Former University of California law professor Phillip E. Johnson passed away on November 2, 2019. His significant contribution to his many law students, plus his faithfulness to his church and family were not his only legacies. As a legal scholar, he applied his unique legal logic and persuasive argumentation to origins issues. He exposed the poor logic that underlies Darwinism.
His odyssey into the crux of evolutionary biology began in London in 1987 when he purchased a copy of Richard Dawkins’s The Blind Watchmaker and Michael Denton’s Evolution: A Theory in Crisis. Neither author had a theological starting point, but were at opposite ends when it came to vertical evolution, also known as macroevolution. After several hours of reading, Philip Johnson was captivated by the debate. The rest is history.
Johnson’s book Darwin on Trial helped spearhead the intelligent design movement. In it, he clearly exposed Darwinism’s core doctrine of methodological naturalism as being philosophical, not scientific. Methodological naturalism insists that scientists investigate only material interactions and ignore information. Information, such as the intricate genetic language found stamped on the DNA of all living creatures, always comes from an informer, never from matter. Johnson argued that the presence of real information in the world demands a real information-giver as its origin. Michael Denton said, “Darwin on Trial is unquestionably the best critique of Darwinism I have ever read.”1
Who could counter professor Johnson’s insights?
Johnson’s book The Wedge of Truth unmasked the illegitimacy of institutional consensus as a substitute for honest scientific inquiry. In it, Johnson also probed the poor logic that underpins evolutionary doctrines like how natural selection somehow crafted the human mind. He wrote, “The scientists who believe that natural selection made the brain do so not because of the evidence but in spite of the evidence.”2
Sometimes the vitriol of one’s enemies confirms that you’re on the right track. Johnson’s words riled Darwin’s defenders. His unflappable logic pierced naturalist’s core beliefs enough to incite some of them to angry dodges or personal jabs. Ironically, their passion refuted their own materialistic worldview. Particles give no reason whatsoever why people should defend any idea—including the idea of a universe made merely of particles.
Professor Johnson left a legacy of how to present a winsome case for clear thinking in origins issues. He will be remembered as the godfather of the modern intelligent design movement and as a pioneer in impacting our culture with the reasonableness of origins by design.3
References
1. Johnson, P.E. 1993. Darwin on Trial. Downer’s Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
2. Johnson, P.E. 2000. The Wedge of Truth. Downer’s Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 123.
3. Klinghoffer, D. Remembering Phillip E. Johnson (1940-2019): The Man Who Lit the Match. Evolution News & Science Today. Posted on evolutionnews.org November 3, 2019, accessed November 4, 2019.
Dr. Thomas is Research Associate at the Institute for Creation Research and earned his Ph.D. in paleobiochemistry from the University of Liverpool. Mr. Sherwin is Research Associate at ICR and earned a master’s in zoology from the University of Northern Colorado.

The Legacies of Phillip E. Johnson
The Latest
Rocky Exoplanets Are Literally Being Vaporized
Astronomers have discovered a disintegrating rocky planet in another solar system.1,2 This extrasolar planet, or exoplanet, has been given...
CREATION PODCAST
Hot Springs & Badlands – Folded Rock, Fossil Graveyard, and...
America is home to stunning forests, mountains, monuments, and other wondrous features. The unique beauty of many of these locations has prompted...
Mammals ''Shrank'' After Post-Flood Ice Age
By examining fossils from 19 archaeological sites in Jordan’s Azraq Basin, researchers have concluded that gazelles, hares, and foxes shrank in...
Breaking News: Ancient Mollusks Were Complex
Mollusks consist of a wide range of invertebrates that include the intelligent octopus, pulmonated snails (gastropods), and bivalves (clams). They appear...
Dino Trackway Leads Straight to a Young Earth
Uncovering animal tracks and trackways in sedimentary rocks is a testament to the Genesis Flood.1–4 Fascinating discoveries continue...
February 2025 ICR Wallpaper
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8 NKJV)
ICR's...
CREATION.LIVE PODCAST
Fascinating Dino Fossil Finds! | Creation.Live Podcast: Episode...
Dinosaurs are fascinating creatures and the fossils they've left behind inspire awe and wonder. Many scientists claim that the existence of...
New Antarctic Ice Core: Good News for Creationists
Scientists have successfully drilled a fourth long ice core in East Antarctica.1 This new core, which reached to bedrock, has bottom ice...
CREATION PODCAST
Towers, Buttes, and Gardens of Stone - Exploring America's National...
America is home to stunning forests, mountains, monuments, and other wondrous features. The unique beauty of many of these locations has prompted...