Arikay said:
This is an offshoot from the Dover thread.
The question to those that support intelligent design,
How can we tell if something is intelligently designed?
It's not just a good question, it's the central question. Here is an example. How do we know that Stonehenge is not a natural structure and how do we know whales were not the product of ID?
Stonehenge
First, let's learn about the properties of Stonehenge. There are lots of large stones perpendicular to the ground, arranged in a near perfect circle, some of which line up with various celestial or calendrical events.
Is it the product of a natural process? Unlikely because we do not know of any natural geological process that can yield what we see. A natural process
may exist, we just don't know about it yet.
Is it the result of an intelligent effort? Almost certainly yes, for 3 reasons. First, we know that humans are capable of building such structures. Second, we know that humans inhabited that area. Third, we know that humans in that era had good motivation to build such structures.
Because we do not know of any natural process that could have produced Stonehenge and because we know humans lived in that part of the world at that time and were fully capable of building it, it is reasonable to conclude that Stonehenge is the product of intelligent design and not nature.
Whales
Are whales the product of a natural process? First, we know of a natural process (natural selection) that could turn sinonyx into modern cetaceans over a period of millions of years. Second, we can see the results of this process through the many intermediate fossil forms during the period in which whales gradually appeared. Third, we can see the process of natural selection operating today. Fourth, we do not know of any reason why this process would not have been working millions of years ago or would not have been operating on whales.
Are whales the product of an intelligent design? First, we do not know of any intelligent beings in the universe which existed millions of years ago. Second, if such beings did exist we have no evidence they visited earth. Third, if such beings visited earth, we have no evidence they engaged in genetic experiments on to produce whales or any other creatures. Fourth, if such beings did design and create whales, they did so in gradual stages that are indistinguishable from natural selection.
Since we know of a natural process capable of producing whales and we do
not have evidence that any intelligence designers exist or visited earth in the distant path, the reasonable conclusion is that whales are the product of a natural process.