Science it isn't asserts Philip Walker

Dear Editor,

I was pleased to read the intelligent feature article by Rachel Ankeny in the December 2006 issue of SPA, about intelligent design.

I wish to emphasise the important point, not explicitly stated, that ‘intelligent design’ is not ‘science’. Science is based on a methodology that assumes natural causes. Any invocation of supernatural causes is outside science.

This does not mean that supernatural causes do not exist, but it does mean that they are not part of scientific enquiry. The ideas of intelligent design may be very insightful and thought provoking, but if they are to be taught in schools, they should not be part of the science curriculum.
Many professional scientists apparently believe in supernatural causes, but they cannot invoke those causes to explain their scientific discoveries – for then they would not be practising science.
 
Philip Walker
is Professor of Physics, University of Surrey