Seven More Views on Intelligent Design

As I scanned through the June 2002 issue of Physics Today, the Opinion articles on intelligent design caught my eye. I had read a couple of books on the subject and had thought the material interesting. Because the title said “two views,” I guessed that there would be two opposing views like I typically see in newspaper editorials. Instead, when I read the articles, I found that both oppose the idea of intelligent design.

Here is my complaint: It’s great to have opinion articles on a subject, especially if there is controversy or unresolved issues, but give both sides airtime. I typically disagree with one side or the other when two opposing opinions are expressed. But let’s have both. As a scientist and engineer, I was expecting this. Usually, plenty of people on either side of an issue are willing to write a short article defending their side. Did you try to get one from both sides?

[We did not. Physics Today’s goal is to inform our readers about science and its place in the world, not about alternatives to science. The Editors]