Changes

"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>

== Analogies ==

== Statements and Analogies ==

Many Intelligent Design advocates propose the "watch" analogy made famous by [[William Paley]].

Many Intelligent Design advocates propose the "watch" analogy made famous by [[William Paley]].

Paley wrote:  

Paley wrote:  

“Suppose I pitched my foot against a stone, and were asked how the stone came to be there: I might possiblyanswer, that, for anything I knew to the contrary, it had lain there forever; nor would it, perhaps be very easy to show theabsurdity of this answer. But suppose I found a watch upon the ground, and it should be inquired how the watch happenedto be in that place. I should hardly think of the answer I had before given - that, for anything I knew, the watch mightalways have been there. Yet why should not this answer serve for the watch as well as for the stone? When we come to inspect the watch, we perceive (what we could not discover in the stone) that its several parts are framed and put together for a purpose, e.g. that they are so formed and adjusted as to produce motion, and that motion is soregulated as to point out the hour of the day."

“Suppose I pitched my foot against a stone, and were asked how the stone came to be there: I might possiblyanswer, that, for anything I knew to the contrary, it had lain there forever; nor would it, perhaps be very easy to show theabsurdity of this answer. But suppose I found a watch upon the ground, and it should be inquired how the watch happenedto be in that place. I should hardly think of the answer I had before given - that, for anything I knew, the watch mightalways have been there. Yet why should not this answer serve for the watch as well as for the stone? When we come to inspect the watch, we perceive (what we could not discover in the stone) that its several parts are framed and put together for a purpose, e.g. that they are so formed and adjusted as to produce motion, and that motion is soregulated as to point out the hour of the day."

Every indication of contrivance, every manifestation of design, which existed in the watch, exists in the works ofnature; with the difference, on the side of nature, of being greater and more, and that in a degree which exceeds allcomputation. I mean, that the contrivances of nature surpass the contrivance of art, in the complexity, subtlety, and curiosityof the mechanism.” .<ref>William Paley, Natural Theology, p2 </ref>

Every indication of contrivance, every manifestation of design, which existed in the watch, exists in the works ofnature; with the difference, on the side of nature, of being greater and more, and that in a degree which exceeds allcomputation. I mean, that the contrivances of nature surpass the contrivance of art, in the complexity, subtlety, and curiosityof the mechanism.” .<ref>William Paley, Natural Theology, p2 </ref>

In hist essay, ''The Origin of Life and the Death of Materialism''  [[Stephen C. Meyer], Ph.D. wrote the following:

 

More recently, [[Stephen C. Meyer], Ph.D. in his essay, ''The Origin of Life and the Death of Materialism''  wrote the following:

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