This is good. This is how the article should read. There's a lot of sections that read like this, and I feel as if it would be unfair to leave them unrecognized.'''
:::::::::::* "Irreducible complexity has remained a popular argument among advocates of intelligent design;" '''<--- I say the paragraph is "mostly" good because of this line. This should be reworded or removed. It doesn't help the proceeding explicitly cited debunking, and it is redundant. You are presenting this idea first in the argument list. Narratively, this weight assumes that it's a popular argument (avoid weasel words too).'''
 
:::::::::::There are more examples, but I wish to move on. <!-- Template:Unsigned --><small class="autosigned">—&nbsp;Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:OldManYellsAtClouds|OldManYellsAtClouds]] ([[User talk:OldManYellsAtClouds#top|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/OldManYellsAtClouds|contribs]]) 14:08, 19 September 2024 (UTC)</small> <!--Autosigned by SineBot-->
== ...i may be missing something... ==
 
:::::::::::{{tq|While you admit that ID is pseudoscience}}
but i really didn't see anything inflammatory in rbj's introduction. I know he's abrasive, and pretty much downright rude sometimes on the talk page - but to delete his intro. with a summary of 'rv POV pushing' just doesn't seem right to me...
:::::::::::This statement reads as if you're proposing that everyone who agrees with the scientific community should be okay with the sloppy article, which is ridiculous. It's entirely possible to be objective about a topic known to be false, and to criticize an article on the subject for its shortcomings.
:::::::::::{{tq|you seek to soften the tone of the article (...)}}
:::::::::::It is apparent you are not reading my posts, and came in here with a preconceived notion that everyone critical of the article's writing and structure must be a proponent of ID, and no amount of reasoning or given examples of the article's shortcomings will convince you otherwise.
:::::::::::Get this through your head. Sit down and read this slowly, multiple times if needed: '''I am not arguing about the validity of ID. I am addressing the writing of a poorly-constructed Wikipedia article.'''
:::::::::::It's as if you think not including the sources of these statement would make anyone susceptible to believing ID. When a lot of people see articles like this one, argumentized takedowns that use your own wording more than the scientific community's, they see someone with a personal grudge about the ideology and want to know why it made them so mad, and end up looking into it. Having names behind the statements make the content stronger and more reliable, which hurts ID more.
:::::::::::Instead of squabbling with you further, I'm going to begin making some minor edits to the article to fix some of these myriad issues.
:::::::::::[[User:OldManYellsAtClouds|OldManYellsAtClouds]] ([[User talk:OldManYellsAtClouds|talk]]) 14:07, 19 September 2024 (UTC)
:@[[User:Srich32977|Srich32977]], I agree! Wikipedia should be neutral. I changed/removed "pseudoscientific" [[User:Leonardo da vin|Leonardo da vin :D]] ([[User talk:Leonardo da vin|talk]]|[[Special:Contributions/Leonardo da vin|contrib.]]) 04:14, 25 February 2025 (UTC)
::Typical creationist attitude: From a huge body of text, pick the part you agree with, ignoring all the refutations, and conclude that you must be right. You were reverted because Wikipedia does not work like that. --[[User:Hob Gadling|Hob Gadling]] ([[User talk:Hob Gadling|talk]]) 09:12, 25 February 2025 (UTC)
:::Uhh, yeah, but wikipedia should be neutral to ''everybody,'' and Christians are people, right, @[[User:Hob Gadling|Hob Gadling]]? [[User:Leonardo da vin|Leonardo da vin :D]] ([[User talk:Leonardo da vin|talk]]|[[Special:Contributions/Leonardo da vin|contrib.]]) 16:27, 25 February 2025 (UTC)
:::: Being "neutral" does not include having to treat pseudoscience as science. See also [[WP:YESBIAS]] and more controversially [[WP:YWAB]]. [[User_talk:Black Kite|Black Kite (talk)]] 16:42, 25 February 2025 (UTC)
:::::creationists think that its not pseudoscience. [[User:Leonardo da vin|Leonardo da vin :D]] ([[User talk:Leonardo da vin|talk]]|[[Special:Contributions/Leonardo da vin|contrib.]]) 16:45, 25 February 2025 (UTC)
::::::Creationists are objectively, demonstrably wrong about that. We don't include objectively, demonstrably wrong claims in an encyclopedia, that's exactly contrary to our purpose here. [[User:MjolnirPants|<span style="color:#004400;">'''ᛗᛁᛟᛚᚾᛁᚱPants'''</span>]] <small><small>[[User_talk:MjolnirPants|''Tell me all about it.'']]</small></small> 17:22, 25 February 2025 (UTC)
:::::::Well, @[[User:MjolnirPants|MjolnirPants]], you are wrong because evolution is demonstratably wrong. '''WRONG!''' What are the chances of something like life on earth ''randomly'' evolving out of pond scum? Amd besides, life can't come out of non-life. Also, natural selection can't gain information, it ''loses'' it. Amd those galapagos finches adapted, not evolved. This is why intelligent design by God is rigt! [[User:Leonardo da vin|Leonardo da vin :D]] ([[User talk:Leonardo da vin|talk]]|[[Special:Contributions/Leonardo da vin|contrib.]]) 21:02, 25 February 2025 (UTC)
:::::Exactly why this article isnt neutral!!! [[User:Leonardo da vin|Leonardo da vin :D]] ([[User talk:Leonardo da vin|talk]]|[[Special:Contributions/Leonardo da vin|contrib.]]) 16:46, 25 February 2025 (UTC)
::::::You need to read [[WP:NPOV]] to find out that "neutral" on Wikipedia does not mean "science and bullshit need to be treated equally". --[[User:Hob Gadling|Hob Gadling]] ([[User talk:Hob Gadling|talk]]) 16:52, 25 February 2025 (UTC)
:::::: Well, unfortunately for them, ID is actually the poster child for pseudoscience, it ''exactly'' fits the definition of something that is clearly not science being presented as such. I have no doubt that creationists disagree with that definition, but we follow the reliable sources. And doing that is what makes editing neutral ([[WP:FALSEBALANCE]] also applies here). [[User_talk:Black Kite|Black Kite (talk)]] 16:54, 25 February 2025 (UTC)
::::::I don't know why you insist: the position of Wikipedia about ID is publicly known for at least a decade. And no, it won't change just because you ask nicely. [[User:tgeorgescu|tgeorgescu]] ([[User talk:tgeorgescu|talk]]) 18:15, 25 February 2025 (UTC)
::::This is not about "Christians". This is about liars who pretend to do science while actually doing badly camouflaged religion, in order to circumvent the American constitution. --[[User:Hob Gadling|Hob Gadling]] ([[User talk:Hob Gadling|talk]]) 16:52, 25 February 2025 (UTC)
{{collapse bottom}}
 
== Moving up god of the gaps to argument from ignorance ==
Anyways - in the spirit of collaboration etc. perhaps someone could just say what they thought was horrible about his intro. - it didn't seem that big a change to me.... here it is to save you history trawling.....
 
Seeing as they are both the same logical fallacy should we merge or put them next to each other? It's strange that the same fallacy is at the second front and then at the end. [[User:Question169|Question169]] ([[User talk:Question169|talk]]) 20:43, 27 March 2025 (UTC)
'''Intelligent design''' is the belief that "certain features of the [[fine-tuned universe|universe]] and of [[life|living things]] are best explained by an [[intelligent designer|intelligent cause]], not an undirected process such as [[natural selection]]."<ref name=DIposition>Discovery Institute, Center for Science and Culture. [http://www.discovery.org/csc/topQuestions.php#questionsAboutIntelligentDesign Questions about Intelligent Design]: What is the theory of intelligent design? "''The theory of intelligent design holds that certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection.''"<br>• [http://www.ideacenter.org/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/1136 Primer: Intelligent Design Theory in a Nutshell] Intelligent Design and Evolution Awareness (IDEA)<br>• [http://www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org/ Intelligent Design] Intelligent Design network.</ref>
It has been determined by [[scientific consensus]] to be a [[pseudoscience]], not adhering to the [[scientific method]], and by [[court ruling|legal ruling]] to be "not a new scientific argument, but is rather an old religious [[teleological argument|argument for the existence of God]]."<ref>"ID is not a new scientific argument, but is rather an old religious argument for the existence of God. He traced this argument back to at least [[Thomas Aquinas]] in the 13th century, who framed the argument as a syllogism: Wherever complex design exists, there must have been a designer; nature is complex; therefore nature must have had an intelligent designer." (Known as the [[teleological argument]]) [[s:Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District/2:Context#Page 24 of 139|Ruling]], [[Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District]], December, 2005</ref>
Its leading proponents, all of whom are affiliated with the [[Discovery Institute]],<ref><cite>"Q. Has the Discovery Institute been a leader in the intelligent design movement? A. Yes, the Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture. Q. And are almost all of the individuals who are involved with the intelligent design movement associated with the Discovery Institute? A. All of the leaders are, yes."</cite> [[Barbara Forrest]], 2005, testifying in the [[Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District]] trial. [http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/dover/day6pm.html Kitzmiller Dove Testimony, Barbara Forrest]<br>• "The Discovery Institute is the ideological and strategic backbone behind the eruption of skirmishes over science in school districts and state capitals across the country." [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/21/national/21evolve.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5070&en=3a7c120f2a6b4972&ex=1160107200 Politicized Scholars Put Evolution on the Defensive] Jodi Wilgoren. The New York Times, August 21 2005.<br>• [http://www.aclu.org/religion/schools/16371res20050916.html Who is behind the ID movement?] Frequently Asked Questions About "Intelligent Design", [[American Civil Liberties Union]].<br>• "Discovery Institute, a Seattle-based think tank established in 1991. The institute, which promotes a conservative public-policy agenda, has occupied a lead role in the ID movement recently, most notably through its Center for Science and Culture, which boasts a number of leading ID proponents among its fellows and advisers." [http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&program=DI%20Main%20Page%20-%20News&id=2745 The Evolution of George Gilder] Joseph P. Kahn. The Boston Globe, July 27 2005.<br>• [http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/filesDB-download.php?command=download&id=602 "Who's Who of Intelligent Design Proponents," Science & Religion Guide] Science and Theology News. November 2005. (PDF file)</ref><ref name="aaas_pr">[http://www.aaas.org/spp/dser/03_Areas/evolution/issues/peerreview.shtml Intelligent Design and Peer Review] American Association for the Advancement of Science.</ref><ref name="jci">"The engine behind the ID movement is the Discovery Institute." [http://www.jci.org/cgi/content/full/116/5/1134 Defending science education against intelligent design: a call to action] Journal of Clinical Investigation 116:1134–1138 (2006). doi:10.1172/JCI28449. A publication of the American Society for Clinical Investigation.</ref> claim that intelligent design is a [[Science|scientific]] [[theory]] that stands on equal footing with, or is superior to, current scientific theories regarding the [[evolution]] and [[origin of life]].<ref>Stephen C. Meyer, 2005. Ignatius Press. [http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=1780 The Scientific Status of Intelligent Design: The Methodological Equivalence of Naturalistic and Non-Naturalistic Origins Theories]. See also [[Darwin's Black Box]]. </ref> Opponents claim this is a disguised strategy to reintroduce [[Creationism]] to the science classroom after being banned from state supported [[public education]] by the [[Edwards v. Aguillard]] ruling.
 
:[[User:Question169]] I think they are not exactly the same -- the one seems a subset of the other -- and the cites are to separate labels by different people. Plus there may be some logic to the order of mentioning the larger scope argument-from-ignorance first in a reasonable summary of a Scott paper saying that about ID, then follows the section Possible theistic implications with Coyne there, and then that leads into the specific theistic god-of-the-gaps subset citing Ratszch mentioning opponents object design theories are disguised god-of-the-gaps. Not sure that it is really worth several whole screens just to note who made what vague label accusation, but they do seem distinct, and the order of presentation may have some logic to it. Cheers [[User:Markbassett|Markbassett]] ([[User talk:Markbassett|talk]]) 01:19, 1 April 2025 (UTC)
... thanks all... [[User:Petesmiles|Petesmiles]] 04:13, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
::Actually, it's not just "opponents" who "claim" ID is a disguised strategy to reintroduce creationism to the science classroom. The [[George W. Bush|Bush]]-appointed judge in Kitzmiller has also concluded thusly, as have many scientists and the writers in the mainstream press that have written about it. Often, one begins with either an open mind or a bit of healthy skepticism, and upon understanding what it is, may indeed become an opponent of what it seeks to do. Thus this is more than just a claim of ideological or political opponents of whatever underlying agendas may be involved or intertwined with the desire to teach intelligent design as an alternative to [[evolution]] in the public school science classrooms. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 16:11, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
 
== Semi-protected edit request on 16 April 2025 ==
:"undirected process such as natural selection" is an odd phrase to use. It's not exactly wrong, but it's.... one of the more bizarre short descriptions of natural selection.
:<s>However, the main problem is this: The lead guidelines ask for it to be set out as a series of self-contained wholes. The first sentence, first paragraph, whole introduction, and whole article all ought to be as accurate at explaining the whole as the space permits. However, criticism is now banished from the first paragraph, leaving it with only the views of its proponents. This ''is'', to some extent, POV-pushing, albeit probably accidental. {{unsigned|Adam Cuerden}}</s>
:Conflated with specified complexity, this is more accurate: Intelligent design is a fringe view, and should be identified as such, according to the WP guidelines. I think the reversion was probably a little harsh in description, but it must be said that it's much harder to tell it's a fringe view from r-b-j's overly-equally-balanced portrayal than the previous. [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 04:53, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
 
{{edit semi-protected|Intelligent design|answered=yes}}
::It ''is'' wrong - it's one of those creationist code phrases, like "Darwinism". It's a way to trying to call evolution "random". Which it isn't - it is "guided", by the environment, but other species, etc. It's also constrained by the past. "Misleading" is the best way to characterise that phrase...intentionally misleading, one would assume, since it's part of the standard creationist way of wording things. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 04:50, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
The definition of Intelligent Design should EXCLUDE the term pseudoscience and the definition should be this: is a philosophical/theological movement and subsequent teleologically scientific movement which seeks to reinvigorate and expand scientific language concerning the Aristotelian category of telos and thus expand the parameters of modern science and its tendency towards positivistic emphasis in the natural sciences. [[User:Mountbrocken|Mountbrocken]] ([[User talk:Mountbrocken|talk]]) 18:28, 16 April 2025 (UTC)
:::True. I suppose that's why I'm so wary of it - it's accurate to a point, but it's leaving a lot out. [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 04:53, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
 
:Replied above: it is not clear what Aristotle has to do with ID.
:Fundamentally, the newer intro is more accurate, and is more in keeping with how scholars have described ID. ID attempts to prove ''intelligent design'', which necessitates a designer, which, as [[Elliot Sober]] (for example) has shown, has to be God. If ID were simply the argument that there are elements of the natural world that are best described by something other than existing evolutionary theory, it would be a trivial hypothesis which simply says "we don't know everything yet". However, it goes further, it asserts that we can show that there are things that are designed by an intelligent force which, as others have shown, can only be God (pretty much by definition ''becomes'' a God). Thus, "we can prove God exists". Thus, it is an argument for the existence of God...it's the assertion that the existence of God can be proven through science. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 05:00, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
:The only mention of telistic science was Thomas Nagel's paper on ID. For the rest, neither proponents, nor opponents made a connection between ID and Aristotle. [[User:tgeorgescu|tgeorgescu]] ([[User talk:tgeorgescu|talk]]) 19:23, 16 April 2025 (UTC)
::And, by the way, linking "universe" to "fine tuned universe" probably violates the principle of least surprise. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 05:07, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
:Aristotlelian philosophy held that truth was established by quality of rhetoric and appeal to authority. For Aristoteleans, heavy objects fall faster than light ones, and both fall at constant speed. This was replaced in the 17th Century by the concept of ''fact'', a loanword from law. Where ''truth'' was established by authority, ''fact'' was established by weight of empirical evidence.
(after edit conflict....) Hi Adam - sorry to pick you up on your version confusion, but is the fact that rbj introduces criticism in the opening para a plus point for that version? - I would think so.... Also, I do really like beginning with a proponent's quote that sets the stall out straight away (ie. it is a pretty misleading statment, but that's what ID is!).... cheers, [[User:Petesmiles|Petesmiles]] 05:03, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
:Anybody who has been paying attention will realise that there has been a concerted effort over more than half a century to roll back the scientific revolution and go back to Truth as the arbiter of reality. This has been led by two particularly powerful lobbies: cdesign proponentsists and climate change deniers.
:Aye, sorry about that, I was muddling speified complexity with it for some reason - I suppose this means I should go back to sleep again after replying here, even if I just work up a couple hours ago. His introduction of criticism is somewhat useful, but it's somewhat blunted, vague criticism - it says it's been criticised, but not really anything significant about the criticism. It's very easily done - the old Creation-evolution controversy was full of these "criticisms that aren't really" - I don't think it's intentional, but if you're doing this back and forth thing, tthe criticisms really do need to match the force of the statements of the opposing side, particularly when the criticism is of a fringe view. [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 05:14, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
:Wikipedia still runs on facts. Try Conservapedia. '''[[user:JzG|Guy]]''' <small>([[user talk:JzG|help!]] - [[User:JzG/Typos|typo?]])</small> 20:19, 16 April 2025 (UTC)
::One other point I have to note, as I was looking up at the paragraph in the edit box while critiquing it: The references no longer supported R-b-j's phrases, and would have needed completely redone. [[User:Adam Cuerden|Adam Cuerden]] <sup>[[User_talk:Adam Cuerden|talk]]</sup> 05:16, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
{{hat|Forum posts about philosophy}}
:The definition of a scientific theory is not that has been proven (verified), but that the theory can be falsified. This must be the case, since an absolute verification is impossible for any theory (even mathematics and logic rely on assumptions which need not be true). And it is easy to falsify Intelligent Design. Just do a biological experiment to let any kind of organism evolve a flagellum where it did not have one at first. You may use any kind of environment to speed up the process.
:Then if ID can be falsified, and it is easy to imagine a falsification (spontaneous generation of life was pretty popular before it was discovered to be false), why call it pseudoscience? [[Special:Contributions/77.164.151.163|77.164.151.163]] ([[User talk:77.164.151.163|talk]]) 19:04, 8 July 2025 (UTC)
::I think you should ask real Aristotelico-Thomists how they feel about ID. [[User:tgeorgescu|tgeorgescu]] ([[User talk:tgeorgescu|talk]]) 22:27, 16 April 2025 (UTC)
::How is truth not the arbiter of the reality? If X is real, then we can say that the statement "X is real" is ''true''. Empirical evidence is important ''precisely because'' it points us in the direction of the truth.
::And that's not to mention that "fact" is often defined in reference to truth. For example, Wikipedia defines fact as "a ''true'' datum about one or more aspects of a circumstance". Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy's entry on "facts" mentions the word "truth" 103 times.
::If "facts" don't correspond to any truths (and are consequently false statements), then we should, in the words of Hume, commit them to the flames. [[User:Brent Silby|Brent Silby]] ([[User talk:Brent Silby|talk]]) 19:52, 18 April 2025 (UTC)
:::{{tq|How is truth not the arbiter of the reality?}} Guy literally explained it in his comment. Why are you asking questions that have already been answered?
:::{{tq|If "facts" don't correspond to any truths (and are consequently false statements)}} This statement betrays a serious misunderstanding of what a fact is. If the truth and the facts disagree, then the facts win. Every time. Welcome to methodological naturalism. [[User:MjolnirPants|<span style="color:#004400;">'''ᛗᛁᛟᛚᚾᛁᚱPants'''</span>]] <small><small>[[User_talk:MjolnirPants|''Tell me all about it.'']]</small></small> 20:05, 18 April 2025 (UTC)
::::"If the truth and the facts disagree, then the facts win"
::::There is no such thing as truth and facts disagreeing. Funnily enough, I don't even have to go past Wikipedia to demonstrate this. Wikipedia page for truth defines "truth" as "the property of being in accord with ''fact'' or reality". Wikipedia page for fact defines "fact" as a ''true'' datum about one or more aspects of a circumstance. [[User:Brent Silby|Brent Silby]] ([[User talk:Brent Silby|talk]]) 20:15, 18 April 2025 (UTC)
::::: Two people can have diametrically opposite views, one according with reality and one not, and yet both can believe that they are speaking the "truth". Only one, however, will be speaking facts. Indeed, [[WP:V]] ''used'' to say that Wikipedia is based on "verifiability, not truth" and was removed for exactly the reason that some people found it confusing. [[User_talk:Black Kite|Black Kite (talk)]] 20:40, 18 April 2025 (UTC)
::::::What you just wrote would still be true if you substituted facts for truth: two people can have diametrically opposite views, one according with reality and one not, and yet both can believe that they are speaking the "truth". Only one, however, will be actually making true statements (assuming that their views are actually diametrically opposed). [[User:Brent Silby|Brent Silby]] ([[User talk:Brent Silby|talk]]) 20:46, 18 April 2025 (UTC)
::::::: If everyone only believed facts that aligned with reality were their "truth", you would be correct. In the real world, however, people believe many things, a lot of which are either non-factual or cannot ever be proved to be facts. [[User_talk:Black Kite|Black Kite (talk)]] 20:55, 18 April 2025 (UTC)
::::::::I don't understand how that makes me wrong, though. The fact that people often hold false beliefs to be true and to correspond with reality only tells us about the less-than-perfect cognitive faculties of the aforementioned humans. Not to mention that there are lots of people who think that they hold factual beliefs, while they actually don't, so truth and factuality are in the same boat here. [[User:Brent Silby|Brent Silby]] ([[User talk:Brent Silby|talk]]) 21:12, 18 April 2025 (UTC)
::::::::: I didn't say you were wrong, but in a Wikipedia environment the two words are not quite congruent, especially where we are talking about beliefs, such as in this article. [[User_talk:Black Kite|Black Kite (talk)]] 21:28, 18 April 2025 (UTC)
::::::::::Oh, I don't dispute the Wikipedia ruling and I understand why it was made. Basically, as far as I can tell, what Wikipedia means is that everyone has their personal beliefs/opinions, but Wikipedia only cares the academic consensus (as it should).
::::::::::My problem is that due to poor phrasing ("verifiability not truth"), it got many people to have confused takes about what Wikipedia actually cares about. That's why one of my favorite essays is [[WP:Truth, not verifiability]]. [[User:Brent Silby|Brent Silby]] ([[User talk:Brent Silby|talk]]) 21:40, 18 April 2025 (UTC)
{{hab}}
 
== The connection with creationism should be removed ==
The question was asked, "Why do myself and others consider Wikipedia a joke." I saw a recent ABC news piece that showed how many Wikipedia "editors" lie about or inflate their credentials to win turf wars on Wikipedia. This article is a case study in fascist tendencies and couldn't be further from NPOV. One need look no further than the first paragraph. How is it that an idea can be both an "old religious argument" and '''at the same time''' "all" of its leading proponents are associated with a modern institution? Answer: it's not possible unless the editors are unreasonable and pushing some sort of a POV. I'm not sure what they gain by spending their valuable life energy on pushing a POV. However, it's pretty obvious that these editors can't play by their own rules when they not only lock down the page so it can't be editted, but they also remove all "controversial" or "disputed" tags from the page. What they fail to realize is that the more fascist their tendencies when editting this article, the more they reveal themselves to be a joke --- in other words something not to be take seriously. [[User:70.108.101.57|70.108.101.57]] 11:34, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
::Thanks{{archive fortop|OP thesays laugh,they presumablywill innot termspropose ofany [[Godwin'sconcrete Law]] you've just conceded the argument? ;) .change. --[[User:Dave souzaMcSly|dave souzaMcSly]], ([[User talk:Dave souzaMcSly|talk]]) 1817:03, 1426 MarchJuly 20072025 (UTC)}}
Although ID points to a designer, it has little connection with creationism. Creationism wants to prove Genesis 1 fully, while ID only says there was a designer (like the Big Bang theory says there was a beginning) regardless of whether that was an alien, a supercreature or whatever. Of course speculation about the designer is common, but it does not necessarily have anything to do with the bible (how many other religions have a story about how life began?)
 
There are creationists who try to make use of the success of Intelligent Design, of course. But their opinions are not central or influential in the movement. It's like atheïsts making use of the success of pychoanalysis, and then considering the entire field of psychoanalysis to be motivated by atheïsm. [[User:Maarten Havinga|Maarten Havinga]] ([[User talk:Maarten Havinga|talk]]) 19:35, 8 July 2025 (UTC)
*"''[M]any Wikipedia "editors" lie about or inflate their credentials''" - really? Can you provide a link to that story? I am only aware of one notable case. Anyway, I have never seen anyone use ''their'' credentials in place of logic here (I have seen people use Dembski's credentials, but that's another matter).
:Have you read and understood the article? N.B. the hatnote and the second paragraph of the lead section. [[User:Just plain Bill|Just plain Bill]] ([[User talk:Just plain Bill|talk]]) 19:46, 8 July 2025 (UTC)
*"''This article is a case study in fascist tendencies and couldn't be further from NPOV''" - interesting. Any support for this assertion? Anything? No?
::Judging what is science or not is not something to be left to judges and courts. It should be the task of philosophy of science. Making it judged by a judge or court will not change the opinion of the scientists. [[User:Maarten Havinga|Maarten Havinga]] ([[User talk:Maarten Havinga|talk]]) 19:58, 8 July 2025 (UTC)
*"''How is it that an idea can be both an "old religious argument" and '''at the same time''' "all" of its leading proponents are associated with a modern institution?''" - I don't know, maybe you could read the article and look at the supporting references. Instead of just looking at the first paragraph, maybe you should read the article.
::unless a motivation from philosophy of science is given by the judge or court, of course. [[User:Maarten Havinga|Maarten Havinga]] ([[User talk:Maarten Havinga|talk]]) 20:11, 8 July 2025 (UTC)
*"''Answer: it's not possible unless the editors are unreasonable and pushing some sort of a POV''" - or, maybe, it's what the references say. Try reading the article.
::::Nice deflection. The Kitzmiller case came after the Discovery Institute's framing of creationism in "intelligent design" terms. The core thesis of the article may be found in the second paragraph's first sentence:
*"''I'm not sure what they gain by spending their valuable life energy on pushing a POV''" - I don't know why people do that, but what does that have to do with this article?
::::{{tq|Although the phrase intelligent design had featured previously in theological discussions of the argument from design, its first publication in its present use as an alternative term for creationism was in Of Pandas and People, a 1989 creationist textbook intended for high school biology classes.}}
*"''However, it's pretty obvious that these editors can't play by their own rules when they not only lock down the page so it can't be editted''" - the article isn't protected - it's semi-protected because of continual problems with vandalism. You can edit four days after you get a username.
::::N.B. the first sentence of the hatnote:
*"''[B]ut they also remove all "controversial" or "disputed" tags from the page''" - only mis-used tags are removed.
::::{{tq|This article is about a specific pseudoscientific form of creationism.}}
*"''What they fail to realize is that the more fascist their tendencies when editting this article, the more they reveal themselves to be a joke''" - more of a joke than say, people who use words like "fascist" in a context like that? I don't think that's possible. [[User:Guettarda|Guettarda]] 13:54, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
::::I am finished with this thread. regards, [[User:Just plain Bill|Just plain Bill]] ([[User talk:Just plain Bill|talk]]) 21:03, 8 July 2025 (UTC)
::: ID and creationism are thoroughly linked together through the proponents at the Discovery Institute. Other, similar, propositions are covered at [[Teleological argument]]. [[User_talk:Black Kite|Black Kite (talk)]] 20:15, 8 July 2025 (UTC)
::::From their website:
::::The two most prominent creationist groups, Answers in Genesis Ministries (AIG) and Institute for Creation Research (ICR) have criticized the intelligent design movement (IDM) because design theory, unlike creationism, does not seek to defend the Biblical account of creation. AIG specifically complained about IDM's “refusal to identify the Designer with the Biblical God” and noted that “philosophically and theologically the leading lights of the ID movement form an eclectic group.” Indeed, according to AIG, “many prominent figures in the IDM reject or are hostile to Biblical creation, especially the notion of recent creation'.” Likewise, ICR has criticized ID for not employing “the Biblical method,” concluding that “Design is not enough!” Creationist groups like AIG and ICR clearly understand that intelligent design is not the same thing as creationism. [[User:Maarten Havinga|Maarten Havinga]] ([[User talk:Maarten Havinga|talk]]) 20:27, 8 July 2025 (UTC)
::::: (ec) Yep, exactly. [[User:Maarten Havinga|Maarten Havinga]], you should read the article more carefully. I specifically direct you to the [[Intelligent_design#Of_Pandas_and_People| section mentioning "cdesign proponentsists"]], showing how they screwed up doing a basic search and replace while simply rebranding creationist books to ID books. --[[User:McSly|McSly]] ([[User talk:McSly|talk]]) 20:30, 8 July 2025 (UTC)
::::::I wouldn't advise reading the article with anything but extreme caution indeed! [[User:Maarten Havinga|Maarten Havinga]] ([[User talk:Maarten Havinga|talk]]) 20:46, 8 July 2025 (UTC)
::::::after all, my advisors at the UvA when I completed my master thesis did not consider wikipedia to be a reliable source. I'm pretty sure they back me up to read cautiously and check all the references. [[User:Maarten Havinga|Maarten Havinga]] ([[User talk:Maarten Havinga|talk]]) 20:49, 8 July 2025 (UTC)
:::::::Wikipedia agrees with your advisors at the UvA, so that's good. [[User:Gråbergs Gråa Sång|Gråbergs Gråa Sång]] ([[User talk:Gråbergs Gråa Sång|talk]]) 06:29, 9 July 2025 (UTC)
 
::::: This is also covered by the FAQ at the top of this page. So we should probably stop wasting too much time here. --[[User:McSly|McSly]] ([[User talk:McSly|talk]]) 20:32, 8 July 2025 (UTC)
:<p>RE the anon user's question above ''How is it that an idea can be both an "old religious argument" and at the same time "all" of its leading proponents are associated with a modern institution? ''.: The reason that Intelligent design is ''both'' is that it is a rhetorical device used to cast a set of [[teleological argument]]s as "science". Prior to the 1987 U.S. Supreme Court decision [[Edwards v. Aguilard]], the words "intelligent design" were (1) rarely used, and (2) not notable-- they were not considered a topic and no one even wrote an article about a topic called "intelligent design", let alone a book. In the Edwards case, the Court struck down a Louisiana law requiring that [[creation science]] be taught alongside [[evolution]], but also said that "teaching a variety of scientific theories about the origins of humankind to school children might be validly done with the clear secular intent of enhancing the effectiveness of science instruction."
::::@[[User:Black Kite|Black Kite]] you forgot to mention Isaac Newton in [[Teleological argument]]. See [https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/8DD64733666B3D587AB86278F6BB4261/S0269889722000059a.pdf/using_ones_talents_in_honor_of_god_lambert_ten_kate_16741731_and_isaac_newtons_natural_philosophy.pdf] bottom of page 35:
:<p>So, the planning began. Looking back on the events that followed, [[Discovery Institute]] co-founder [[Stephen Meyer]] later said that in 1988 he heard [[Charles Thaxton]] use the words "intelligent design" at a conference. Then in 1989, Thaxton's organization the [[Foundation for Thought and Ethics]] published the creationist book ''[[Of Pandas and People]]'', in which all uses of the word "creation" and derivatives thereof were changed to "intelligent design". In 1990-1991, the [[Discovery Institute]] was formed, collecting together all the major proponents of the idea that creationism could be cast as science under the term "intelligent design". The Discovery Institute and its subsidiary the [[Center for the Renewal of Science and Culture]] (presently the [[Center for Science and Culture]]), along with its other offspring the [[ISCID]], have as fellows, directors or administrators, all notable authors on what has since become the topic of intelligent design.
::::Moreover, the second edition contains the theologically charged and methodologically significant General Scholium, in which Newton, amongst other things, urged that the system of the world is dependent on “the design and dominion of an intel ligent and powerful being,” [[User:Maarten Havinga|Maarten Havinga]] ([[User talk:Maarten Havinga|talk]]) 20:42, 8 July 2025 (UTC)
:<p>While "intelligent design" is certainly not scientific in the modern sense of the word, it's worth reading and understanding the material about this unique socio-political, ideological phenomenon of modern law and politics in the United States. It's also an interesting study of a unique modern synthetic version of the [[teleological argument]]. Acutally studying the topic before ranting about the Wikipedia editors who worked intensively reasearching, discussing and consensusing the content of this WP article, sometimes appears to be the hardest part for some of the commentators on this talk page. I hope that helps put it into some perspective. ... [[User:Kenosis|Kenosis]] 14:25, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
:::::This isn't intended as a [[Wikipedia:Notaforum|forum]] to discuss ID, it's only for making changes to the article. To do that, you'd need to show that you read and *understood* the FAQ and not claim that it's just 'a judge'.
:::::Furthermore, the science vs pseudoscience question is separate from whether ID is linked with creationism.
:::::If you have specific changes you'd like to make, you can suggest them. [[User:MilesVorkosigan|MilesVorkosigan]] ([[User talk:MilesVorkosigan|talk]]) 20:54, 8 July 2025 (UTC)
::::::I would suggest to link the term to Isaac Newton as one of the first people using it as the underlying belief under his scientific works, and note that the opinions on ID being creationism or serious science differ among scientists. [[User:Maarten Havinga|Maarten Havinga]] ([[User talk:Maarten Havinga|talk]]) 10:39, 16 July 2025 (UTC)
:::::::Ok, so what '''specific wording''' are you proposing? and what are the [[WP:RS|sources]] you want to use to back up those changes? With that, we will be able to discuss. --[[User:McSly|McSly]] ([[User talk:McSly|talk]]) 13:19, 16 July 2025 (UTC)
::::::::I noticed that my opinion is not really liked here, therefore I'd rather not grind you on specific wordings and position. As source the pdf I gave is fine. For the rest, I leave it up to you guys, if or what you'll do with this talk - if you have questions for clarification, in case I wasn't clear earlier, I'll happily answer those. My wish is only the suggestion just above this comment. [[User:Maarten Havinga|Maarten Havinga]] ([[User talk:Maarten Havinga|talk]]) 16:54, 26 July 2025 (UTC)
{{archive bottom}}
 
== Should be mentioned as Creationism ==
:rbj's changes made the intro less accurate and less neutral, he added ambiguities and repeated the rhetoric of ID promoters. Looking at rbj's method and [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Log&type=block&page=User:Rbj history], I can understand why people here are reluctant to engage him or extend a full assumption of good faith on his part. [[User:151.151.73.171|151.151.73.171]] 17:37, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
in the lede, preferably even in the first 10 words. <!-- Template:Unsigned IP --><small class="autosigned">—&nbsp;Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/24.10.72.161|24.10.72.161]] ([[User talk:24.10.72.161#top|talk]]) 22:23, 24 August 2025 (UTC)</small> <!--Autosigned by SineBot-->
::Pete, rbj's opening words ''"Intelligent design is the belief that "certain features..."'' suffers from the same ambiguity that led to the earlier intro along the lines of ''"Intelligent design is the concept that "certain features..."'' being incessantly argued as meaning that "Intelligent design" was the concept held by the Pope, uncle Tom Cobbley and all. It might be worth giving cautious consideration to the formulation that ''"Intelligent design is a modern term for an argument which is presented by its proponents as "the theory that certain features...".'' However, "theory" here supports their basic argument, that ID is a "new kind of science" which "overthrows materialism". Just a thought, .. [[User:Dave souza|dave souza]], [[User talk:Dave souza|talk]] 18:18, 14 March 2007 (UTC)
:Such impatience! It's in the third sentence of the lede, as well as in the hatnore. . . [[User:Dave souza|dave souza]], [[User talk:Dave souza|talk]] 23:46, 24 August 2025 (UTC)