"It is a shock to us in the twentieth century to discover, from observations science has made, that the fundamental mechanisms of life cannot be ascribed to natural selection, and therefore were designed. But we must deal with our shock as best we can and go on"
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A scientist calling design “a shock” is doing more than reporting a finding; he’s staging a cultural drama. Behe frames his claim as reluctant discovery rather than ideological crusade: science, the supposedly disenchanted referee of modern life, has forced an unwelcome conclusion. That posture matters. It borrows credibility from the genre of scientific understatement while smuggling in a metaphysical endpoint.
The key move is rhetorical, not empirical: “cannot be ascribed to natural selection” slides into “therefore were designed.” The “therefore” implies a closed courtroom where only two suspects exist. That’s the subtextual pressure point. By narrowing the menu of explanations, Behe converts a gap in evolutionary account (as he sees it) into positive evidence for intention. The language of “fundamental mechanisms” also magnifies the stakes: he’s not quibbling over details; he’s challenging the engine block of modern biology.
The “twentieth century” marker is a bit of stage lighting. It invokes a century associated with Darwin’s consolidation, genetics, and scientific authority, then positions Behe as the bearer of an almost heretical update from within the lab. “We must deal with our shock… and go on” reads like stoic counsel after bad news, implying that resistance is emotional, even childish. If you disagree, you’re not just mistaken; you’re in denial.
Contextually, this is Intelligent Design’s signature play: occupy the tone and institutional prestige of science while aiming at the philosophical implications of evolution. It works by making dissent feel like cultural discomfort rather than scientific dispute.
The key move is rhetorical, not empirical: “cannot be ascribed to natural selection” slides into “therefore were designed.” The “therefore” implies a closed courtroom where only two suspects exist. That’s the subtextual pressure point. By narrowing the menu of explanations, Behe converts a gap in evolutionary account (as he sees it) into positive evidence for intention. The language of “fundamental mechanisms” also magnifies the stakes: he’s not quibbling over details; he’s challenging the engine block of modern biology.
The “twentieth century” marker is a bit of stage lighting. It invokes a century associated with Darwin’s consolidation, genetics, and scientific authority, then positions Behe as the bearer of an almost heretical update from within the lab. “We must deal with our shock… and go on” reads like stoic counsel after bad news, implying that resistance is emotional, even childish. If you disagree, you’re not just mistaken; you’re in denial.
Contextually, this is Intelligent Design’s signature play: occupy the tone and institutional prestige of science while aiming at the philosophical implications of evolution. It works by making dissent feel like cultural discomfort rather than scientific dispute.
Quote Details
| Topic | Science |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
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