From Dead Ends to Design: Meyer & Tour on Life’s Information Code

Intelligent Design the Future

Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture

Science, Philosophy, Astronomy, Society & Culture, Life Sciences

4 • 993 Ratings

🗓️ 6 August 2025

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

On today's episode, enjoy the second half of a discussion between philosopher of science Dr. Steven Meyer and synthetic organic chemist Dr. James Tour about the origin of life and the explanatory power of intelligent design. The conversation, hosted by Peter Robinson, transitions from the "dead end" of current origin of life research to the crucial concept of information. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Look for Part 1 in a separate episode. We’re grateful to the producers of Uncommon Knowledge for permission to share this conversation here. Uncommon Knowledge is a production of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. Source

Transcript

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0:00.0	ID, The Future, a what can? Does intelligent
0:39.2	design have the explanatory power to stand in the gap? Welcome to ID the future. I'm Andrew McDermott.
0:46.0	Today we're bringing you the second half of an engaging conversation between philosopher of science
0:50.7	Dr. Stephen Meyer and synthetic organic chemist Dr. James Tuer, as they discuss the current status of origin of life Dr. Stephen Meyer and Synthetic Organic Chemist Dr. James Tuer, as they discuss the current
0:56.4	status of Origin of Life research and which scientific theory best answers the question of life's
1:01.9	origin. Dr. Tours, a professor at Rice University, renowned for his work in nanotechnology,
1:08.0	and his skepticism toward the current scientific models explaining the origin
1:12.4	of life. Dr. Meyer is author of Darwin's Doubt, the explosive origin of animal life and the case
1:18.7	for intelligent design. In part one, the two men explored why the question of life's origin
1:24.3	remained stubbornly unsolved, with current research demonstrating more about how
1:28.9	life didn't form than how it did.
1:31.8	Today, in part two, we pick up that thread by delving into the crucial concept of information.
1:37.3	Meyer and Ture explain what it is and how it defines the origin of life question.
1:42.0	Dr. Meyer will argue that the functionally specified information
1:45.0	found in every living cell points to intelligent design as the best explanation for the origin of life.
1:51.0	The pair also ponder the profound mystery of what life is beyond its chemical components,
1:57.0	touching on arguments of purpose or teleology in life.
2:01.6	As we jump back into the conversation, host Peter Robinson is ready to switch gears
2:06.6	from discussing the current impasse of Origin of Life research to unpacking the all-important
2:11.6	ingredient for life, information.
2:15.6	Listen, can we go now, I believe I understand the dead end.
2:21.3	Could we go now this question of, that DNA raises, the question of information?
	...

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