| View Larger Image | The Design of Life: Discovering Signs of Intelligence In Biological Systems | Hardcoverby William A. Dembski (Author), Jonathan Wells (Author), None (Editor), None (Editor)
| List Price: | $35.00 | | Price: | $23.10 | | You Save: | $11.90 (34%) | | | Available: | Usually ships in 24 hours |
| | Binding: | Hardcover | | Publisher: | Foundation for Thought and Ethics | | Edition: | 1stst Edition | | Page Count: | 401 Pages | | Publication Date: | November 19, 2007 | | Sales Rank: | 115,591th |
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EDITORIAL REVIEWS |
Product Description
"The illusion of purpose is so powerful," writes Richard Dawkins, "that biologists themselves use the assumption of good design as a working tool." As an ardent proponent of Darwinian evolution, Dawkins imagines that all design in biology is merely an illusion. By contrast, this book shows that biologists use the assumption of design with success precisely because design in biology is not an illusion but real. In this book, William Dembski and Jonathan Wells present a compelling scientific case for the intelligent design of biological systems. Their laser-like analysis, clear explanations, and brilliant analogies will captivate every reader, whether trained scientist or curious layperson. Intelligent design (ID), as the study of patterns in nature best explained by intelligence, is already accepted in many special sciences. Archeology, forensics, and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) all belong to ID in this broad sense. These sciences, however, are uncontroversial because any intelligence there could be an "evolved" intelligence. In biology, by contrast, intelligent design is highly controversial because any intelligence there would be an "unevolved" intelligence - it would not be the product of purely material evolutionary processes. Thus, to convinced materialists like Richard Dawkins, who dogmatically accept Darwinian orthodoxy, this book comes as a shot across the bow. Scientists who support the intelligent design of biological systems are routinely held up to ridicule, stripped of their status, denied tenure, and driven from their posts. Why? They do not agree that the universe, life, and the human mind are the accidental outworking of purely material forces. And why don't they agree? Because the evidence of science shows otherwise. This book presents that evidence clearly and cogently. Written for the general reader, it will quickly enter the national conversation. In The Design of Life, Dembski and Wells make the most powerful and comprehensive case to date for the intelligent design of life. This is the book that the promoters of unintelligent evolution do NOT want you to read. |
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 3.0 based on 94 reviews)
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Pretty Persuasive by Vincent Reda (Voorheesville, NY)  5 Stars
November 03, 2009
The negative reviewers of this book don't sound as if they have read it, or at least more than a few pages of it. At the very least, they never challenge any of Dr. Dembski's assertions with any facts. That's not surprising. Neither does Richard Dawkins. The book makes a very persuasive argument for many things, but the two that stand out for me are that 1) human beings "evolving" from other animal forms (which evolved from other lesser organisms) and 2) life on Earth beginning from a lifeless pea soup lacking oxygen, are both genetically impossible. A third persuasive point, established by Dr. Dembski and Jonathan Wells quoting scientists past and present, is how evolving evolutionists always wind up refuting and dismissing the evolutionists who came before them. Nothing seems less fit to survive than evolutionists' theories, nothing survives better than their latest round of imaginings. Microevolution is a beautiful thing, and true, but Dr. Dembski makes pretty clear that macroevolution is a false science of faith -- pure dumb faith.
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Ignore the dismissive phony reviews by Melanie G (No. Virginia) 5 Stars
September 26, 2009
I heard about this book on the radio, in a discussion with the author, on the way to work. I was intrigued, so I looked at the Amazon reviews and was amazed to see such venomous attacks (by people with terribly arrogant attitudes) rating the book as just 1-star. It was pretty clear they were ideologically-driven reviews, which only made me want to read it more.
Upon reading just part of the book so far, I understand why those people reviewed it so poorly: it is clearly a great threat to them and the shaky ground upon which they stand. As we learn more and more through science, it becomes clear that randomness and chance could not have resulted in the incredible and complex world around us. In nature there is something at every turn that points to a designer (or Designer, if you prefer). This book justs takes it much deeper. I'll be buying another copy of the book to share.
I would agree with the person who said that the 1-star reviews are mostly an attempt at censorship; they try to make anyone who would DARE consider an idea contrary to their own Darwinian Gospel feel "ignorant". I had to add my 2-cents because their condescending, belittling tone is so insulting. They should evolve!
JUST READ THE BOOK AND DECIDE FOR YOURSELF. It's a good book and will make you think...alot.
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A Great Book For Those Who Question Establishment Thinking - MUST READ!!! by John Dawson (Kansas City, Missouri USA) 5 Stars
July 10, 2009
After having received and read this book, I was stunned when I found several 1-star reviews on Amazon. How unfortunate that those with an axe to grind would come on and write a review merely to inappropriately smear this book and its authors. I found this book thoroughly understandable and very helpful at increasing my understanding of the field of Intelligent Design. Though unacknowledged by many who have an a priori committment to matrialism, which is to say "naturalism", Intelligent Design is a competitor with Neo-Darwinism, the current explanation of life's origin. My own opinion is that Dembski and Wells succeed in putting forth a very compelling case, but more work still needs to be done. The convincing will have to be done by actually purchasing the book and evaluating it for one's self. I'd like to say that you could simply read reviews on Amazon and decide if it's a good buy, but clearly there are too many people who are ideologically driven to lower this book's rating as a form of censorship. What I can tell you is that this book really does cover the A to Z basics of intelligent design and is readily understandable to anyone over the age of 14 or 15 years of age. Whether one agrees with Intelligent Design or not, this is an outstanding addition to the debate and a necessary and basic foundation to the educational aspect of this debate in schools and homes across the country. I for one hope that many people across the country will pick this book up and decide for themselves whether Intelligent Design has evidential merit or not. I think it does, and I think the fear of that fact is the very reason why so many 1-star reviews appear beneath it.
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Nova documentary - Intelligent Design on Trial by Ken Kressin (Cannon Falls, MN USA)  1 Stars
July 09, 2009
This book cannot be mentioned without viewing the related Nova documentary "Judgement Day - Intelligent Design on Trial". What a tremendous piece of history. I give it one star for those who read such a book minus the historical context. For others, what a great library book, perhaps next to a poster displaying the term, "cdesign proponentsists". If you are not familiar with that term, you are so sadly missing out.
P.S. The documentary is free on the Web.
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More propaganda from the God-Bots(t) by Jennifer Weisbrodt 1 Stars
May 19, 2009
Ah I love reviewers, they're so certain. Of course the creationists (and yes, no matter what you say or how you say it; intelligent design is nothing more than revamped creationism. see: Dover, PA) are going to say that this book is irrefutable evidence that Darwinism is false! But come on, I need only say a few words here to show that the Discovery Institute's 'research', including this book, are bad-science:
PEER-REVIEWED ARTICLES IN SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS; EVIDENCE; AND PREDICTIONS MADE BASED ON INTELLIGENT DESIGN THEORY -
Wanna take a guess as to what all three of these above items have in common? NONE of them apply to intelligent design and ALL of them apply to Evolutionary Biology. That's right. Now let's be very, very clear - and listen up my dogmatist friends:
1.) Any misunderstood or not-yet-understood aspects of evolutionary theory are NOT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM positive evidence FOR intelligent design. Get it? see: god, scratch that, .. creator, wait scratch that... "designer"... oops, nope.... "intelligence" of the gaps.
Pointing out 'problems' with evolutionary theory does not in any way show the validity of intelligent design. period.
2.) There is no actual evidence for intelligent design - the closest they ever come is this: "duhuhhh... it's too complex, I dun get it, therefore God did dat!", or, "duhuh evolutionists haven't yet been able to show how this (insert idea here) works, therefore: god exists, doih!"
3.) The infantile whining from supporters of I.D. that "evolutionists are Nazi's! They dismiss I.D.! They're persecuting us! They instantly reject any dissent without proper consideration!"... is unjustified nonsense. If I.D. proponents want to have their voices heard, the way to go about doing this is rather simple and extremely common: publish an intelligent, evidence-backed article into a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Ya see? That's how everyone else does it! (and yes, I know, there has been what.. a whole ONE article published in support of I.D.?)
Until you have done this - shut up and stop complaining that nobody is wasting their time listening to your unconvincing "theories." To put it more bluntly: DO THE WORK! And stop wasting so much time making paranoid documentaries, trying to get your garbage taught in remote bible-belt areas of the country and attempting to brainwash science-starved and credulous minds. If these clowns really had even half the amount of evidence that they so often claim to have, they should be publishing countless peer-reviewed articles, gathering data in the lab and evidence from the field, and turning science as we know it on it's head! Why are they wasting their time writing inane books for the public? This is some heavy stuff! Evolution is false? I.D. is evidence-backed and can be proven? Holy Monkeys! Why isn't the scientific community banging down the doors of the Discovery Institute? Why aren't these people being awarded Nobel-Prizes for their amazing theories!? Lemme guess - it's because there's a giant conspiracy to brainwash people into accepting Darwinism, right? The big-bad Atheists and Biologists keep suppressing the truth, right? Because modern science is all about dogma, and not objectivity and falsifiability, right? Uh huh, that's what I thought. Paranoid schizophrenic accusations and utter silliness. I.D. is rubbish, devoid of evidence and unconvincing. That's why the only place you will see these "scientists" from the discovery institute is on Fox news, having petty 'debates' and whining on about how "nobody understands them, booohooo!!"
4.) Pragmatism - that is, what can your theory do for science. When the answer to every question and problem is: "duhh, designer did dat!", I don't see how that qualifies as good science? Good science makes predictions, good science is pragmatic and practical, good science can be used to develop ACTUAL ways of contributing to the world: antibiotics, evolutionary psychology, bioinformatics, phylogenetic analysis, etc. So what can I.D. possibly DO for us? What predictions can it make? What techniques can follow from it's assertions? Sadly, I think we can all assume the answer to this question: more of the same. Not a whole lot you can do with, "god did it".
So while you sad folks grind on about how Evolutionary Biology is in its "last days", and how I.D. is "destroying Darwinism", and about how Evolution has been "disproved" - Please realize that us learned folks are just shaking our heads and laughing our faces off at your misguided arrogance. I.D. is Kent Hovind on steroids, and any person with half-a-brain can see that. Intelligent Design "theory" is 5% science, 15% straw-man arguments, and 80% propaganda used to sway the ignorant minds of uneducated Americans. Sure, I.D. pushers can use big words like "bacterial flagellum" and "mutative process" as well, while the faith-stuffed masses "ohh!" and "ahh!" in astonishment and approval; but I.D., like fast-food, is a whole lot of advertising and promise, without the substance to back it up. So take a seat, and get in line - because Evolutionary Biology is becoming more solid, progressive and pragmatic by the month.
On the other hand, I.D.'s "wedge strategy" just couldn't wedge it's way on in - and it met it's demise a few years ago in Dover, PA. So, you can expect to see I.D. propaganda around for a few more years; kicking and screaming on it's way to the bad-idea trash-bin. Theists are sore losers, that's a fact. Meanwhile, evolutionary theory and all the wonderful new science that comes along with it is here to stay - so get over it, move on.
People will believe anything if it makes them feel special - and though the "Design of life" may tickle your warm spots and make you feel like you have a 'place' in the universe; in the end it's just more bad science, more 'god of the gaps' nonsense, and more dissent from people who just can't admit that they're wrong. Oh well.
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SIMILAR PRODUCTS |
| Understanding Intelligent Design: Everything You Need to Know in Plain Language (ConversantLife.com®)
by William A. Dembski (Author), Sean McDowell (Author)
This compact guide lays out the basics of Intelligent Design, popularly known as ID. William Dembski, the dean of the intelligent–design movement, and Sean McDowell especially target readers whose understanding may have been confused by educational bias and one–sided arguments and attacks. Commonsense and no–nonsense, with pointed examples, the authors explain the central theories of ID, showing why the presence of information and meaningful complexity require the...
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| The Cell's Design: How Chemistry Reveals the Creator's Artistry
by Fazale Rana (Author)
Armed with cutting-edge techniques, biochemists have unwittingly uncovered startling molecular features inside the cell that compel only one possible conclusion--a supernatural agent must be responsible for life. Destined to be a landmark apologetic work, The Cell's Design explores the full scientific and theological impact of these discoveries. Instead of focusing on the inability of natural processes to generate life's chemical systems (as nearly all apologetics works do), Fazale Rana makes a...
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| The End of Christianity: Finding a Good God in an Evil World
by William Dembski (Author)
Theodicy attempts to resolve how a good God and evil world can coexist. The neo-atheist view in this debate has dominated recent bestseller lists through books like The God Delusion (Richard Dawkins), God Is Not Great (Christopher Hitchens), and The End of Faith (Samuel Harris). And their popularity illuminates a changing mental environment wherein people are asking harder questions about divine goodness. Surprisingly, these books please intelligent design champion William Dembski, because...
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| Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design
by Stephen C. Meyer (Author)
One hundred fifty years ago, Charles Darwin revolutionized biology, but did he refute intelligent design (ID)? In Signature in the Cell, Stephen Meyer argues that he did not. Much confusion surrounds the theory of intelligent design. Frequently misrepresented by the media, politicians, and local school boards, intelligent design can be defended on purely scientific grounds in accordance with the same rigorous methods that apply to every proposed origin-of-life theory. ...
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| Intelligent Design 101: Leading Experts Explain the Key Issues
by H. Wayne House (Editor)
Intelligent Design 101 brings together leading scholars and researchers from the fields of science and intelligent design studies, such as Michael Behe and Phillip Johnson. Their detailed and insightful essays form an introduction to intelligent design, from the basics of the theory, to its history and growing place in science and education.
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