Doubting Rationalist

The Washington Post has an interview with Philip Johnson, one of the main figures in the Intelligent Desing Movement. But a review of the history shows that he proceeded independently and then only later hitched to the already emerging design faction.
The point is significant since if we consider his Darwin on Trial there is nothing about intelligent design, only a critique of Darwin's theory. At that point, we see the change occurring in the movement as the relative objectivity of finding problems with Darwinian natural selection is soon transformed into the equally problematical design claims.
Completely lost was the better option of simply critizing Darwin's theory, and considering what scientific alternatives their might be.


Doubting Rationalist

'Intelligent Design' Proponent Phillip Johnson, and How He Came to Be

By Michael Powell
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 15, 2005; Page D01

BERKELEY, Calif. "The Washington Post is not one of my biggest fans, you know that."

Hello?The Washington Post reporter has just walked out of a spray of Pacific-borne rain into the living room of a modest bungalow west of downtown. There's a shag rug, an inspirational painting or two and Phillip Johnson, dressed in tan slacks and a sweater and sitting on a couch. He pulls a dog-eared copy of a Post editorial out of his shirt pocket and reads aloud:

"With their slick Web sites, pseudo-academic conferences and savvy public relations, the proponents of 'intelligent design' -- a 'theory' that challenges the validity of Darwinian evolution -- are far more sophisticated than the creationists of yore. . . . They succeed by casting doubt on evolution."

The 65-year-old Johnson swivels his formidable and balding head -- with that even more formidable brain inside -- and gazes over his reading glasses at the reporter (who doesn't labor for the people who write the editorials).The Washington Post reporter has just walked out of a spray of Pacific-borne rain into the living room of a modest bungalow west of downtown. There's a shag rug, an inspirational painting or two and Phillip Johnson, dressed in tan slacks and a sweater and sitting on a couch. He pulls a dog-eared copy of a Post editorial out of his shirt pocket and reads aloud:

"With their slick Web sites, pseudo-academic conferences and savvy public relations, the proponents of 'intelligent design' -- a 'theory' that challenges the validity of Darwinian evolution -- are far more sophisticated than the creationists of yore. . . . They succeed by casting doubt on evolution."

The 65-year-old Johnson swivels his formidable and balding head -- with that even more formidable brain inside -- and gazes over his reading glasses at the reporter (who doesn't labor for the people who write the editorials).