Definitions needed

Howard J. Van Till (110661.1365@compuserve.com)
Sun, 20 Jun 1999 21:17:29 -0400

A number of recent exchanges make reference to 'design' or "Intelligent
Design (ID)."

In order for these exchanges to have any value the participants need to be
sure that they have common working definitions for the central terms. So,
let me ask the following questions to see where we are:

1. What do you presume it means "to be, or have been, designed"? (What kind
action has been performed, and by what type of agent?)

2. What do you presume it means "to be, or have been, intelligently
designed"?

3. Is there any substantive difference between 'design' and 'intelligent
design'?

4. What do you think the proponents of ID mean by 'intelligent design'?

Once there is agreement on the meanings of these key terms a fruitful
conversation is possible.

Howard J. Van Till