Unintelligent Design

[Skwim]

Intelligent Design is one of those creationist terms used to describe how earth's life came about. Not through the hit-and-miss process of evolution, but "by the deliberate hand of god." God being the intelligent designer. But just how intelligent were these designs? Could they have been better? My guess is that the creationist will say, "No. Being designed by god, by default they're perfect." In contrast, unintelligent design would be something not created by god, and would more likely than not have flaws, glitches, and deficiencies of some sort. Flaws, glitches, and deficiencies that that may even be detrimental. So, are there any such less than perfect designs; traits that point away from an intelligent designer?

Having stumbled across an article in Wikipedia, I believe there are. The article points out four such examples in humans. Although it was written to describe traits inherited through natural selection that are detrimental to the organism, it also functions as an argument against intelligent design and an intelligent designer. If you're going to insist that god did it all then you have to admit he could have done a better job.

Eyes
One example in humans of unintelligent design is the eyes. The eyes perceive images by receiving light in the retina. The retina sends electrical signals to the brain through the optic nerve and people see images. The optic nerve, however, is connected to the retina on the side that receives light, essentially blocking a portion of the eye and giving humans a blind spot.[1] A better structure for the eye would be to have the optic nerve connected to the side of the retina that does not receive the light, such as in cephalopods.[2]

Throat
Another example in humans is the throat. The esophagus, the part of the throat that allows food to travel to the digestive tract, is connected to the pharynx and the larynx, the parts of the throat that allow humans to breathe and talk.[3] Because these parts are connected, choking can become a major issue. Food and other objects can sometimes get stuck in the throat blocking the air flow and not allowing much needed oxygen to enter the lungs and the rest of the body.[4] If the parts were not connected and did not share a portion of their travel paths, choking would not be an issue, as it isn’t for most other animals in the world.

Teeth
The teeth present a third example in humans alone of unintelligent design. When human beings first started developing larger brains, they had to evolve larger skulls to be able to store the larger brain. Evolution caused the skull cavity to become larger by adding bone from the jaw. In essence, the jaw became smaller to support a larger brain, but the teeth that were in the jaw did not become smaller in size.[5] The amount of teeth that used to fit in the human mouth no longer fits. Because humans generally don’t have room for all 32 teeth, problems arise when all 32 teeth grow in. Wisdom teeth are generally the most problematic due a smaller jaw size. Wisdom teeth, when growing into a jaw that no longer has room, can damage neighboring teeth or even cause serious infections of the mouth.[6] If the human jaw was larger in size there would be plenty of room inside the mouth for all 32 teeth to be present at the same time and the problems that are persistent with wisdom teeth would be less of a threat.

Spinal cord
Another issue that evolved from having a larger brain is that parts of the human body cannot heal properly. The spinal cord, for instance, cannot ever properly heal if it is damaged. Because neurons have become so specialized through evolution, they are no longer able to regrow once they reach their mature state. If the spinal cord is injured, even slightly bruised, the neurons cannot repair themselves like other body cells can. The spinal cord, if broken, will never repair itself and will result in permanent paralysis. If neuron cells had not become so specialized in the spinal cord, then they would be able to repair themselves after an injury.[7]
Link​

For more examples of unintelligent design see HERE

 

[Draka]

Who says we are the desired final result? And who says that we have reached a point in evolution for there to be an accomplished goal yet? And why does anything have to be "perfect"? Can the goal just not be life experiences itself? Maybe there are "imperfections" to give things to overcome?

I have never met anyone who believes in theistic evolution to have ever claimed that we humans, on this particular space rock, are the desired end result of anything.

 

[George-ananda]

All these examples are compatible with some concepts of intelligent design. I think life was fostered by nature spirits that are beyond us in their type of intelligence but not omniscient or omnipotent; just highly advanced. There was learning as to what worked and didn't work in evolution. Things like you described were not envisioned in their final form from the beginning and developed during the process of learning how to work with the conditions and elements of earth.

On the other side of the coin it is mindboggling to believe these things exist at all.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Who says we are the desired final result? And who says that we have reached a point in evolution for there to be an accomplished goal yet? And why does anything have to be "perfect"? Can the goal just not be life experiences itself? Maybe there are "imperfections" to give things to overcome?

I have never met anyone who believes in theistic evolution to have ever claimed that we humans, on this particular space rock, are the desired end result of anything.

I mostly agree. Majority of people I have come across espousing intelligent design don't seem to advocate the active hand of God in all design, but more in a 'God set it in motion' kinda way. If I were cynical, I might see this as a simple way of avoiding or countering negative evidence such as that presented in the OP, but since I am in fact a sunny-faced optimist, I have decided to ignore this.

 

[Skwim]

All these examples are compatible with some concepts of intelligent design. I think life was fostered by nature spirits that are beyond us in their type of intelligence but not omniscient or omnipotent; just highly advanced. There was learning as to what worked and didn't work in evolution. Things like you described were not envisioned in their final form from the beginning and developed during the process of learning how to work with the conditions and elements of earth.

So the intelligent design you talk about isn't god's intelligence, but that of nature spirits, whatever they are. And the traits were not designed as such, but rather fostered and then left to evolve.

On the other side of the coin it is mindboggling to believe these things exist at all.

What is that, the processes you describe or the traits that have evolved?

 

[George-ananda]

So the intelligent design you talk about isn't god's intelligence, but that of nature spirits, whatever they are.

They are beings of a higher plane working with the elements of earth. Ultimately all their consciousness as well as our consciousness, is One. The One consciousness God/Brahman operates through bodies/vehicles on all the planes of nature. But we and they are not omniscient/omnipotent as we and they are limited by the body/vehicle experiencing the consciousness.

And the traits were not designed as such, but rather fostered and then left to evolve.

No the fostering is continuous to this day. Species are still slowly changing.

What is that, the processes you describe or the traits that have evolved?

All the above.

 

[Yoshua]

Intelligent Design is one of those creationist terms used to describe how earth's life came about. Not through the hit-and-miss process of evolution, but "by the deliberate hand of god." God being the intelligent designer. But just how intelligent were these designs? Could they have been better? My guess is that the creationist will say, "No. Being designed by god, by default they're perfect." In contrast, unintelligent design would be something not created by god, and would more likely than not have flaws, glitches, and deficiencies of some sort. Flaws, glitches, and deficiencies that that may even be detrimental. So, are there any such less than perfect designs; traits that point away from an intelligent designer?

Having stumbled across an article in Wikipedia, I believe there are. The article points out four such examples in humans. Although it was written to describe traits inherited through natural selection that are detrimental to the organism, it also functions as an argument against intelligent design and an intelligent designer. If you're going to insist that god did it all then you have to admit he could have done a better job.

Eyes
One example in humans of unintelligent design is the eyes. The eyes perceive images by receiving light in the retina. The retina sends electrical signals to the brain through the optic nerve and people see images. The optic nerve, however, is connected to the retina on the side that receives light, essentially blocking a portion of the eye and giving humans a blind spot.[1] A better structure for the eye would be to have the optic nerve connected to the side of the retina that does not receive the light, such as in cephalopods.[2]

Throat
Another example in humans is the throat. The esophagus, the part of the throat that allows food to travel to the digestive tract, is connected to the pharynx and the larynx, the parts of the throat that allow humans to breathe and talk.[3] Because these parts are connected, choking can become a major issue. Food and other objects can sometimes get stuck in the throat blocking the air flow and not allowing much needed oxygen to enter the lungs and the rest of the body.[4] If the parts were not connected and did not share a portion of their travel paths, choking would not be an issue, as it isn’t for most other animals in the world.

Teeth
The teeth present a third example in humans alone of unintelligent design. When human beings first started developing larger brains, they had to evolve larger skulls to be able to store the larger brain. Evolution caused the skull cavity to become larger by adding bone from the jaw. In essence, the jaw became smaller to support a larger brain, but the teeth that were in the jaw did not become smaller in size.[5] The amount of teeth that used to fit in the human mouth no longer fits. Because humans generally don’t have room for all 32 teeth, problems arise when all 32 teeth grow in. Wisdom teeth are generally the most problematic due a smaller jaw size. Wisdom teeth, when growing into a jaw that no longer has room, can damage neighboring teeth or even cause serious infections of the mouth.[6] If the human jaw was larger in size there would be plenty of room inside the mouth for all 32 teeth to be present at the same time and the problems that are persistent with wisdom teeth would be less of a threat.

Spinal cord
Another issue that evolved from having a larger brain is that parts of the human body cannot heal properly. The spinal cord, for instance, cannot ever properly heal if it is damaged. Because neurons have become so specialized through evolution, they are no longer able to regrow once they reach their mature state. If the spinal cord is injured, even slightly bruised, the neurons cannot repair themselves like other body cells can. The spinal cord, if broken, will never repair itself and will result in permanent paralysis. If neuron cells had not become so specialized in the spinal cord, then they would be able to repair themselves after an injury.[7]
Link​

For more examples of unintelligent design see HERE

Hi Skwim,

So you are saying that our God designed human being as unintelligent?

Thanks

 

[Skwim]

Hi Skwim,

So you are saying that our God designed human being as unintelligent?

Thanks

Nope.

I'm saying that if god did indeed design humans he can't be all that intelligent. Kind of a Sort-of-intelligent Designer. OR, god didn't do any such designing at all. Take your pick.

 

[Yoshua]

Nope.

I'm saying that if god did indeed design humans he can't be all that intelligent. Kind of a Sort-of-intelligent Designer. OR, god didn't do any such designing at all. Take your pick.

Hi Skwim,

I believe that God designed humans for He is an intelligent designer.

Thanks

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Or we could be designed, but the designer isn't as intelligent as he may think he is.

 

[Yoshua]

Or we could be designed, but the designer isn't as intelligent as he may think he is.

Hi St. Frank,

We are already designed, that proves His intelligence. No one is above His intelligence.

Thanks

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Hi St. Frank,

We are already designed, that proves His intelligence. No one is above His intelligence.

Thanks

Even an insect is above "his" intelligence.

 

[Skwim]

I believe that God designed humans for He is an intelligent designer.

So why all the goofs? Or do you prefer to simply ignore them?

 

[rusra02]

I find time and again that the claimed "design flaws" in people and animals are found to be perfect designs not fully understood, much like the so-called vestigial organs once thought useless and routinely removed; or the so-called junk DNA found not to be junk after all.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

I have never met anyone who believes in theistic evolution to have ever claimed that we humans, on this particular space rock, are the desired end result of anything.

I thought we were supposed to be "God's special creatures"? And the world and universe was created specially for us?

 

[Rick O'Shez]

If you're going to insist that god did it all then you have to admit he could have done a better job.

Not to mention how susceptible we are to all kinds of diseases, including cancer.

 

[Draka]

I thought we were supposed to be "God's special creatures"? And the world and universe was created specially for us?

That would be a Christian belief perhaps, but those whom believe in a Source God, or general Divinity, or Deistic beliefs don't usually claim that. I certainly don't. All creatures are "children" of the Divine. What makes us more special than any other animal here or on any other planet?

 

[viole]

Hi St. Frank,

We are already designed, that proves His intelligence. No one is above His intelligence.

Thanks

I would have designed better, if I had unlimited power. Functional wings would be quite handy, for instance.

Or what about eight arms like a spider? Imagine Bach fugues if he had been a arachnid

Ciao

- viole

 

[rusra02]

Not to mention how susceptible we are to all kinds of diseases, including cancer.

I think there is a big difference between how humans are (disease-ridden and dying), with how God purposes humans to be. As Romans 5:12 says, death came from Adam's sin and spread to all mankind. Growing old and falling victim to disease is part of that death at work in us. God has promised to reverse that process, and I believe he will. (Isaiah 33:24, 25:8)

 

[Skwim]

Not to mention how susceptible we are to all kinds of diseases, including cancer.

Exactly.

I think there is a big difference between how humans are (disease-ridden and dying), with how God purposes humans to be. As Romans 5:12 says, death came from Adam's sin and spread to all mankind. Growing old and falling victim to disease is part of that death at work in us.

But one need not grow old before falling victim to disease. So whatever god's purpose was in creating us is, he doesn't much care if disease incapacitates the lives of people for years on end.

So what if little Johnny must live his life crippled with polio, it's just part of god's plan.

Or that little Maria Robles was born a cripple.

Maria Robles, from Nogales, Mexico, is 8 years old.
She has "brittle bones" disease.
​

it's just part of god's plan.

God has promised to reverse that process, and I believe he will. (Isaiah 33:24, 25:8)

So what's he waiting for? He's had thousands of years to "reverse that process" and so far nada. Millions have gone to their graves living insufferable lives.