IRREDUCIBLE COMPLEXITY — An argument put forth by biologist Michael Behe (“Darwin’s Black Box”) in support of Intelligent Design. To use Behe’s own definition, “ a single system which is composed of several well-matched interacting parts that contribute to the basic function, wherein the removal of any one of the parts causes the system to effectively cease functioning.” Arguing against the assumption of Darwin’s natural selection that only traits that help a species survive are passed to future generations, he wonders how complex systems developed their necessary components, since individually those components would not be advanteous for survival. Examples of irreducibly complex systems from Behe are blood clotting and the cilium.

INTELLIGENT DESIGN — The proposition that certain features of the universe and of living things are better explained as having originated by an intelligent designer rather than through unguided natural processes. The Seattle-based Discovery Institute has been active in promoting this as worthy of inclusion in science curricula in public schools. However, the science community has been aggressive and largely successful in stiffling attempts to challenge materialism, despite the public’s favoring such inclusiveness. The term is often shortened to “I. D.”

THERMODYNAMICS, SECOND LAW OF — In plain English, the movement of the universe towards disorder (even energy distribution). That means things have a tendency to break down, not to organize themselves (the ability to organize is a key requirement for evolution at all levels). Popular physicist Stephen Hawking described it using an example from “time:” you can see a coffee cup break, and indeed many are breaking around the world…but none are reforming.

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