Stephen C. Meyer | The Ben Shapiro Show Sunday Special Ep. 43
Mar 24, 2019
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Geophysicist Stephen C. Meyer discusses intelligent design vs. evolution, information theory in biology, limitations of neo-Darwinism, theistic implications of intelligent design, and theoretical physics in understanding the universe's beginning.
Intelligent design emphasizes information arising from intelligence in understanding complex systems like DNA.
Distinguishing intelligent design from creationism, the podcast debates scientific plausibility and information in DNA.
Methodological naturalism in science may hinder exploring alternative explanations and hinder intellectual freedom in scientific investigation.
Deep dives
Intelligent Design in Scientific Exploration
The podcast delves into the concept of intelligent design as a scientific methodology. Introducing the principle of reasoning from historical scientific methods, the podcast discusses how events in the remote past can be explained by known causes that produce specific effects. It emphasizes the role of information arising from intelligence as a significant factor in understanding complex systems like DNA and the structures of living organisms.
Challenges to Darwinian Evolution and Intelligent Design
The discussion touches upon the discrepancy between Darwinian evolution and intelligent design. It distinguishes creationism, which relies on religious authority, from intelligent design, which draws conclusions from biological and physical evidence. Highlighting the role of information in DNA and the digital code stored within, the debate presents arguments about the scientific plausibility and logical reasoning behind intelligent design.
Origin of Life and Information Theory
The exploration extends to the challenges of explaining the origin of life and information-rich systems like DNA from non-organic material. It describes the limitations of early experiments like the Miller-Urey study and the complexities involved in forming functional proteins and genetic codes. The conversation also probes the RNA world hypothesis, emphasizing the necessity of intelligent design in overcoming the inherent information problems associated with abiogenesis.
Challenges in Evolutionary Biology
Despite assertions that evolution is fact, there are unresolved issues within evolutionary biology. Notably, the origin of biological form remains a significant unsolved problem. Traditional views on Darwinism are being questioned, highlighting the complexities that defy simple explanations. This challenges the notion that Darwinism can consistently explain all observed phenomena in biology.
Implications of Methodological Naturalism
Methodological naturalism in the scientific community restricts explanations to purely materialistic processes, excluding considerations of creative intelligence or agency. This limitation hinders exploring alternative explanations, potentially leading to incomplete understandings. The rigid adherence to methodological naturalism can hinder the pursuit of truth and intellectual freedom in scientific investigation, notably in addressing questions related to the origins of life and biological information.
Stephen C. Meyer, geophysicist, Vice President of the Discovery Institute, and author of the New York Time's best seller "Darwin's Doubt," joins me to discuss philosophy, the origins of life, the overlap of science and religion, and much more.