more Mainstream Apologetics ...
Claim ID: PHIL-IS02
Claim: Patterns and Properties of Design Arose by Non-Random Causes
Summary: The Darwinian processes of mutation and selection are described as semi-random processes which were greatly influenced by environmental conditions. Because of the regularity of patterns and properties of design found throughout creation, it is reasonable to believe that life was intentionally designed and formed by an Intelligent Designer.
Description: Randomness is defined as a lack of pattern or predictability. Pattern has to do with uniformity. Predictability has to do with determinism. In either case, resulting structures and events are at the mercy of chance.
Evolutionists commonly relate the concept of randomness to the processes of mutation and selection. They imply that these two tenets of evolutionary theory are to some extent random. The extent to which these processes are random is subject to debate. So, what is the role of randomness in the evolutionary process?
Why is life not more diverse than what we observe? Why are there not hundreds of varieties of humans? Why do humans only have two eyes and not four eyes? Would not having two eyes on both the front and back of our heads be a selectable advantage for survival?
Conversely, why is there so much uniformity and regularity of design patterns in the natural world? What explains the origin of symmetry, multiplicity, and other fundamental properties?
Many regard microevolution as synonymous with macroevolution because of the common term "evolution". Nothing can be further from the truth.
According to evolutionists, macroevolution is characterized by large scale changes such as the appearance of major taxonomic groups. Whereas, microevolution is characterized by small scale changes such as the appearance of species or species refinement. From these definitions, it is easy to misunderstand macro- and microevolution as sort of a phase one and two in the overall evolutionary process resulting from major and minor mutations, respectively.
In actuality, microevolution is the process of adaptation to the environmental conditions in which the species lives in. Species must adapt in order to survive. Adaptability is one of the many abilities inherent in living creatures much like reproducibility (self-replicating) and recoverability (self-healing).
Most would agree that microevolution is evident in the fossil record. However, macroevolution is not evident in the fossil record [BIO-EV01]. Among creationists and evolutionists, the pivotal disagreement is about the arrival of the species, not the survival of the species.
In the natural world, the processes of mutation and selection are heavily influenced by a variety of environmental conditions. Often, these conditions guide mutation and selection to converge onto an optimal outcome. Evolutionists refer to this as convergent evolution [REF-EVO02].
Evolutionists observe convergent evolution when similar anatomical features are created among diverse species that were not present in the common ancestors of the species.
An example of convergent evolution is the anatomical features of sharks and dolphins. While sharks are fish and dolphins are mammals, they both evolved into body types that are streamlined to swim efficiently underwater. This evolutionary process has more to do with their aquatic habitat than it does with their genetic lineage.
The same is true to bats, butterflies and bird. In theory, their wings evolved due to their need to fly.
The takeaway of convergent evolution is that it enables species to adapt and optimize to the environment in which they live. It does not speak to the arrival of a species, nor the fundamental properties of a species such as symmetry, multiplicity, design patterns, etc. These properties are not influenced by environment.
Patterns of design appear in nature with such regularity we take them for granite. For example, we observe that all mammals have two eyes and we assume this is normative. Any mammal that does not have two eyes is considered abnormal.
Patterns and properties of design appear to be more uniform and invariant than mutational features resulting from the influence of environmental conditions. For example, symmetry found throughout the animal kingdom did not evolve.
Patterns and properties of design are present throughout all creation independent of environmental conditions. They are fundamental to the design of the species.
Environmental conditions cannot account for the widespread symmetry and duplicity found in creation.
Because of the ubiquity and uniformity of design patterns and properties across all creation, it is reasonable to believe that life was intentionally designed and formed by an Intelligent Designer.
This notion of intentional design was first articulated by mathematician and philosopher William A. Dembski in his book The Design Inference [REF-DEM01]. He referred to it as specified complexity - a design indicative of intelligence. Based on his definition, specific refers to a design that was defined with intentionality before creation. Complexity refers to a design that is so intricate that it rules out the formation of life by random or semi-random means. Together, this two principles best explain the origin of life we observe in the world around us.
Resources:
Copyright@2025 Mainstream Apologetics