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Recent posts
#1
Laid Back Lounge / Re: Jokes Thread (Was named An...
Last post by Icarus - April 24, 2025, 06:11:14 AM #2
Laid Back Lounge / Re: Jokes Thread (Was named An...
Last post by The Magic Pudding.. - April 23, 2025, 10:46:48 AM
#3
Laid Back Lounge / Re: i was today years old when...
Last post by Icarus - April 23, 2025, 01:36:22 AM^ I would like some of whatever that artist was smoking
#4
Laid Back Lounge / Re: i was today years old when...
Last post by billy rubin - April 23, 2025, 12:35:40 AMi learned today that strandbeests exist
#5
Religion / Re: The "Kinder, Gentler" Pope
Last post by zorkan - April 22, 2025, 11:39:42 AM #6
Religion / Re: The "Kinder, Gentler" Pope
Last post by The Magic Pudding.. - April 22, 2025, 10:02:32 AM
#7
Religion / Re: The "Kinder, Gentler" Pope
Last post by The Magic Pudding.. - April 22, 2025, 09:41:42 AMAnd why isn't the HAF flag at half mast?
It's outrageous, I'm outraged!
A total lack of respect it is, should be ashamed of yourselves!!
It's outrageous, I'm outraged!
A total lack of respect it is, should be ashamed of yourselves!!
#8
Politics / Re: president elon
Last post by Icarus - April 22, 2025, 05:21:03 AMWe humans are a flawed species.
#9
Religion / Re: The "Kinder, Gentler" Pope
Last post by Recusant - April 22, 2025, 03:36:14 AM. . . And he's off to where ever it is that popes go. He wanted it to be a grave marked "Franciscus." We'll see if the church follows his wishes. I wouldn't bet on a successor who follows his at least somewhat progressive stance (not progressive really, but in the context of the Catholic church I won't deny that he was somewhat).
#10
Creationism/Intelligent Design / Re: The argument from design i...
Last post by billy rubin - April 21, 2025, 05:37:28 PMi dont know. tank, you have brought up a really hard question.
i dont know how to detect design because i dont know of any characteristics that a designed artifact possesses, that are unique to design. as you say, intent is critical, but what does it look like?
if i take a dead bird and hang it under the eaves so that it can age until rotted sufficiently for me to cook, i have designed something.
if a bird dies on a flat rock and rots in the sun all by itself, it is not designed.
if i came across either, in isolation, i couldt tell the difference.
i have hsd long conversations wirh people who are supporters of intelligent design, fine tuning of the universe, cosmological constants, scriptural principles and on an on. its fascinating, and mostly they think very stupid things, even though they may be very intelligent.
i dont know how to detect design and i am skeptical of people who say they can. sure, given cultural prerequisites and special pleading, i can tell a rock from michaelangelos david. but could i distinguish the presence or absence of design in a beam of light versus a symphony?
there are a lot of assumptions in there that make it possible to do after the fact identification. but i want to understand how to distinguish the two before the fact. i do not know how.
i dont know how to detect design because i dont know of any characteristics that a designed artifact possesses, that are unique to design. as you say, intent is critical, but what does it look like?
if i take a dead bird and hang it under the eaves so that it can age until rotted sufficiently for me to cook, i have designed something.
if a bird dies on a flat rock and rots in the sun all by itself, it is not designed.
if i came across either, in isolation, i couldt tell the difference.
i have hsd long conversations wirh people who are supporters of intelligent design, fine tuning of the universe, cosmological constants, scriptural principles and on an on. its fascinating, and mostly they think very stupid things, even though they may be very intelligent.
i dont know how to detect design and i am skeptical of people who say they can. sure, given cultural prerequisites and special pleading, i can tell a rock from michaelangelos david. but could i distinguish the presence or absence of design in a beam of light versus a symphony?
there are a lot of assumptions in there that make it possible to do after the fact identification. but i want to understand how to distinguish the two before the fact. i do not know how.