Playing The Mystery Card (incl. McGrath vs Dawkins) from my book Believing Bullshit
PLAYING THE MYSTERY CARD Suppose critics point out that not only do you have little in the way of argument to support your particular belief system, there also seems to be powerful evidence against it. If you want, nevertheless, to convince both yourself and others that your beliefs are not nearly as ridiculous as … Playing The Mystery Card (incl. McGrath vs Dawkins) from my book Believing Bullshit
One Man’s Modus Ponens…Part 5
Here is a creationist argument for the existence of God: 1. If God exists, then it is very likely that the basic kinds of plants and animals all began to exist at the same time. 2. If there is no God, then it is very unlikely that the basic kinds of plants and animals all … One Man’s Modus Ponens…Part 5
Reppert on Theistic Explanation
Victor Reppert has chimed in on my reply to Wintery Knight. This is always an interesting issue. But does it really make sense to ask of an omnipotent being how they did something. For example, I once beat a Grandmaster in a chess tournament. Now, you might ask how I did that, since as someone … Reppert on Theistic Explanation
Intelligent Design Arguments and Cumulative Cases
As we saw in my reply to Wintery Knight, he (like many other proponents of intelligent design or ID) propose that there are multiple, independent lines of evidence which favor intelligent design over its alternatives. Here is a partial summary of the evidence ID proponents offer. How Correct Cumulative Cases Work To make things … Intelligent Design Arguments and Cumulative Cases
Preliminary Thoughts about Stephen Meyer’s Signature in the Cell, Part 2
Re-reading Theism and Explanation by Gregory Dawes suggested another potential logical problem with Stephen Meyer’s argument in The Signature in the Cell. Remember that Meyer explicitly provides the logical form of his argument. Premise One: Despite a thorough search, no material causes have been discovered that demonstrate the power to produce large amounts of specified information. Premise Two: … Preliminary Thoughts about Stephen Meyer’s <I>Signature in the Cell</I>, Part 2
Preliminary Thoughts about Stephen Meyer’s Signature in the Cell
I’ve been reading Stephen C. Meyer’s massive book, Signature in the Cell. For those who are unfamiliar with the book, it is a sophisticated defense of the intelligent design (ID) hypothesis. Meyer argues that intelligent design is the best explanation for the origin of biological, functionally specified information. In other words, Meyers is not arguing … Preliminary Thoughts about Stephen Meyer’s <I>Signature in the Cell</I>
Draft chapter on Humanism, Science and Skepticism for comments….
Humanism: Science, Reason and Skepticism[1] What are science and reason? Humanists expound the virtues of science and reason. But what are science and reason? And we should we think it wise to rely on them? By science, I shall mean that approach to finding out about reality based on the scientific … Draft chapter on Humanism, Science and Skepticism for comments….
Jerry Coyne Blogs about Three Critical Reviews of Nagel’s Book
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The Flat Earth Society
Yes, there really is a Flat Earth Society. They even have a website. Your name Your email Subject Your message (optional)
Gregory Dawes: Religion, Science, and Explanation
Abstract: A recent legal ruling in the United States regarding ‘intelligent design’ (ID) argued that ID is not science because it invokes a supernatural agent. It therefore cannot be taught in public schools. But the important philosophical question is not whether ID invokes a supernatural agent; it is whether it meets the standards we expect … Gregory Dawes: Religion, Science, and Explanation