Intelligent Design the Future Blast from the Past: Jonathan Wells Gets Politically Incorrect About Darwinism
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Mar 6, 2026 Jonathan Wells, molecular biologist and author known for Icons of Evolution, offers a provocative take on Darwinism and intelligent design. He explains the difference between general evolution and Darwinism. He defines intelligent design and contrasts it with biblical creationism. He critiques how Darwinism can become socially enforced and highlights how language is reshaped in scientific debates.
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Clarify Terms Before Debating Origins
- Clear up public confusion by distinguishing terms and focusing debate on precise claims rather than vague language.
- Wells wrote the book to correct misunderstandings stemming from conflating 'evolution', 'Darwinism', and 'creation'.
Darwinism Defined As The Central Controversy
- Darwinism is a specific theory claiming common descent plus natural selection on random mutations explains all apparent design in life.
- Jonathan Wells emphasizes that 'evolution' and 'Darwinism' are distinct terms and the controversy centers on Darwinism's claim that design appearances are illusory.
Intelligent Design Is Not Biblical Creationism
- Intelligent design (ID) is distinct from biblical creationism and only claims we can detect design empirically in living systems.
- Wells says ID posits some biological features are best explained by design, creating a direct conflict with Darwinism.
