Supposedly, bad design is a refutation of intelligent design. How is bad design and intelligent design compatible? This is one of the most common arguments raised against intelligent design, albeit one of the more egregious ones. The argument goes like this: an intelligent designer would not have designed biological system X in this way, therefore Darwinian evolution dunnit.
I think one of the first things Darwinians need to learn when attacking intelligent design is exactly what it posits. Intelligent design, as a scientific proposition, holds that certain features of the biological world are more adequately explained by an intelligence rather than a mindless process.
So, we hold that only certain features in biology are more adequately explained by an intelligence. This alone is sufficient to overturn this argument against intelligent design. But what about flaws in the design of systems that are purported to be intelligently designed, such as the flagellum? First off, bad design is seen in objects that humans design. A broken down, badly-running watch does not indicate that it is not intelligently designed.Maybe the designer(s) of biological system X was having a bad day, and "it" made an error in designing that biological machine.
Now we come to the philosophical argument from bad design: namely, that bad design proves that the designer was not God. Proponents of this argument ask, "If God is perfect, then how could a perfect God made a bad design?"
I answer,
P1: God is perfect, and humans are not perfect. God is omnipotent, and you are not.
P2: An imperfect, non-omnipotent being is incapable of discerning poor designs of a perfect, omnipotent Being.
P3: Therefore, we cannot assert that the design of a perfect Being is imperfect, for we are not omnipotent.
I am expecting a response like "that's just special pleading" or "you are using the God-works-in-mysterious-ways argument." Obviously, these responses are only appeals to emotion, as they do not attack any of the premises in the above argument.
Excellent as always.
ReplyDelete"Intelligent design, as a scientific proposition, holds that certain features of the biological world are more adequately explained by an intelligence rather than a mindless process."
ReplyDeleteYour code words don't make your fantasies any less childish.
Here's a translation of your gibberish that makes it more honest:
MAGIC as a scientific proposition, holds that certain features of the biological world are more adequately explained by a MAGIC MAN rather than a mindless process.
By the way, Why Evolution is True by Jerry Coyne talks about "bad design" that makes perfect sense if evolution is true (it's true, evolution is a basic scientific fact). Why don't you read it so you better understand what you're lying about to defend your dead Jeebus.
One more thing. Magic is NOT a scientific proposition. It's a Christian fantasy. Scientists don't invoke magic (or what you dishonestly call intelligent design as if that makes your fantasy less insane) to solve scientific problems.
http://darwinkilledgod.blogspot.com/
Thanks John, and look who's here. We've got company.
ReplyDeleteLooks like it's time we take a look at his blog and start ripping it apart, dontcha think? ; )
While you're at it, why don't you rip apart scienceblogs.com
ReplyDeleteThey are scientists and they think you're nuts. They are correct.
"While you're at it, why don't you rip apart scienceblogs.com"
ReplyDeleteFirst things first...
"They are scientists..."
Cool. You're obviously not a scientist though - it shows. For the record: I have tackled Professor Larry Moran's blog in a couple posts.
"and they think you're nuts."
They haven't even mentioned me, to my knowledge.
"They are correct."
Perhaps. But now I'll go get some rest before having a jolly good time with your blog tomorrow ; )
" So, we hold that only certain features in biology are more adequately explained by an intelligence. "
ReplyDelete-cool, so which are they, and how does knowing that benefit us or increase our knowledge?
Morford, you tard. Do you have any evidence for your magical designer?
ReplyDeleteAny evidence for its magic wand?
Your stupidity burns.
"For the record: I have tackled Professor Larry Moran's blog in a couple posts."
Oh wow. I bet you made Moran cry. What a fucking idiot you are.