Darwin on Trial - Definition and Overview

Darwin on Trial (ISBN 0830813241) is a controversial 1991 book by the American lawyer Phillip E. Johnson, in which he first uses the phrase intelligent design in its modern sense.

Johnson, an evangelical Christian, had come to believe that evolutionary theory was based on empty rhetoric, such as that he thought was found in Richard Dawkins' The Blind Watchmaker.

Johnson sets his narrative in a courtroom and recycles many creationist arguments.

The book was largely ignored by the scientific community, but help set in motion the intelligent design movement, of which Johnson is considered "the father".

External links

Pro-intelligent design

• Johnson at Access Research Network (http://www.arn.org/johnson/johome.htm)
• Review by a creationist (http://www.asa3.org/gray/evolution_trial/dotreview.html)

Anti-intelligent design

• Critiques of Anti-Evolutionist Phillip Johnson's Views by Jim Lippard and Bill Hamilton (http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/johnson.html) - part of the talk.origins archive.
• Darwin on Trial: A Review by Eugenie C. Scott (http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/resources/165252685546.asp) of the National Center for Science Education