Intelligent falling

Intelligent falling (IF) is a parody of the "intelligent design" (ID) movement. IF is a pseudo-scientific supernatural explanation of the effects of gravity that has become a minor Internet phenomenon. It says free fall is being caused by "the hand of God", as depicted in Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel 's own writings.

IF proposes that the scientific explanation of gravitational force cannot explain all aspects of the phenomenon, so credence should be given to the idea that things fall because a higher intelligence is moving them. Furthermore, IF asserts that theories explaining gravity are not internally consistent nor mathematically reconcilable with quantum mechanics, making gravity a "theory in crisis". IF also makes the claim that gravity is "only a theory", parodying the claims made by creationists regarding the theoretical status of evolution. Pretend IF apologists advocate that IF should be taught in school along with the theory of gravity so that students can make "an informed decision" on the subject in accordance with demands to "teach the controversy". IF has found common ground with the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, a similar critique of intelligent design, and the two are often combined when mentioned in discussions.

IF as an Internet phenomenon

Pre-Internet sentiments resembling IF

In a letter to the Reverend Dr. Richard Bentley in 1692, Isaac Newton wrote: "To your second query I answer that the motions which the planets now have could not spring from any natural cause alone but were impressed by an intelligent agent." This statement is referenced by Intelligent Design advocate Stephen C. Meyer in "The Scientific Status of Intelligent Design" ["An example of theological plausibility functioning to limit design hypotheses can be found by examining the reception of Newton's famous postulation of special divine intervention to stabilize the orbital motion in the solar system. Newton postulated the periodic and special intervention of God to correct for an apparently accumulating instability in the orbits of the outer planets (Jupiter and Saturn) within the solar system. While this episode is often cited to illustrate why divine action or design can never be considered as a scientific explanation, it actually illustrates a more subtle point: how such inferences were constrained by considerations of theological plausibility." [http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=1780 http://www.discovery.org] ] , who refers to this statement as

In 1925, Rev. William Asbury Williams, D.D. wrote, in a a book titled "The Evolution of Man Scientifically Disproved": [cite book | first= Rev. William A. | last= Williams | authorlink= | coauthors= | year= 1925 & 1928 | title= The Evolution of Man Scientifically Disproved, In 50 Arguments | edition= | publisher= | location= | id= [http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/8508 Gutenberg Etext] ]

Charles Darwin clearly opts for the opposite point of view. In 1842, Charles Darwin wrote his "pencil sketch" of his theory [ [http://pages.britishlibrary.net/charles.darwin/texts/foundations/foundations_part2.htm Darwin's essay of 1842, part II.] ] in which he sets evidence of common descent against the doctrine of separate creation and asks:

Aristotle's theory that objects have a "natural place" could be seen as a precursor to IF. At the more satiric level, the original radio series of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (by Douglas Adams) included a scene involving a giant statue of "Arthur Dent throwing a cup." When the real Arthur Dent inquired what kept the cup in place, he was told that the cup stayed in mid-air because it was "artistically correct" and that gravity was not quite as non-selective as people thought.

ee also

* Flying Spaghetti Monster
* Intelligent design
* Parody religion

References

External links

* [http://www.intelligentfalling.org Petition for intelligent falling]
* [http://www.theonion.com/content/node/39512 Parody by "The Onion"]
* [http://www.intelligent-forces.com Intelligent Forces] Similar "Anti-Gravity" parody website
* [http://www.intelligentattraction.com intelligentattraction.com]
* [http://monado2.blogspot.com/2005/10/new-legal-tactic-intelligent-murderer.html Intelligent Murderer Theory] Paraphrase of the Intelligent Design argument into legal terms
* [http://q-pheevr.livejournal.com/33337.html The Wrathful Dispersion Controversy] Paraphrase of the Intelligent Design argument into linguistic terms
* [http://www.edthefuture.com/ External Delivery the Future] , Santaism promoted as science by the Delivery Institute