Dean H. Kenyon is Professor Emeritus of Biology at
San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California...
and well-known creationist and
intelligent designIntelligent design is the assertion that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection." It is a modern form of the traditional teleological argument for the existence of God, but one which...
proponent. He is also the author of
Of Pandas and PeopleOf Pandas and People: The Central Question of Biological Origins is a controversial 1989 school-level textbook written by Percival Davis and Dean H. Kenyon and published by the Texas-based Foundation for Thought and Ethics . It espouses the idea of intelligent design —namely that life shows...
.
Kenyon received a BSc in
physicsPhysics is a natural science; it is the study of matter and its motion through spacetime and all that derives from these, such as energy and force...
from the
University of ChicagoThe University of Chicago is a private, coeducational research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by oil magnate and benefactor John D...
in 1961 and a Ph.D. in
biophysicsBiophysics is an interdisciplinary science that employs and develops theories and methods of the physical sciences for the investigation of biological systems . Studies included under the branches of biophysics span all levels of biological organization, from the molecular scale to whole organisms...
from
Stanford UniversityThe Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university located in Stanford, California, United States...
in 1965. In 1965-1966 he was a
National Science FoundationThe National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
Postdoctoral Fellow in Chemical Biodynamics at the
University of California, BerkeleyThe University of California, Berkeley is a public research university located in Berkeley, California, United States. The oldest of the ten major campuses affiliated with the University of California, Berkeley offers some 300 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a wide range of disciplines...
, a Research Associate at Ames Research Center. In 1966, he became Assistant Professor of Biology at
San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California...
.
Dean H. Kenyon is Professor Emeritus of Biology at
San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California...
and well-known creationist and
intelligent designIntelligent design is the assertion that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection." It is a modern form of the traditional teleological argument for the existence of God, but one which...
proponent. He is also the author of
Of Pandas and PeopleOf Pandas and People: The Central Question of Biological Origins is a controversial 1989 school-level textbook written by Percival Davis and Dean H. Kenyon and published by the Texas-based Foundation for Thought and Ethics . It espouses the idea of intelligent design —namely that life shows...
.
Early career
Kenyon received a BSc in
physicsPhysics is a natural science; it is the study of matter and its motion through spacetime and all that derives from these, such as energy and force...
from the
University of ChicagoThe University of Chicago is a private, coeducational research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by oil magnate and benefactor John D...
in 1961 and a Ph.D. in
biophysicsBiophysics is an interdisciplinary science that employs and develops theories and methods of the physical sciences for the investigation of biological systems . Studies included under the branches of biophysics span all levels of biological organization, from the molecular scale to whole organisms...
from
Stanford UniversityThe Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university located in Stanford, California, United States...
in 1965. In 1965-1966 he was a
National Science FoundationThe National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
Postdoctoral Fellow in Chemical Biodynamics at the
University of California, BerkeleyThe University of California, Berkeley is a public research university located in Berkeley, California, United States. The oldest of the ten major campuses affiliated with the University of California, Berkeley offers some 300 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a wide range of disciplines...
, a Research Associate at Ames Research Center. In 1966, he became Assistant Professor of Biology at
San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California...
. He has been Emeritus at San Francisco State University since 2000.
In 1969, Kenyon and coauthor Gary Steinman published
Biochemical Predestination, a book on the origins of life advocating a theory of natural chemical evolution.
In 1974, he was a Visiting Scholar to
Trinity CollegeThe College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol and Blackwells, and opposite...
, Oxford.
Kenyon's views changed around 1976 after exposure to the work of young-earth creationists. In his own words,
- "Then in 1976, a student gave me a book by A.E. Wilder-Smith, The Creation of Life: A Cybernetic Approach to Evolution. Many pages of that book deal with arguments against Biochemical Predestination, and I found myself hard-pressed to come up with a counter-rebuttal. Eventually, several other books and articles by neo-creationists came to my attention. I read some of Henry Morris
Henry Madison Morris, Ph.D. was an American young earth creationist and Christian apologist. He was one of the founders of the Creation Research Society and the Institute for Creation Research. He is considered by many to be "the father of modern creation science."-Biography:Morris grew up in...
' books, in particular, The Genesis FloodThe Genesis Flood: The Biblical Record and its Scientific Implications is a 1961 book by young earth creationists John C. Whitcomb and Henry M...
. I'm not a geologist, and I don't agree with everything in that book, but what stood out was that here was a scientific statement giving a very different view of earth history. Though the book doesn't deal with the subject of the origin of life per se, it had the effect of suggesting that it is possible to have a rational alternative explanation of the past."
In 1980, the San Francisco State University Department of Biology had a dispute over Kenyon's presentation of
creationismCreationism refers to the religious belief that humanity, life, the Earth, and the universe were created in some form by a supernatural being or beings, commonly a single deity...
, then called "
scientific creationismCreation science or scientific creationism is the movement within creationism which attempts to provide support for the religious account of creation according to Genesis, and disprove accepted scientific facts, theories and scientific paradigms about the history of the Earth, cosmology and...
" in Biology module 337 Evolution. At that time, Kenyon challenged anyone on the faculty to a debate on the merits of evolutionary theory versus "scientific creationism." According to SFSU biology professor John Hafernik, "There was much discussion in faculty meetings as well. Eventually the faculty voted (none opposed, seven abstentions) not to alter the description of Biology 337 to include creationism. The precedent set, in the context of the 1980 discussions, was that the Department did not support teaching creationism."
McLean v. Arkansas
In 1981, Kenyon was recruited to be an expert witness for the creationist side in the McLean vs. Arkansas case that tested the constitutionality of Arkansas' Equal Time Legislation that mandated equal time for "creation science" and "evolution science." Kenyon flew to Arkansas to be deposed and testify during the trial. However, apparently under the influence of creationist attorney
Wendell BirdWendell R. Bird is a former staff attorney for the Institute for Creation Research and served as a special assistant attorney general for Louisiana. As a special assistant he defended the state's "equal time" law, which was ruled to be unconstitutional in Edwards v...
(who was displeased with the defense of the creationist position by the Arkansas attorney general Steve Clark), Kenyon left town just before he was to testify:
- "The attorney general presented six science witnesses, two more than had testified for the ACLU, presumably on the grounds that quantity made up for evident lack of quality. There would have been more had not a serious case of disappearing witnesses set in as the second week wore on. Dean Kenyon, a biologist from San Francisco State University, fled town after watching the demolition of four of the state's witnesses on day 1 of the second week. And Henry Voss, a computer scientist from California, was rapidly withdrawn at the last minute when, in pretrial deposition, he too began to expound on things satanic and demonical."
The Arkansas attorney general apparently threatened to sue Bird after this interference:
- There were other witnesses for the defense who did not show up. Several scientists who had been listed as potential witnesses for the state, backed out because of what Clark termed "peer pressure."
- Another state witness, Dr. Dean Kenyon, a biophysicist at San Francisco State University, mysteriously disappeared on the eve of his day in court. He had flown into Little Rock on a Sunday evening, but when one of Clark's assistants went to take his deposition he could not find him. Kenyon had checked out of the hotel and flown back home. Bird had encouraged Kenyon not to testify, although Kenyon taught evolution theory for 16 years until three years ago when he became a creationist. Bird, who is general counsel to ICR
The Institute for Creation Research is a Christian institution in Dallas, Texas that specializes in education, research, and media promotion of creation science and Biblical creationism. The ICR adopts the Bible as an inerrant and literal documentary of scientific and historical fact as well as...
, said he attempted to get other defense witnesses not to testify after he perceived the trial as botched by Clark.
- Bird said he was not trying to sabotage Clark's effort. He said he merely had told several witnesses for the state that "I don't think you should jeopardize your reputation with the way [the trial] is being handled." Clark stated he was considering legal action against Bird, whose actions, he said, were "tantamount to tampering with justice."
Edwards v. Aguillard
Following the
McLeanMacLean, McClean, or McLean can refer to:- Places :Australia* Maclean, New South Wales* Maclean Island, TasmaniaCanada* McLean Island, NunavutUnited States of America* McLean, Illinois...
ruling, which declared the teaching of "creation science" in public schools to be an unconstitutional establishment of religion, Louisiana's version of the "Equal Time" legislation was put to the test. This time, Wendell Bird was deputized by the state and ran the state's defense of the law. Dean Kenyon was advertised as the creationists' lead expert witness, however the case (which eventually became
Edwards v. AguillardEdwards v. Aguillard, was a case heard by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1987 regarding creationism. The Court ruled that a Louisiana law requiring that creation science be taught in public schools along with evolution was unconstitutional, because the law was specifically intended to...
when it reached the Supreme Court) was decided by
summary judgmentIn law, a summary judgment is a determination made by a court without a full trial. Such a judgment may be issued as to the merits of an entire case, or of specific issues in that case....
, and so never went to a full trial. Nevertheless, in written briefs and in his oral arguments, Bird relied heavily on an expert witness affidavit written by Kenyon. This affidavit is
online at the TalkOrigins website. It was entered into evidence in the
KitzmillerKitzmiller may refer to:* John Kitzmiller , African-American actor* Johnny Kitzmiller , American football player and member of the College Football Hall of Fame* Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District, 2005 US court case...
case as evidence that Kenyon was explicitly defending "creation science"—and advocating that it be given equal time in public schools and textbooks as the "only" alternative to evolution—while at the same time working on a public school textbook, which eventually became the first "intelligent design" book,
Of Pandas and PeopleOf Pandas and People: The Central Question of Biological Origins is a controversial 1989 school-level textbook written by Percival Davis and Dean H. Kenyon and published by the Texas-based Foundation for Thought and Ethics . It espouses the idea of intelligent design —namely that life shows...
.
After Edwards
In 1987 in
Edwards v. AguillardEdwards v. Aguillard, was a case heard by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1987 regarding creationism. The Court ruled that a Louisiana law requiring that creation science be taught in public schools along with evolution was unconstitutional, because the law was specifically intended to...
the
Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the United States, and leads the federal judiciary. It consists of the Chief Justice of the United States and eight Associate Justices, who are nominated by the President and confirmed with the "advice and consent" of the Senate...
heard a case concerning a Louisiana Law that required "creation science" be taught on an equal basis with evolution in public schools. Anti-creationists argued that this was illegal on the basis that it violated the Establishment Clause of the US Constitution. Kenyon issued an
affidavitAn affidavit is a formal sworn statement of fact, signed by the author, who is called the affiant or deponent, and witnessed as to the authenticity of the affiant's signature by a taker of oaths, such as a notary public or commissioner of oaths. The name is Medieval Latin for he has declared upon...
in that case, stating his support for creationism, and defining it thus:
Creation-science means origin through abrupt appearance in complex form, and includes biological creation, biochemical creation (or chemical creation), and cosmic creation. (...) Creation-science does not include as essential parts the concepts of catastrophismCatastrophism is the idea that Earth has been affected in the past by sudden, short-lived, violent events, possibly worldwide in scope.The dominant paradigm of modern geology, in contrast, is uniformitarianism , in which slow incremental changes, such as erosion, create the Earth's appearance...
, a world-wide flood, a recent inception of the earth or lifeYoung Earth creationism is the religious belief that the Heavens, Earth, and life on Earth were created by direct acts of God during a short period, sometime between ca 5,700 and 10,000 years ago....
, from nothingness (ex nihiloThe Latin phrase ex nihilo means "out of nothing". It often appears in conjunction with the concept of creation, as in creatio ex nihilo, meaning "creation out of nothing" — chiefly in in philosophical or theological contexts, but also occurs in other fields.In theology, the common phrase creatio...
), the concept of kinds, or any concepts from Genesis or other religious texts.
The Supreme Court did find that the law violated the establishment clause and the teaching of creationism in America's public schools was henceforth declared illegal. However, it also noted that
Teaching a variety of scientific theoriesIn the sciences generally, a scientific theory comprises a collection of concepts, including abstractions of observable phenomena expressed as quantifiable properties, together with rules that express relationships between observations of such concepts...
about the origins of humankind to school children might be validly done with the clear secular intent of enhancing the effectiveness of science instruction.
Around the same time, Kenyon was co-authoring with
Percival DavisPercival William Davis, also known as Bill Davis, is an American author, a young earth creationist, and activist in the intelligent design movement.-Education and career:...
a creationist school textbook entitled
Of Pandas and PeopleOf Pandas and People: The Central Question of Biological Origins is a controversial 1989 school-level textbook written by Percival Davis and Dean H. Kenyon and published by the Texas-based Foundation for Thought and Ethics . It espouses the idea of intelligent design —namely that life shows...
. After the Edwards decision, all references to "creationism" were replaced with "
intelligent designIntelligent design is the assertion that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection." It is a modern form of the traditional teleological argument for the existence of God, but one which...
", with a reference to "creationists" being replaced by "design proponents", and in one case by "cdesign proponentsists". This is seen within the
history of creationismThe history of creationism is tied to the history of religions. The term creationism in its broad sense covers a wide range of beliefs and interpretations, and was not in common use before the late 19th century....
as the origin of the term
intelligent design and the "missing link" between creationism and intelligent design.
In October 1992, Kenyon told by the chair of the SFSU Biology Department to stop teaching creationism in introductory biology courses. This led to talks with what became the
Discovery InstituteThe Discovery Institute is a conservative non-profit public policy think tank based in Seattle, Washington, best known for its advocacy of intelligent design. Its Teach the Controversy campaign aims to teach creationist anti-evolution beliefs in United States public high school science courses...
, including
Stephen C. MeyerThis page is for the intelligent design advocate and Discovery Institute officer Stephen C. Meyer. For the rugby player see Steve Meyer.Stephen C. Meyer is an American think tank executive officer and co-founder, along with Phillip E. Johnson and others, of the intelligent design movement...
,
Phillip E. JohnsonPhillip E. Johnson is a retired UC Berkeley law professor and author. He became a born-again Christian as a tenured professor. He is considered the father of the intelligent design movement, which rejects the theory of evolution, and promotes intelligent design, as an alternative. Johnson also...
, William Dembski, and
Michael BeheMichael J. Behe is an American biochemist and intelligent design advocate. He currently serves as professor of biochemistry at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania and as a senior fellow of the Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture...
. Kenyon was eventually reinstated to teach, and he claimed his colleagues' objections rest on a positivist view of what constitutes legitimate science.
Kenyon co-authored a paper, "The RNA World: A Critique," which appears in the Winter 1996 issue of
Origins and Design, a now defunct creationist journal where he was on the Editorial Advisory Board.
At one time, Kenyon was listed as an author of the forthcoming textbook
The Design of Life, a retitled edition of
Of Pandas and People. Kenyon is a Fellow of the
Discovery InstituteThe Discovery Institute is a conservative non-profit public policy think tank based in Seattle, Washington, best known for its advocacy of intelligent design. Its Teach the Controversy campaign aims to teach creationist anti-evolution beliefs in United States public high school science courses...
, the driving force behind the
intelligent design movementThe intelligent design movement is a neo-creationist religious campaign for broad social, academic and political change to promote and support the idea of "intelligent design." Its chief activities are a campaign to promote public awareness of this concept, the lobbying of policymakers to include...
.
Works by Kenyon
- Kenyon DH, Steinman G. Biochemical Predestination. McGraw Hill Text (January, 1969) ISBN 0-07-034126-5.
- Davis PW, Kenyon DH. Of Pandas and People: The Central Question of Biological Origins. Foundation for Thought & Ethics; 2nd edition (September, 1993) ISBN 0-914513-40-0.
- Steinman G, Kenyon DH, Calvin M. The mechanism and protobiochemical relevance of dicyanamide-medicated peptide synthesis. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1966 Aug 24;124(2):339-50. PMID 5968904
- Smith AE, Kenyon DH. Is life originating de novo? Perspect Biol Med. 1972 Summer;15(4):529-42. PMID 5040075
- Smith AE, Kenyon DH. The origin of viruses from cellular genetic material. Enzymologia. 1972 Jul 31;43(1):13-8. PMID 5050651
- Smith AE, Kenyon DH. A unifying concept of carcinogenesis and its therapeutic implications. Oncology. 1973;27(5):459-79. PMID 4578174
- Smith AE, Kenyon DH. Acupuncture and A.T.P.: how they may be related. Am J Chin Med (Gard City N Y). 1973 Jan;1(1):91-7. PMID 4774360
- Kenyon DH. On terminology in origin of life studies. Orig Life. 1975 Jul;6(3):447-9. PMID 1187108
- Nissenbaum A, Kenyon DH, Oro J. On the possible role of organic melanoidin polymers as matrices for prebiotic activity. J Mol Evol. 1975 Dec 29;6(4):253-70. PMID 1542
- Kenyon DH, Nissenbaum A. Melanoidin and aldocyanoin microspheres: implications for chemical evolution and early precambrian micropaleontology. J Mol Evol. 1976 Apr 9;7(3):245-51. PMID 778393
External links
- Dean H. Kenyon from Discovery Institute
The Discovery Institute is a conservative non-profit public policy think tank based in Seattle, Washington, best known for its advocacy of intelligent design. Its Teach the Controversy campaign aims to teach creationist anti-evolution beliefs in United States public high school science courses...
.
- Kenyon's affidavit for Edwards v. Aguillard
Edwards v. Aguillard, was a case heard by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1987 regarding creationism. The Court ruled that a Louisiana law requiring that creation science be taught in public schools along with evolution was unconstitutional, because the law was specifically intended to...