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Plato and Aristotle both argued that nature is ''teleological'', a term that comes from the Greek ''telos'' meaning "directed by goal or purpose".  In other words, the evidence of nature leads logically to the idea that behind the purely natural is some kind of rational, non-natural order, something Plato referred to as "Form" and which Aristotle referred to as "Idea".  Both were led to their conclusions by the commonsense notion that if the world really did consist of chance configurations of atoms, then knowledge would be imposible. (See Nancy Pearcey, ''Total Truth'', Appendix 3, p. 390.)<ref>Nancy R. Pearcey, ''Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity'' (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2004)(http://www.amazon.com/Total-Truth-Liberating-Christianity-Captivity/dp/1581347464/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195005366&sr=1-1)</ref><br /><br />

Plato and Aristotle both argued that nature is ''teleological'', a term that comes from the Greek ''telos'' meaning "directed by goal or purpose".  In other words, the evidence of nature leads logically to the idea that behind the purely natural is some kind of rational, non-natural order, something Plato referred to as "Form" and which Aristotle referred to as "Idea".  Both were led to their conclusions by the commonsense notion that if the world really did consist of chance configurations of atoms, then knowledge would be imposible. (See Nancy Pearcey, ''Total Truth'', Appendix 3, p. 390.)<ref>Nancy R. Pearcey, ''Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity'' (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2004)(http://www.amazon.com/Total-Truth-Liberating-Christianity-Captivity/dp/1581347464/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195005366&sr=1-1)</ref><br /><br />

[[Image:Pearcey.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Nancy Pearcey]]

[[Image:Pearcey.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Nancy Pearcey]]

Modern intelligent design theory is simply a response to the resurgence of dominant materialistic thought, primarily as expressed by institutions of science such as universities and various academies of science.  As '''Nancy Pearcey''' states: "By tracing the debate over Darwinism all the way back to Epicurus (a Greek materialist) we can place the theory in a much larger context.  Darwinism was not entirely new, invented out of whole cloth."  Likewise, the modern intelligent design movement can be placed in a larger context as a challenge to modern materialistic thought as enforced in modern science.<br /><br />

Modern intelligent design theory is simply a response to the resurgence of dominant materialistic thought, primarily as expressed by institutions of science such as universities and various academies of science.  As '''Nancy Pearcey''' states: "By tracing the debate over Darwinism all the way back to [[Epicurus]] (a Greek materialist) we can place the theory in a much larger context.  Darwinism was not entirely new, invented out of whole cloth."  Likewise, the modern intelligent design movement can be placed in a larger context as a challenge to modern materialistic thought as enforced in modern science.<br /><br />

For more indepth study of the history of intelligent design, see '''William Dembski's''' work entitled ''Intelligent Design''.<ref>http://www.designinference.com/documents/2003.08.Encyc_of_Relig.htm</ref>  In particular, Dembski's bibliography and comments are reproduced here:

For more indepth study of the history of intelligent design, see '''William Dembski's''' work entitled ''Intelligent Design''.<ref>http://www.designinference.com/documents/2003.08.Encyc_of_Relig.htm</ref>  In particular, Dembski's bibliography and comments are reproduced here:

Bibliographic Essay

Bibliographic Essay

<blockquote>Larry Witham provides the best overview of intelligent design, even-handedly treating its scientific, cultural, and religious dimensions. As a journalist, Witham has personally interviewed all the main players in the debate over intelligent design and allows them to tell their story. For intelligent design’s place in the science and religion dialogue, see Giberson and Yerxa.<br />For histories of the intelligent design movement, see Woodward (a supporter) and Forrest (a critic).<br />See Behe and Dembski to overview intelligent design’s scientific research program. For a critique of that program, see Miller. <br />For an impassioned defense of Darwinism against any form of teleology or design, see Dawkins. <br />Manson’s anthology situates intelligent design within broader discussions about teleology. Rea probes intelligent design’s metaphysical underpinnings. <br />Hunter provides an interesting analysis of how intelligent design and Darwinism play off the problem of evil. <br />Beckwith examines whether intelligent design is inherently religious and thus, on account of church-state separation, must be barred from public school science curricula.

<blockquote>[[Larry Witham]] provides the best overview of intelligent design, even-handedly treating its scientific, cultural, and religious dimensions. As a journalist, Witham has personally interviewed all the main players in the debate over intelligent design and allows them to tell their story. For intelligent design’s place in the science and religion dialogue, see Giberson and Yerxa.<br />For histories of the intelligent design movement, see Woodward (a supporter) and Forrest (a critic).<br />See Behe and Dembski to overview intelligent design’s scientific research program. For a critique of that program, see Miller. <br />For an impassioned defense of Darwinism against any form of teleology or design, see Dawkins. <br />Manson’s anthology situates intelligent design within broader discussions about teleology. Rea probes intelligent design’s metaphysical underpinnings. <br />Hunter provides an interesting analysis of how intelligent design and Darwinism play off the problem of evil. <br />Beckwith examines whether intelligent design is inherently religious and thus, on account of church-state separation, must be barred from public school science curricula.

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