[Ichneumon]

[If "intelligent design" theory fits in with all the facts, would that make it a legitimate theory?]

One of the big problems of ID and the irreproducible complexity argument is this. If life is so complicated that it needed a designer, then, in order to design the complexity of living things, said Designer must have a similar or higher level of complexity. From whence did that complexity originate.

And is it turtles all the way down, then?

The "ID postulate" (it doesn't even rise to the level of "theory") doesn't explain anything at all, it just pushes it back a level so it can be swept under the rug -- while creating even more problems than it "resolves".

[doc30]

The "ID postulate" (it doesn't even rise to the level of "theory") doesn't explain anything at all, it just pushes it back a level so it can be swept under the rug -- while creating even more problems than it "resolves".

You are absolutely correct. I call it scientific capitulation through intellectual affirmative action. In science, it would be like mixing French military strategy with political correctness.

[longshadow]

And is it turtles all the way down, then?

Indeed, it is; until one encounters The Turtle of Special Pleading.....

;-)