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In the [[origins debate]], the assertion that various organs of cells or animals are irreducibly complex is used to support the theory of [[Intelligent Design]] or [[Creationism]]. Proponents of Inteligent Design or Creationism argue that irreducible complexity is evidence of an intelligent agent.

In the [[origins debate]], the assertion that various organs of cells or animals are irreducibly complex is used to support the theory of [[Intelligent Design]] or [[Creationism]]. Proponents of Inteligent Design or Creationism argue that irreducible complexity is evidence of an intelligent agent.

[[William Dembski]] in his book ''No Free Lunch'', states the the following:  

[[William Dembski]] states the following in his book ''No Free Lunch'':

"A system performing a given basic function is irreducibly complex if it includes a set of well-matched, mutually interacting, non-arbitrarily individuated parts such that each part in the set is indispensable to maintaining the system's basic, and therefore original, function. The set of these indispensable parts is known as the irreducible core of the system. <ref>William Dembski, ''No Free Lunch'',(2001), p. 285. ISBN 0742512975</ref>

"A system performing a given basic function is irreducibly complex if it includes a set of well-matched, mutually interacting, non-arbitrarily individuated parts such that each part in the set is indispensable to maintaining the system's basic, and therefore original, function. The set of these indispensable parts is known as the irreducible core of the system. <ref>William Dembski, ''No Free Lunch'',(2001), p. 285. ISBN 0742512975</ref>

Irreducible complexity has been used by astronomer [[Fred Hoyle]] and biochemistry professor [[Michael Behe]] to argue against the idea of [[evolution through natural selection]]. Hoyle compares the probability of all the parts of a [[cell]] coming together through natural forces to the probability of a cyclone in a [[hangar]] assembling all the parts of a [[Boeing 747]] aircraft.

Irreducible complexity has been used by astronomer [[Fred Hoyle]] and biochemistry professor [[Michael Behe]] to argue against the idea of [[evolution through natural selection]]. Hoyle compares the probability of all the parts of a [[cell]] coming together through natural forces to the probability of a cyclone in a [[hangar]] assembling all the parts of a [[Boeing 747]] aircraft.

William Dembski wrote the following in a essay:  

William Dembski wrote the following in an essay:  

{{Cquote|In a 1996 review of Michael Behe’s book ''Darwin's Black Box'', James Shapiro, a molecular biologist at the University of Chicago, wrote: "There are no detailed Darwinian accounts for the evolution of any fundamental biochemical or cellular system, only a variety of wishful speculations. It is remarkable that Darwinism is accepted as a satisfactory explanation for such a vast subject -- evolution -- with so little rigorous examination of how well its basic theses work in illuminating specific instances of biological adaptation or diversity" (National Review, 16 September 1996).  

{{Cquote|In a 1996 review of Michael Behe’s book ''Darwin's Black Box'', James Shapiro, a molecular biologist at the University of Chicago, wrote: "There are no detailed Darwinian accounts for the evolution of any fundamental biochemical or cellular system, only a variety of wishful speculations. It is remarkable that Darwinism is accepted as a satisfactory explanation for such a vast subject -- evolution -- with so little rigorous examination of how well its basic theses work in illuminating specific instances of biological adaptation or diversity" (National Review, 16 September 1996).