Births on January 18

Michael Behe, American biochemist, author, and academic

Michael J. Behe: A Central Figure in the Intelligent Design Movement

Michael J. Behe (pronounced BEE-hee), born on January 18, 1952, is a prominent American biochemist, author, and a leading advocate for the controversial principle of intelligent design (ID). He holds the position of Professor of Biochemistry at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania and serves as a Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture, a key organization promoting intelligent design.

Understanding Irreducible Complexity: Behe's Core Argument

Behe is primarily recognized for his advocacy of the validity of the argument for irreducible complexity (IC). This concept posits that certain biochemical structures and biological systems are so intricately complex that they could not have arisen through gradual, step-by-step evolutionary mechanisms involving random mutation and natural selection. According to Behe, such a system is "irreducibly complex" if it is composed of multiple interacting parts where the removal of any one part would cause the entire system to cease functioning. He argues that since all parts must be present simultaneously for the system to work, it could not have evolved gradually and must, therefore, be the result of deliberate intelligent design. A classic example often cited by Behe is the bacterial flagellum, a complex molecular motor that enables bacteria to swim, which he claims is too complex to be explained by conventional evolutionary pathways.

Scientific Rejection and Counterarguments to Intelligent Design

Despite Behe's assertions, the vast majority of the mainstream scientific community unequivocally rejects his claims regarding the irreducible complexity of essential cellular structures and, by extension, the concept of intelligent design itself. Scientists generally maintain that complex biological systems can and do evolve through a series of small, cumulative, and functional steps, often involving the co-option and repurposing of existing components (a process known as exaptation). Evolutionary biologists have demonstrated plausible pathways for the gradual emergence of systems like the bacterial flagellum through simpler, functional precursors. Furthermore, intelligent design is widely criticized by scientists for lacking testable hypotheses, predictive power, and empirical evidence, which are fundamental hallmarks of genuine scientific inquiry. It is often viewed as a form of creationism repackaged with scientific-sounding terminology.

The Landmark Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District Case

Michael Behe played a significant role as a defense witness in several court cases related to the teaching of intelligent design, most notably the landmark 2005 case of Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District. This federal trial challenged the constitutionality of a public school district's policy requiring the presentation of intelligent design as an alternative to evolution in science classes. During the trial, Behe's views and arguments for irreducible complexity were extensively examined. In his detailed ruling, Judge John E. Jones III explicitly cited Behe's testimony, ultimately concluding that intelligent design is not science but is instead religious in nature, therefore violating the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits government endorsement of religion. This ruling solidified the legal precedent against teaching intelligent design in public school science curricula in the United States.

Lehigh University's Official Stance on Behe's Views

Adding to the widespread scientific repudiation, Behe's own academic department at Lehigh University, the Department of Biological Sciences, took the unusual step of publishing a public statement directly repudiating his views on intelligent design. This statement clarified that the department's faculty, individually and collectively, "do not support intelligent design" and that "intelligent design has been rejected by the scientific community on the grounds that it is not science." This internal academic rejection further underscores the consensus within the scientific community regarding the non-scientific nature of intelligent design.

Frequently Asked Questions about Michael J. Behe and Intelligent Design

What is Michael J. Behe best known for?

Michael J. Behe is primarily known for his advocacy of intelligent design, specifically his argument for "irreducible complexity," which claims certain biological systems are too complex to have evolved by natural processes and must have been designed.

What is irreducible complexity?

Irreducible complexity is a concept proposed by Michael Behe stating that some biological systems are so complex that they require all their component parts to be present simultaneously to function. If any part is removed, the system ceases to work, which Behe argues makes gradual evolution impossible.

Is intelligent design accepted by the mainstream scientific community?

No, intelligent design is overwhelmingly rejected by the mainstream scientific community. Scientists view it as a pseudoscience lacking empirical support, testable hypotheses, and predictive power, classifying it as a religious or philosophical concept rather than a scientific one.

What was the significance of the Kitzmiller v. Dover court case?

The Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District case was a landmark 2005 federal trial that ruled intelligent design is not science but is religious in nature, thereby making it unconstitutional to teach it in public school science classes in the United States.