Biological Design Argument?

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This is only so in cases which involve physical evidence. As the designer of the theistic hypothesis is not a physical being, it is not so.
When God parted the Red Sea there was physical evidence: physical water moved from one place to another. If a designer is playing with molecules then molecules will physically move from one place to another. That would constitute physical evidence. So far I have seen no evidence of anything that could not be done by chemistry alone.

rossum
 
It makes a good gag,
I am glad you got the joke. Not everybody noticed when I first posted it. I did consider calling it, “A Modest Proposal for …” but decided not to.
but your definition of CSI is woefully inaccurate.
No, I am using Dr Dembski’s definition of CSI and his Explanatory Filter, as referenced.
You assume the existence of an atemporal omniscient creator
Otherwise known as “God”.
And hence, anything containing three or more atoms is a product of design.
Correct. Given God, is there anything in the universe that is not designed? Hence any proposed universal design detector is untestable. Darwin clearly described things which could not have evolved. ID has so far been unable to describe things which could not have been designed. This is a fault in any scientific hypothesis.

rossum
 
It is occurring all the time in the physical and spiritual development in which you believe.
So, design is occurring now. Do I take it that the designer is shuffling DNA molecules around? How does he/she/it/they do that? Are there lab experiments showing the molecules moving under the influence of the designer? What physical forces does the designer use: gravity, electromagnetic, weak, strong? If there a fifth force, currently unknown to physics, that the designer uses to move molecules? It there is, then there’s a Nobel Prize for someone.

Biological design is a physical thing, involving physical molecules. Where is the scientific evidence of the designer physically rearranging molecules? Molecules and their movements are well within the boundaries of science.
This issue has nothing to do with Christianity but with the lack of an explanation for the origin of purposeful existence - which is to be found in Design.
If the designer has purposeful existence, then you have not explained the origin of purposeful existence until you have explained the origin of the designer. If the designer does not have purposeful existence, then purposeful existence can arise from non-purposeful existence and there is no problem to be solved since we already have a non-purposeful universe/multiverse to explain the origin of things.

rossum
 
isn’t it the point that you cannot deny design unless you can see what design looks like in reality.
design may be standing on your face but if you don’t know what design looks like then you cannot deny it is there.
Unless you know what is looks like then you cannot show that it is there either.
(i don’t pretend to understand your design detector, if i weigh 5 atoms - then it proves design?)
Yes. Given a God-like designer is there anything in the universe that is not designed? My piece was a tongue-in-cheek criticism of Dr Dembki’s explanatory filter, intended to show its inutility. My detector was essentially a set of scales. Dembski’s ideas are a lot less important then he like to think they are: design = mass. Mass is a well understood concept, and does not carry the weight that “cdesign proponentsists” llike to attach to design.

rossum
 
Unless you know what is looks like then you cannot show that it is there either.

Yes. Given a God-like designer is there anything in the universe that is not designed? My piece was a tongue-in-cheek criticism of Dr Dembki’s explanatory filter, intended to show its inutility. My detector was essentially a set of scales. Dembski’s ideas are a lot less important then he like to think they are: design = mass. Mass is a well understood concept, and does not carry the weight that “cdesign proponentsists” llike to attach to design.

rossum
well thats fine. as long as you are not trying to argue that there is no design then everything is ok.
however if you try to argue against design then you must first prove design.
it is something of an impasse. i feel you must declare yourself an agnostic regarding design.

the starting point in design arguments is that the universe is here. if the universe were not here then it would be less likely that there existed something called design.
but as it stands we have an effect, [the universe], and it requires an explanation. and part of the possible explanations out there is that design may be a part of it. and if a part then it is the whole.
possibilities that do not include design are at something of a disadvantage, in my opinion. in fact, i don’t think i can think of a possibility that leads to all of this and has no potential for anything in particular at the same time.
 
… Darwin clearly described things which could not have evolved. ID has so far been unable to describe things which could not have been designed. This is a fault in any scientific hypothesis.

rossum
what did darwin describe which could not have evolved?

if something is true then it is hardly a fault, you have simply arrived at the truth.
 
what did darwin describe which could not have evolved?
Two examples, both from “On the Origin of Species”, Chapter Six:

If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed, which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.

and

If it could be proved that any part of the structure of any one species had been formed for the exclusive good of another species, it would annihilate my theory, for such could not have been produced through natural selection.

Professor Behe tried to use the first of these when devising his concept of Irreducible Complexity. It was a failure, but an interesting and useful failure in that it produced some good work and helped advance the theory of evolution.

rossum
 
Two examples, both from “On the Origin of Species”, Chapter Six:

If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed, which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down.

and

If it could be proved that any part of the structure of any one species had been formed for the exclusive good of another species, it would annihilate my theory, for such could not have been produced through natural selection.

Professor Behe tried to use the first of these when devising his concept of Irreducible Complexity. It was a failure, but an interesting and useful failure in that it produced some good work and helped advance the theory of evolution.

rossum
darwin would have to explain exclusive good. i think i know what you will say, but what would darwin say?
 
darwin would have to explain exclusive good. i think i know what you will say, but what would darwin say?
What do you mean by “exclusive good”? Why would you think that it is something that Darwin would have to explain?
 
What do you mean by “exclusive good”? Why would you think that it is something that Darwin would have to explain?
thats what i am asking. what did darwin mean, in his own words, as opposed to our own words. science marches forward but darwin must have had some idea in mind.
 
If it could be proved that any part of the structure of any one species had been formed for the exclusive good of another species . . .
That would be pretty well any plant or animal associated with man: corn, wheat, most fruits. dogs, cats, cattle, horses etc - so psychology definitely plays a role in what genetic material survives.
So too with animals: notice the paucity of visually ugly species that live in the sunlight - beauty clearly is a factor involved in the process of reproduction. And Who places that which is in our hearts?
Don’t know why I’m bothering to post. We already have our formed opinions on this.
 
That would be pretty well any plant or animal associated with man: corn, wheat, most fruits. dogs, cats, cattle, horses etc - so psychology definitely plays a role in what genetic material survives.
So too with animals: notice the paucity of visually ugly species that live in the sunlight - beauty clearly is a factor involved in the process of reproduction. And Who places that which is in our hearts?
Don’t know why I’m bothering to post. We already have our formed opinions on this.
Most domesticated plants or animals associated with man would not be able to survive in the wild. In other words, natural selection through random processes would result in extinction if man was not purposely propagating and breeding these life forms. Many cannot survive without humans. Economics is responsible, not psychology.
Are rhinos, hippos, hyenas, wart hogs, African hunting dogs, crocodiles, and lizards visibly pleasing? Also, are animals created primarily to be visible pleasing?
 
That would be pretty well any plant or animal associated with man: corn, wheat, most fruits. dogs, cats, cattle, horses etc - so psychology definitely plays a role in what genetic material survives.
Darwin used the word “exclusive”. Wheat benefits because it has a large population of primates who spend time and effort spreading wheat seeds into suitable well-tilled ground to grow more wheat. The relationship is more symbiotic than exclusively to the benefit of one species. Consider how many domesticated wheat plants there are compared with the original einkorn or emmer.

rossum
 
humans do things for the exclusive good, not only of other humans, but also for animals. i could make a bird box for some bird, put it in the forest, and leave, never to return. i am free to do this thing for the exclusive good of another species if i wish to.
no doubt darwin would say that this ‘annihilate my [his] theory, for such could not have been produced through natural selection.’
 
humans do things for the exclusive good, not only of other humans, but also for animals. i could make a bird box for some bird, put it in the forest, and leave, never to return. i am free to do this thing for the exclusive good of another species if i wish to.
no doubt darwin would say that this ‘annihilate my [his] theory, for such could not have been produced through natural selection.’

Read the Darwin quote again:

If it could be proved that any part of the structure of any one species had been formed for the exclusive good of another species, it would annihilate my theory, for such could not have been produced through natural selection. (emphasis added)

Darwin was talking about physical structures, since they are what is determined by genes. The structure involved in your example is your brain, and that is not there exclusively for the benefit of nesting birds.

rossum
 
Read the Darwin quote again:

If it could be proved that any part of the structure of any one species had been formed for the exclusive good of another species, it would annihilate my theory, for such could not have been produced through natural selection. (emphasis added)

Darwin was talking about physical structures, since they are what is determined by genes. The structure involved in your example is your brain, and that is not there exclusively for the benefit of nesting birds.

rossum
my brain is a physical structure, and according to you, my brain evolved its structure. part of the structure of my brain might enjoy building bird houses for nesting birds. my altruism towards other species must be rooted in a physical structure otherwise how would it exist?
 
my brain is a physical structure, and according to you, my brain evolved its structure. part of the structure of my brain might enjoy building bird houses for nesting birds. my altruism towards other species must be rooted in a physical structure otherwise how would it exist?
Is your brain for the exclusive benefit of birds? Does it not have some benefit for yourself, like keeping your heart beating of keeping you breathing?

rossum
 
Is your brain for the exclusive benefit of birds? Does it not have some benefit for yourself, like keeping your heart beating of keeping you breathing?

rossum
the structure of neurons which concern themselves with altruism towards other species may be exclusively for that purpose or they may double up for other purposes too, i really couldn’t say…
 
Read the Darwin quote again:

If it could be proved that any part of the structure of any one species had been formed for the exclusive good of another species, it would annihilate my theory, for such could not have been produced through natural selection. (emphasis added)

Darwin was talking about physical structures, since they are what is determined by genes. The structure involved in your example is your brain, and that is not there exclusively for the benefit of nesting birds.

rossum
So, by exclusively setting about to do the will of the Father, the brain of Christ (as a human structure) was formed exclusively for the good of another species (God) and therefore annihilates Darwin’s theory.
 
thats what i am asking. what did darwin mean, in his own words, as opposed to our own words. science marches forward but darwin must have had some idea in mind.
Ah, I misunderstood. I had missed that you were quoting Darwin. Not sure how I missed that, but I did.
 
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