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Environment

Intelligent Design And Curiosity

February 1, 2010 | A version of this story appeared in Volume 88, Issue 5

Richard S. Greeley invokes a common fallacy in his argument against intelligent design or creation; namely, that they put an end to investigation (C&EN, Sept. 28, 2009, page 4). History could not disagree more.

Until the past century, the majority of scientists ardently believed in a designer and found their curiosity continually stimulated to understand the genius behind the design. I daresay many of us still approach our science with this perspective and find it immensely motivating and satisfying.

One who believes in a creator accepts and assumes that successful living organisms are amazingly complex and well suited for their environment. We seek to understand how we are made, why it works, and what we can do to fix it. When it comes to dealing with disease (my particular business), these questions are interesting and relevant. Determining what random sequence of events may have led to the current state has done little to inform that quest. In fact, after 30 years, I am still waiting.

Lane Sattler
Warminster, Pa.

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