From all the misuse, you might think the explanatory filter is useless. Maybe it cannot tell us anything about the lab theory. Would you be surprised to know that scientists close to Dr. Anthony Fauci used the explanatory filter to textbook perfection right at the beginning of the pandemic?
According to emails obtained from Dr. Fauci, a scientist named Dr. Kristian Andersen followed the explanatory filter correctly to initially arrive at a design inference regarding the virus’ origin. Quoting from the article:
In an email to Dr. Fauci sent on January 31 last year, Kristian G. Andersen of the Scripps Research Institute told the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director that some of SARS-CoV-2’s features “(potentially) look engineered.”
… “I should mention that after discussions earlier today, Eddie, Bob, Mike, and myself all find the genome inconsistent with expectations from evolutionary theory,” the expert added. “But we have to look at this much more closely and there are still further analyses to be done, so those opinions could still change.”
James Walker, “Fauci Emails Show Experts Had Concern Covid Virus Could ‘Look Engineered’” At Newsweek
In a New York Times interview Dr. Andersen expands on what he meant by “inconsistent” with evolutionary theory …
Eric Holloway, “How a critic of intelligent design theory misunderstands the application of design inference” at Mind Matters News
Takehome: Would you be surprised to know that scientists close to Dr. Fauci used the explanatory filter to textbook perfection right at the beginning of the pandemic?