Michael J. Behe

Michael J. Behe

Michael J. Behe (born January 18, 1952 in Altoona , Pennsylvania ) is an American biochemist . He is a professor of biochemistry at Lehigh University in Bethlehem , Pennsylvania and one of the better known representatives of intelligent design .

Career

Behe studied chemistry at Drexel University in Philadelphia , where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1974. In 1978 he received his PhD in biochemistry from the University of Pennsylvania with research on sickle cell anemia . From 1978 to 1982 he worked at the National Institutes of Health on the structure of DNA . From 1982 to 1985 he was an assistant professor of chemistry at Queens College in New York City , where he met his wife. Since 1985 he has been Professor of Biochemistry at Lehigh University.

Debate about irreducible complexity and intelligent design

Behe initially fully accepted the scientific theory of evolution. After reading Michael Denton's book Evolution: A Theory In Crisis , he began to question evolution. He later developed the conviction that there were indications at the biochemical level for the existence of irreducibly complex systems . As he believes, these cannot, as Darwin's theory of evolution suggests, have come about through natural selection , and must therefore have been designed by an intelligent designer. He considers this to be the only possible alternative explanation for such complex structures.

In 1996, Behe ​​published his reflections in the book Darwin's Black Box , which received lively public interest but was harshly criticized by many in the scientific community. Behe uses is the reasoning of intelligent design in a series of biochemical systems, in relation to its 18th century by William Paley represented classical formulation but Behe extends them to the concept of irreducible complexity ( irreducible complexity ). The systems discussed by Behe ​​include: a. the blood coagulation and immune system of the human organism, as well as the flagellum , with which bacteria move.

Behes hypothesis was expanded by the mathematician William A. Dembski by the term specified complexity ( specified complexity ). Both the concept of irreducible complexity and specified complexity in the form advocated by Behe ​​and Dembski are rejected as unscientific outside of the intelligent design movement.

In contrast to some other critics of the theory of evolution, Behe ​​accepts both the common ancestry of species, including humans, as well as the generally accepted scientific view of the age of the earth and the universe.

Testimony in the Dover Trial

Behe testified in 2005 in the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District trial as an expert witness in favor of the defense. His testimony proved disastrous for the defense. In cross-examination he had to admit that there was no recognized scientist who represented intelligent design.

" Q. And, in fact, there are no peer reviewed articles by anyone advocating for intelligent design supported by pertinent experiments or calculations which provide detailed rigorous accounts of how intelligent design of any biological system occurred, is that correct? "

- Mr. Rothschild

" A. That is correct, yes. "

- Michael J. Behe

He also had to admit that the definition of 'theory' in connection with intelligent design was so vague that astrology would also qualify as a scientific theory. Behe's appearance in court is also mentioned in Richard Dawkins ' bestseller Der Gotteswahn .

criticism

Behe's colleagues in the Department of Biological Sciences at Lehigh University dissociated themselves from Behe's views.

Publications

• Darwin's Black Box: Biochemical Challenge to Evolution . New York: Free Press, 1996. ISBN 0-684-82754-9
• Darwin's black box . Graefelfing : Resch, 2007. ISBN 3-935-19754-3
• The Edge of Evolution , New York: Free Press, 2007. ISBN 0-743-29620-6
• Science and Evidence for Design in the Universe , (Proceedings of the Wethersfield Institute) ISBN 0-89870-809-5

Videos

• Intelligent Design: From the Big Bang to Irreducible Complexity
• Unlocking the Mystery of Life - in the Internet Movie Database (German: Close to the mystery of life )
• Irreducible Complexity: The Biochemical Challenge to Darwinian Theory
• Where Does the Evidence Lead?

Web links

• Behes Homepage at Lehigh University (English)
• List of Behe's online articles on Intelligent Design (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District Trial transcript: Day 12 (October 19), AM Session, Part 1 . The TalkOrigins Foundation, Inc .. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
2. ↑ Celeste Biever: Astrology is scientific theory, courtroom told . In: Reed Business Information (Ed.): New Scientist . , London19. October 2005. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
   • s: Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District / 4: Whether ID Is Science # Page 68 of 139
3. ^ Department Position on Evolution and 'Intelligent Design' . Lehigh University . Archived from the original on October 13, 2005. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved January 21, 2014.