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Information theory, evolutionary computation, and Dembski’s “complex specified information”

Synthese volume 178, pages 237–270 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Intelligent design advocate William Dembski has introduced a measure of information called “complex specified information”, or CSI. He claims that CSI is a reliable marker of design by intelligent agents. He puts forth a “Law of Conservation of Information” which states that chance and natural laws are incapable of generating CSI. In particular, CSI cannot be generated by evolutionary computation. Dembski asserts that CSI is present in intelligent causes and in the flagellum of Escherichia coli, and concludes that neither have natural explanations. In this paper, we examine Dembski’s claims, point out significant errors in his reasoning, and conclude that there is no reason to accept his assertions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lyman Briggs College, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48825, USA

    Wesley Elsberry

  2. National Center for Science Education, 420 40th Street, Suite 2, Oakland, CA, 94609-2509, USA

    Wesley Elsberry

  3. School of Computer Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada

    Jeffrey Shallit

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  1. Wesley Elsberry
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  2. Jeffrey Shallit
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Correspondence to Wesley Elsberry.

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Elsberry, W., Shallit, J. Information theory, evolutionary computation, and Dembski’s “complex specified information”. Synthese 178, 237–270 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-009-9542-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-009-9542-8

Keywords

  • Information theory
  • Evolutionary computation
  • Artificial life
  • Pseudomathematics
  • Complex specified information