Redundant Complexity

A Critical Analysis of Intelligent Design in Biochemistry

Bibliographic Data

ID10707664
AuthorsNiall Shanks (East Tennessee State University), Karl H Joplin (East Tennessee State University)
Year1999
Volume66
Issue2
Pages268-282
Publication date1999-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePhilosophy of Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0031-8248 • E-ISSN: 1539-767X
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1086/392687
OpenAlexW2080514072
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited19

Biological systems exhibit complexity at all levels of organization. It has recently been argued by Michael Behe that at the biochemical level a type of complexity exists— irreducible complexity —that cannot possibly have arisen as the result of natural, evolutionary processes and must instead be the product of (supernatural) intelligent design. Recent work on self-organizing chemical reactions calls into question Behe's analysis of the origins of biochemical complexity. His central interpretative metaphor for biochemical complexity, that of the well-designed mousetrap that ceases to function if critical parts are absent, is undermined by the observation that typical biochemical systems exhibit considerable redundancy and overlap of function. Real biochemical systems, we argue, manifest redundant complexity —a characteristic result of evolutionary processes

Biology · Complexity science · Epistemology · Evolutionary biology · Function (biology) · Intelligent design · Management science · Metaphor · Redundancy (engineering) · Computer Science · Engineering · Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction · Origins and Evolution of Life · Philosophy · Protein Structure and Dynamics

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