Design vs. Chance

Myers talks about very common issue in dealing with intelligent design creationists, the most common argument, basically their only argument, which is complexity can be only created by design. Since biology is very complex, then that means biology was created by design. But the premise that complexity can be created only by design is not true. The above fallacy is called “begging the question.”

Creationists are reducing the story to an argument by metaphor. Metaphors are useful for getting across basic concepts to people, but they’re not a foundation of a strong logical argument. Also they’re implying lot of “straw man” claims about modern biology. And basically what they do is parasitize on actual research that has been done in the field.

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http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1270359666 Vitor Fernandes
As usual i watched this video with the hope it would give me an Atheistic explanation to the Universe fine tunning, other but the Multiverse theory that is.
As usual all i got is arrogant humor about Creationists and ho they are stupid, but no explanation (other than Nature does complex things apparently with no Designer, discarding the fact that maybe all in Creation may have a conscience of Its one that we are simply not aware of).
The problem with the Multiverse theory is that requires a big leap of FAITH to accept it.
For those who may not be familiar with the theory it goes kind of like this:
To explain the fine tunning of our Universe, and because it takes a chance of one in 10×23, to the Universe to be the way it is, it is porpoise that exists other Universes (at least 10×23), and we happen to be in the one that has the capacity for the Life (gravity, strong and weak nuclear and so one….).
The problem is that we can not contact (prove) the other Universes, and never (probably) will.
Just have to accept this.
I simply don’t have enough FAITH.
Or accept that it WASN’T chance, but that someone made the Universe in this way (God forbid hehe ;) )
There for I believe in an Intelligent Design…
If someone else has other explanation please help me in this question.
Thank you.
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/about/ Vlatko
@Vitor Fernandes,
I’m not sure if this talk was about multiverse theory, but anyways you don’t need it to discard the creationism.
On a daily basis nature is creating extremely complex designs without the need of a creator.
Life forms are ever changing, becoming more or less complex without the hand of a creator.
The Universe is so vast… trillions and trillions of planets out there, God knows (pun intended) how many are similar to Earth. Further more, life could exist on a places beyond our imagination.
The Universe will not be like this forever. It has a window of opportunity to create life, at least as we know it.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1270359666 Vitor Fernandes
Vlatko,
I understand now this is a Biology talk (not a Physics one), i wrote the comment as a way to expose my doubts in this matter, and to point out the arrogance i feel in the Scientific community in this matters.
I understand most of the Creationist arguments are weak to say the least, it has roots in Religious Dogmas, and so they are easy to discard.
I have to make a distinction here between the Intelligent Design and the Creationist theories (versus the Darwinian in the Biology realm). That is not my issue at all.
So i pointed out the fine tunning question.
The way i see it, we are like the liver cells trying to prove that a Human Conscience (that the liver is part of) does not exist because we can see (experiment) only the Reality on the cell level, we understand only part of the process and take it has random and “automatic”.
We, on another level have a broader conscience and can see a bigger picture.
I have a problem in accepting chance and coincidences (at any level). All is action and reaction in my way of thinking.
What cause the first action? is there any other levels of Conscience that we are not aware of? Does it has a design (pattern/set of laws) that to exist need a fine tunning? The fine tunning happen as result of chance? Do we need to keep studying this problems with and Scientific approach (means accept all possibilities that are not proven wrong no matter what)?
My answer for this questions is YES.
Thanks for your reply.
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/about/ Vlatko
@Vitor Fernandes,
However you spin it, this equation remains valid: Intelligent Design = Creationism.
If you have a problem with accepting chance and coincidences you haven’t looked at quantum mechanics.
If we don’t know what caused the first action, that doesn’t mean we have to prescribe to Intelligent Design. There is zero evidence for it.
To answer the Fine Tuning argument without writing too much I decided to share this video with you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt-UIfkcgPY Take your time and watch it.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1270359666 Vitor Fernandes
Vlatko,
Again thanks for the reply and the link. I got a chance to see the counter arguments (without arrogance I might add) to my question. It was quite interesting.
I will not spread my views and counter arguments to the link, as i don’t think a personal stand off is productive in this space… But i leave the option open for you if you wish.
That said, i feel happy that new research is made in this field that can one day prove the existence of Multiverses (not just theories!). Looking forward for those results.
Until then, have to go with the more plausible explanation (not discarding the others a priori!), and with no complex (pro or anti) towards the Designer issue.
As for your remark on coincidences and the quantum mechanics, the way i understand it, the way the universe works at that level is that all possibilities are possible, and open to occur at any point, some more likely than others.
But all remains in potencial until Nature is “forced” to make a choice. That choice is a result of the force that forces the result.
Depending on the reason (action/observer/force/etc) the chance manifests accordingly.
No space for coincidences. Again just reaction to an action.
Sorry if i can’t explain better my view (due to lack of knowledge or communication skills), but i’m doing my best to explain my view/theory/doubts.
Again thank you for your time and patience.
Vitor