EvC Forum: Have some scientists been too fanatical?

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Topic: Have some scientists been too fanatical?

cavediver

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Message 7 of 101 (679573)
11-14-2012 2:04 PM

Reply to: Message 3 by Genomicus
11-14-2012 11:37 AM

sinamatic writes:

Have some scientists been too fanatical?

Yes.

E.g., William Provine:
"Naturalistic evolution has clear consequences that Charles Darwin understood perfectly. 1) No gods worth having exist; 2) no life after death exists; 3) no ultimate foundation for ethics exists; 4) no ultimate meaning in life exists; and 5) human free will is nonexistent."

What is fanatical about that? Ok, it is a reasonably strong statement, and I would replace "has clear consequences" with "strongly suggests the following consequences", but fanatical? Please explain.

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	Message 3 by Genomicus, posted 11-14-2012 11:37 AM		Genomicus has replied

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	Message 12 by Genomicus, posted 11-14-2012 2:25 PM		cavediver has replied

cavediver

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Posts: 4129

From: UK

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Message 13 of 101 (679582)
11-14-2012 2:39 PM

Reply to: Message 12 by Genomicus
11-14-2012 2:25 PM

Naturalistic evolution is a theory about change in populations over time

Yes, it shows that possibly the most magical aspect of 19th C reality, as in human life, is merely a natural phenomenon.

I mean, c'mon, does the thesis that allele frequencies change in populations have anything to do with gods?

I don't know - what are "gods"?

And what is "life after death"? Sounds rather oxymoronic to me.

And "free will"? Again, I'm not sure what that actually means.

By first realising that human life is simply an organic chemical process, it is easy to start disassembling such nebulous and woolly concepts and to realise that they are simply unnecessary ill-defined extras.

Of course, you are free to add them as extras...

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	Message 12 by Genomicus, posted 11-14-2012 2:25 PM		Genomicus has replied

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	Message 15 by Genomicus, posted 11-14-2012 4:32 PM		cavediver has replied

cavediver

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Message 19 of 101 (679606)
11-14-2012 5:23 PM

Reply to: Message 15 by Genomicus
11-14-2012 4:32 PM

1. The origin of the human species was a natural phenomenon.
2. Therefore, gods do not exist.

I just don't see the logical connection there.

Allow me to add a word or two, and to push you to put on your 19th C mindset:

1. The origin of the human species was a natural phenomenon.
2. Therefore, gods do not need to exist.

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	Message 15 by Genomicus, posted 11-14-2012 4:32 PM		Genomicus has not replied

cavediver

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Posts: 4129

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Message 96 of 101 (680181)
11-18-2012 10:26 AM

Reply to: Message 95 by roxrkool
11-18-2012 9:39 AM

Re: Finding oil or minerals

That is by far not the case for us OE geos.

And just to stress, Rox, that of course you OE geos encompass geologists in every university, mining and oil company around the world, across every religion, across every nationality - all of you in practically 100% (to 3 sig fig) agreement.

That vs the minority fundementalist element of just one religion, and even amongst whom you can find virtually no level of agreement. Faith certainly has her work cut out for her

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	Message 95 by roxrkool, posted 11-18-2012 9:39 AM		roxrkool has not replied

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