Claim CI102:
Systems are irreducibly complex if removing any one part destroys the
system's function. Irreducible complexity in organisms indicates they
were designed.
Source:
Behe, Michael J., 1996. Darwin's Black Box, New York: The Free Press.
Response:
- Irreducible complexity is claimed to indicate (but
does not)
that certain systems could not have evolved gradually. However,
jumping from there to the conclusion that those systems were designed
is an argument from incredulity. There is
nothing about
irreducibly complex systems that is positive evidence for design.
- Irreducible complexity suggests a lack of design. For critical
applications, such as keeping an organism alive, you do not want systems
that will fail if any one part fails. You want systems that are robust
(Steele 2000).
References:
created 2001-2-18
