The Privileged Planet
Encyclopedia
The Privileged Planet: How Our Place in the Cosmos is Designed for Discovery is a book by Guillermo Gonzalez
and Jay Richards
which claims scientific evidence for intelligent design
. Both Gonzalez and Richards are associated with the Discovery Institute
, identified with the intelligent design movement
; Gonzalez serves as a senior fellow of the Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture
.
, a Professor of Astronomy at the University of Texas at Austin
, reviewed the book writing "the little that is new in this book isn't interesting, and what is old is just old-hat creationism
in a new, modern-looking astronomical costume."
Victor J. Stenger
, a physicist and atheistical campaigner, reviewed the book explaining that it not only "ignores" Gonzalez's Washington colleagues paleontologist Peter Ward
and astronomer Donald E. Brownlee
's 2000 book Rare Earth
, but it goes against "the consensus of astrobiologists in adopting the Rare Earth position." He further said the book is "another form of stealth creationism, claiming to be science but motivated by religion."
, which according to policy, must allow a special event on its premises. The Institute chose to show the film at the National Museum of Natural History
in Washington, D.C. The Smithsonian withdrew its cosponsorship, stating: "We have determined that the content of the film is not consistent with the mission of the Smithsonian Institution's scientific research." They allowed the film to be shown but turned down the payment.
Charles G. Lambdin reviewed the film, concluding that while life on planets may be remote, there are a lot of planets and "Using Gonzalez and Richard’s own odds of habitability, this suggests that there may be one billion habitable planets due to chance alone." He also argued that the film's claim that the fact that we can do science at all suggests the universe was designed so that we can understand it is no different than the old quip that the nose must have been designed so that we can wear spectacles.
The film is listed on IMDB.com as being distributed and produced by Illustra Media and Randolph Productions. IMDB also lists one of the producers Larry Frenzel who has produced the films "The Lightkeepers" (2009), "The Case for Faith" (2008), "The Case for Christ" (2007) and "The Privileged Planet" (2004).
Guillermo Gonzalez (astronomer)
Guillermo Gonzalez is an astrophysicist, proponent of intelligent design, and a professor at Grove City College, a Christian school, in Grove City, Pennsylvania...
and Jay Richards
Jay Richards
Jay Wesley Richards is an American analytic philosopher and advocate of Intelligent Design. He is the Director of Acton Media and a Research Fellow at the Acton Institute, and Program Director of the Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture , which has as its primary role the advocacy...
which claims scientific evidence for intelligent design
Intelligent design
Intelligent design is the proposition 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 form of creationism and a contemporary adaptation of the traditional teleological argument for...
. Both Gonzalez and Richards are associated with the Discovery Institute
Discovery Institute
The Discovery Institute is a non-profit public policy think tank based in Seattle, Washington, best known for its advocacy of intelligent design...
, identified with the intelligent design movement
Intelligent design movement
The 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," which asserts that "certain features of the universe and of living things are...
; Gonzalez serves as a senior fellow of the Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture
Center for Science and Culture
The Center for Science and Culture , formerly known as the Center for the Renewal of Science and Culture , is part of the Discovery Institute, a conservative Christian think tank in the United States...
.
Reception
William H. JefferysWilliam H. Jefferys
William H. Jefferys is an American astronomer. He is a Harlan J. Smith Centennial Professor of Astronomy of astronomy at The University of Texas at Austin, and an adjunct professor of statistics at the University of Vermont....
, a Professor of Astronomy at the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, reviewed the book writing "the little that is new in this book isn't interesting, and what is old is just old-hat creationism
Creationism
Creationism is the religious beliefthat humanity, life, the Earth, and the universe are the creation of a supernatural being, most often referring to the Abrahamic god. As science developed from the 18th century onwards, various views developed which aimed to reconcile science with the Genesis...
in a new, modern-looking astronomical costume."
Victor J. Stenger
Victor J. Stenger
Victor John Stenger is an American particle physicist, outspoken atheist, and author, now active in philosophy and popular religious skepticism....
, a physicist and atheistical campaigner, reviewed the book explaining that it not only "ignores" Gonzalez's Washington colleagues paleontologist Peter Ward
Peter Ward (paleontologist)
Peter Douglas Ward is a paleontologist and professor of Biology and of Earth and Space Sciences at the University of Washington, Seattle, and has written popular science works for a general audience. He is also an adviser to the Microbes Mind Forum....
and astronomer Donald E. Brownlee
Donald E. Brownlee
Don Brownlee is a professor of astronomy at the University of Washington and the principal investigator for NASA's STARDUST mission. His primary research interests include astrobiology, comets, cosmic dust, and porsche evangelism....
's 2000 book Rare Earth
Rare Earth hypothesis
In planetary astronomy and astrobiology, the Rare Earth hypothesis argues that the emergence of complex multicellular life on Earth required an improbable combination of astrophysical and geological events and circumstances...
, but it goes against "the consensus of astrobiologists in adopting the Rare Earth position." He further said the book is "another form of stealth creationism, claiming to be science but motivated by religion."
Film
The book served as the basis for a movie by the same name. The Institute donated $16,000 to the Smithsonian InstitutionSmithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
, which according to policy, must allow a special event on its premises. The Institute chose to show the film at the National Museum of Natural History
National Museum of Natural History
The National Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum administered by the Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States. Admission is free and the museum is open 364 days a year....
in Washington, D.C. The Smithsonian withdrew its cosponsorship, stating: "We have determined that the content of the film is not consistent with the mission of the Smithsonian Institution's scientific research." They allowed the film to be shown but turned down the payment.
Charles G. Lambdin reviewed the film, concluding that while life on planets may be remote, there are a lot of planets and "Using Gonzalez and Richard’s own odds of habitability, this suggests that there may be one billion habitable planets due to chance alone." He also argued that the film's claim that the fact that we can do science at all suggests the universe was designed so that we can understand it is no different than the old quip that the nose must have been designed so that we can wear spectacles.
The film is listed on IMDB.com as being distributed and produced by Illustra Media and Randolph Productions. IMDB also lists one of the producers Larry Frenzel who has produced the films "The Lightkeepers" (2009), "The Case for Faith" (2008), "The Case for Christ" (2007) and "The Privileged Planet" (2004).