Stephen Meyer vs. Peter Ward | Intelligent Design and Darwinian Evolution

Stephen Meyer squares off with University of Washington paleontologist Peter Ward in this Talk of the Times Debate in Seattle on April 26th, 2006. The topic? Is intelligent design science?

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Praise for Return of the God Hypothesis:

"This book makes it clear that far from being an unscientific claim, intelligent design is valid science."
BRIAN JOSEPHSON, NOBEL LAUREATE IN PHYSICS; FELLOW OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY; EMERITUS PROFESSOR OF PHYSICS, UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

"No one else in my experience can explicate such complex material with the grace and clarity that seem so effortless to Stephen Meyer. With cold logic and meticulous rational analysis of the latest discoveries in cosmology, physics, and biology, Meyer confirms a truth that the ideologues find too frightening even to consider. By the ad hominem nature of their attacks on his brilliant work, they confirm its importance and suggest an eventual end to the scientism that warps our culture."
DEAN KOONTZ, NEW YORK TIMES #1 BEST-SELLING AUTHOR

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[magnusdude]

Stephen Meyer : humble respectful. Prepared. His opponent: arrogant, dismissive and unprepared.

[existentialsolutions]

Right on, Stephen, amazing arguments! I liked the part where the chinese paleontologist said: "In my country you can question Darwinism but not the government, whereas in your country you can question the government but not Darwinism"

[jonathankim]

Whenever they (Peter Ward, David Postman) lose/know they're losing in the argument (based on the fact that they have no back up for their argument/theory, Stephen Meyer lays out evidence, proves his side to be right with logic and reasoning, scientific evidence), the strategy they use is turning it to a different issue/going into a totally different topic. I keep seeing this over and over again.

[Joey-ryqt]

I don’t 100% agree with Stephen Meyer, but as far as this debate goes he absolutely wiped the floor with this guy. Interesting debate, love watching and learning from this stuff.

[fhamidkhan]

Stephen is humble, can elaborate, explain and honestly make sense. Peter not only act but has assumed that he is correct and he hasn’t got anything to prove - but really enjoyed the debate, kudos to both.

[MVhowell]

Meyer is a pioneer, and his voice is his weapon!

[MikeGia]

Steve crushed this guy !! he was more like a wounded comedian. Great job, Stephen I’m a new fan I just heard you in Joe Rogan.

[danawilkes]

Peter Ward is an perfect politician. He is an arrogant and not a likeable person at all. So full of himself, it's sickening.

[timtaylor]

It's a shame only fifty-six thousand people have seen this, Meyer is correct!

[johnpatmos]

One thing for certain that I drew from this is that I would never want Peter as my professor

[naastradamus]

Hilarious to listen to this man (Ward) failing on every level. Nothing but strawmen and inability to discuss/debate in good faith. He is outclassed in every respect by Dr. Meyer.

[jessecoleman]

It’s sad, not just that Stephen destroyed him, but that he didn’t even realize it.

[anupwardlife]

Commenting as a theist and committed I.D. believer, it is wonderful to hear a brilliantly-gifted and articulate (also Intelligently Designed) speaker like Dr. Meyer in a spirited debate. It also shows me how hard-boiled, 'don't confuse me with facts, ' evolutionary religionist like Peter Ward reveal himself as the "King Who Has No Clothes."

[danawilkes]

I like how Stephen does not get riled by Peter at all. Also when anybody says, "the science is settled". Does not want any questions asked of them or what they are purporting.

[ghassanabuelian]

When a person resorts to mock another instead of reasoning with them, then how would you call this person a scientist. Peter, you can do better and you should do better if you truly think you're a scientist.

[MuzeTitaN]

As soon as the opposing argument starts insulting there opponent they lost credibility. Which was immediately..how embarrassing

[cryptic_fox]

Ward got outclassed by Stephen in every exchange. My favorite example of this occurs at 35:00-36:52, where Ward smugly interrupts Stephen with a "What?!", as Stephen begins to answer the moral question of the nature of ID, as if Stephen is just spewing word salad when he says that "..the question is parasitic off of a theological assumption", after which Stephen proceeds to just blow Ward out of the water, and Stephen then ends with marvelous lucidity speaking directly to Ward's objection by saying that the fact that we see biological decay and extinction are not effective arguments against ID because ID doesn't appeal to God per se, but merely makes a logical inference to a designer based on our own experience of encoded information and irreducible complexity, which, also in our experience are subject to error and decay.

[MidnightBibleStudy]

I have to admire the courage of Peter Ward to attempt to win with emotion and insults against Meyer's overwhelming evidence-based argument for intelligent design. Ward loses badly, but he gained the allegiance of a few hecklers.

[barrypotterton.nz]

It's interesting how Mr Ward becomes so unscientific and uses personal insults to refute intelligent design. I think this is a common phenomenon when debating atheists...

[DivinaeMisericordiae]

Well done Stephen! He done extremely well in explaining his position. The one thing I would add when they said that God wasn't a good designer with people getting old and dying is we are not made for earth, we are made for heaven but first we must pass the earthly test in order to achieve heaven.