Judge Andrew Napolitano was the guest host on Bill O'Reilly's "Radio Factor" Thursday, and he was a delight to hear. He is unfailingly courteous, but he also is no-nonsense and direct on point. In this case, he was blasting the Bush administration over misuse of the National Security Agency, but he was, if anything, even more critical of Congress for failing to reject the Patriot Act. Fun stuff.
He also was critical of the judge who ruled against intelligent design. He kept asking callers, Why aren't evolutionists willing to argue about competing theories? I didn't hear anyone make the obvious point: Because intelligent design doesn't provide anything to argue about.
Intelligent design is the Sherlock Holmes of scientific theories. Holmes said: When all other possibilities have been eliminated, then the possibility that remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.
Intelligent design says that all theories that attempt to explain the origins of life by examining what we can see, taste, touch, hear and see must inevitably fail. Life is too complex and improbable to have come about without intervention by some higher intelligence. So as long as intelligent design advocates can shoot holes in other theories, their theory remains the one possibility that hasn't been eliminated.
But shooting holes in existing theories does not amount to offering an alternative theory. And figuring out life is far more complicated than narrowing a short list of suspects or possible points of entry. When Copernicus shot down the Ptolemaic system, he didn't just point out the defects in the system, he offered an alternative that explained the facts better. And his theory has held up under testing thousands of times in hundreds of different ways.
When intelligent design is able to do what Copernicus did, then it deserves a place in science class.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
23 comments:
I.D. is inherently dishonest, in that its proponents are selling religion, creationism in disguise, while not admitting to their subtrefuge. But I suppose the end justifies the means.
That was Mark T. that made that post, and I entered that in the name box under "Other." Why did it post as Anonymous?
Sorry, but Copernicus is not your man. His work proved nothing. That is why he waited until he was on his deathbed to publish. Being dead, he knew he would not have to answer any questions.
Traditionally, the beginning of the Scientific Revolution is associated with the publication of Copernicus’s "De Revolutionibus" (1543), and therefore the presumption arises that the Revolution was foremost a change in men’s thinking, i.e., a perfectly esoteric series of geometric symbols drawn on parchment by an obscure Polish mathematician operated so powerfully on men’s minds they were driven to experiments that ultimately produced a new physical reality. This is roughly analogous to setting the date for the Russian Revolution at 1848 when the "Communist Manifesto" was first published. It is simply wrong, according to Butterfield, “to imagine that the publication of Copernicus’s great work in 1543 either shook the foundations of European thought straight away or sufficed to accomplish anything like a scientific revolution.” [Herbert Butterfield, "The Origins of Modern Science, 1300-1800" (New York, 1960), p. 55.]
In its transposition of the Sun and Earth, the Copernican system obviated the need for numerous Ptolemaic epicycles and deferents and thereby greatly simplified and expedited the calculation of the rise and set times for the planets and constellations. This in turn led to a moderate increase in the accuracy of calendars and astronomical tables, or ephemerides, then commonly used by astrologers to cast horoscopes and by sailors for navigational purposes. The absence of any precise time-keeping device, however, nullified these minor gains for the most part. Heliocentrism was primarily an intellectual curiosity, mostly a source of scholarly debate and disputation within a very small circle near the cusp of the 17th century. In short, Copernicanism was a typical product of theoretical science, in that its method of proof differed in no substantial manner from the systems that had preceded it. In the first 67 years of its existence, while it had its supporters among philosophers and speculators, Copernicanism completely failed to lead astronomy into the true light. Only photons pouring through a telescope could do that. It was not until 1610, when Galileo pointed a primitive telescope at Venus and described its phases, that the heliocentric theory became a proven fact.
Likewise, until proponents of Darwin’s evolutionary theory can demonstrate in the real world, in real time, and using real objects how one species evolves into another, evolution will be just another intellectual curiosity, no more or less curious than intelligent design.
Being as our life span is only an (optimistic) 80 yrs or so, I think it's a pretty tall order to expect a demonstration "in real time" of species evolution. As for intellectual curiosity, there simply is none in ID. It is a politically motivated cudgel wielded ineffectively by smug, over-confident Judeo-Christian ideologues as a last-ditch effort to undermine a system of knowledge based on careful study and judicious correction.
gograh -- Your FAITH in evolution is like a rock!
Actually, my faith lies not in evolution but in scientists who don't throw their hands up in the air and say "It must be GOD!" every time they come upon a gap in understanding.
James,
I guess I am missing your point. As Kuhn showed, the delay between introduction of a scientifc theory and its acceptance as a "paradigm" for understanding can be substantial. But that doesn't lessen the significance of the achievement.
Indeed, the size of the gap betweeen the introduction of a theory and the collection of experimental evidence to demonstrate its validity is one way to measure how significant the achievement is. That's why Einstein's Theory of Relativity, devised before a lot of the technology existed that could test it, is considered such a great intellectual leap forward.
Darwin's leap was considerably shorter since others were working on similar ideas. But acceptance has been much more difficult, in part because evidence on so large a scale is so difficult to amass, and in part because of the theory's alleged theological implications.
But Darwin came closer to proving his case than either Copernicus or Einstein. He is in their rank.
Ah, yes, there might be a slight delay between the introduction of a “scientific” theory and its acceptance based on experimental proof.
I am reminded of Leucippus of Miletus, who, in 450 BC, postulated the "atom" as the fundamental unit of matter. Poor chap. There wasn’t much technology around to prove his theory. But he was finally exonerated by that brilliant flash over Alamogordo in 1945.
Of course, ancient Greek nuclear physics had to undergo some serious changes before the light actually dawned.
So, to be fair, let us give the followers of Darwin as many chances as they like to change his theory. And we will give them about 2400 years to develop the experimental proof they need. Such a “gap,” as you say, would make Darwin’s “achievement” all the more “significant.”
I have a theory. My theory is that this James Fart fellow is an card carrying member of the ASSembly of god! Right, little jimmy? You're a fruitcake! Hey, jimmy, the Bible ain't literal, pal. And we in America aren't INTERESTED in having religion foisted upon our children in science. And your "religion" must be a pretty damn PATHETIC one if you must need a proof derived from science! Come ON, Fart. You can believe WHATEVER you want! You can believe that God stopped, started, coughed, and farted thus creating a big bang to start the world for all I care. But for GOD'S sake, stop demeaning religion with your aisine arguments! You are an ASS!
Gee, all this talk about whether ID is or is not a science. What if we give the proponents their way and take a shot at it. Isn't the obvious next question, "Who is the designer?" Methinks that the ID crowd already has a pretty good idea as to the identity but wouldn't it be more likely that it's actually space aliens, ala Erich Von Daniken's "Chariots of the Gods?" It makes more sense than the supernatural propositions they are making.
Also, the ID folks and others are making a BIG mistake attempting to bring religion into the public school classroom. Right now, with no religion in the public schools, kids get their religious messages elsewhere. Bring it in and we'll be free to talk about there. Believe me when I say you do not want me talking about religion in my classroom.
Good point, Vince! For you see, jimmy fart comes from the snakehandler school of religion. In other words, religion is WHATEVER you SAY it is! In other words, jimmy fart wants to be a preacher? Well then, IT'S DONE! Viola! It's now the revrearend jimmy fart! You see, in the grand Bible thumpen lumpen cosmos to which mr. fart belongs, ANYONE can interpet God's word to suit his style/beliefs/monetary situation, etc.! Happens all the time! THERE IS NO HIERACHY! Just look at south america. The Catholic Church is losing influence rapidly for lack of priests. No one wants to stay celebate any longer. But if one wants to be a rightwing wacko snakehandlin' ID thumpin' "preacher", two weeks. AT MOST! And you're certified! It's the same way with their science curriculum. Want a competing theory? INVENT THE GODDAMNED THING OUTTA WHOLE CLOTH! That's what Fart and his adherents have done! No, their not ditto heads. They prefer to be called fartheads! Am I right or what, Revrearend Fart???? Fart is a pathetic fellow, and deepdown he knows it. But don't humor him. He and his pals have NO right to be in public schools. If he wants to teach his OWN kids that he is the second coming, LET HIM! But just do it in the privacy of his own home!
Mr. Anonymous (10:04 PM and 10:25PM) certainly proves several points:
1. Children ought not to use the Internet without adult supervision.
2. The public school system has totally failed.
3. Human devolution is possible.
David,
Why do you let Larry show up with his vile hatred and sohpomoric ranting. He has been expelled from other blogs because he has shown himself to be a hateful idiot- he offers nothing of value, just childish abusivenss. Pretty clever how he distorts names in what only he can view as humorous. His tell tale "for you see" and name-calling are a dead giveaway. The only consolation is he's teaching in a Catholic school in Great Falls, so my children won't be impacted by his lunacy.
You want to see "hate", petey? Read an article just today about how volunteers working in earth-related museums are ACCOSTED an ANGRILY CONFRONTED by rabid fundiwackmentalists on a daily basis because there is no mention of "intelligent design" mentioned in their displays! So now, the museums have to offer special training to the workers on how to deal with irate, arrogant, ignorant fundiwackmentalists! I mean, give me a friggin' BREAK! If you've never dealt with these fundiwackmentalists face to face, you have NO idea what they are like. They are NOT nice people! I saw them divide and attempt to destroy a small Montana about fifteen years ago with their attempt to get ID into the science curriculum. Talk about un-Christain methods! It was shocking! It was ugly! It was EVIL! Fortunately, the mainstream Christian groups in town were willing to support the teaching of evolution. But it left a town bitterly divided. And for WHAT?! Nothing at all! You see, petey, this was pure nonsense! Any real scientitst will tell you that ID in nonsense because there is no scientific methodology involved. In other words, a thousand years of scientific methodology is out the window! But the fundis did score a victory. The science curriculum committee SELF-CENSORED! They removed the word evolution from the curriculum! INCREDIBLE! These people pushing ID are mean, nasty, arrogant, and intolerant! They MUST be confronted before they are allowed to do damage. The aren't content to practice their faith in private. The insist on foisting their beliefs on everyone else. And because of this, they are very much anti-American. Open your eyes, petey. Don't be stupid, or someone will be telling you and your children what you must believe! You comfortable with that, petey????
Mr. Anonymous (5:23 AM) –
You seem to have suffered some traumatic episodes related to religion. In fact, you sound as if you are the victim of multiple failed exorcisms.
If it will make you feel any safer, I am not a religious man. I neither belong to any religious organization nor subscribe to any religious belief. I should also tell you that I work every day in a scientific field.
When you have gotten over your anti-Christian hysteria--either by the hard study of history, philosophy, and science or by the slow accretion of wisdom, which should come naturally with old age—you will see that the world is not so simply divided into those who know and those who don’t.
But, petey, here's your challenge. Name one, just one, only ONE other "religious" group that attempts to foist their beliefs in the friggin' science classroom! Can ya do it, petey? These fundiwackmentalists are rude, arrogant, ignorant, and INAPPROPRIATE! They have no, NO right to interfer in public schools. And that's why the judgre ruled recently as he did. This james fart fellow is rude, arrogant, ignorant, and inappropriate! What the friggin' HELL gives him the right to tell public schools what should be taught?! NOTHING does! And let's be truthful here. There are no Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Espocpalians foisting themselves. IT IS ALL FUNDIWACKMENTALISTS of the ASSembly of god stripe! They give Christianity a bad name! Now, petey, if YOU want to allow these people to dictate school curriculum, OK. But any thinking person will resist, just as did Clarence Darrow during the Scopes Monkey Trial! Fundamentalism is a disease! A very harmful disease if not opposed. These are the same people who use to burn witches. Wake UP, petey. Get angry. Get in little jimmy fart's face and tell him he ain't WELCOME to mess with public ed! He can handle all the snakes he wants to in the privacy of his home!
Come on, Fart. Let's play! Or are you a coward?! Free speech here.
Larry,
Pete's right. If you can't clean up your act, you will have to go away. Your comments are becoming unendurable, not because of what you say but because of the relentlessly crude, obnoxious way you say it. You are driving out thoughtful commenters.
Dave, let me be serious for a moment. What was relentless and crude was the manner in which a group of "religious" people attempted to get their beliefs into a science curriculum in a samll Montana town. It was hurtful, divisive, ugly, and in your face. In other words, it was basically everything that Christianity is NOT supposed to be. I guess you had to be there to understand exactly how it felt. The tenor of certian posts simply accurately reflects the feelings that were created. That's all. The truth shall you free, or the truth shall make you see. These attempts at influencing curriculum can NOT be allowed to go uncontested, just as they were not in that small un-named town. Can you even begin to imagine what it's like to rise up against your fellow "Christians" and say enough is enough? It puts one in a very unconformfortable situation. The question that really needs to be asked is just WHY these ID proponents want to pick this particular fight? And if one investigates a bit deeper, it's possible to uncover some very sad truths about what motivates these groups. And they certainly merit scruting for many reasons!
"scrutinizing"! (which is actually a better word than scruting!)
And throw a little irony into the mix. Judge John E. Jones, the federal judge who blasted ID was (now get this) A BUSH APPOINTEE AND A REPUBLICAN! He accurately called ID simply "relabeled creationsim" and an attempt to insert religion into the science classroom! YOWZA! And guess what. HE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! He went on to say that's it's backers were "lying" about their true intentions! OUCH! Those are pretty strong words from a Republican! I think that this fella really ought to be banned from posting also. I mean, he's obviously a traitor! A Republican! Who calls good christians "liars"?!! What kind of judge would do that?! That's a most unchristian thing to do.
Hi there! Glad I found this place with like minded people. Doing a good job looks like.
All the best, Romance Horoscope
Man, I had to tell this guy today straight to his face, CHILL OUT DUDE. He was taken aback as he probably did not expect that type of response. So sometimes it truly works to freak people out and do something they do not expect at all. Like this one site I never expected to find on Pci to usb enhanced host controller, can you imagine that? I thought it would be easy to find, or so I expected, and this one day, I totally believe I spent like 4 hours or so and found nothing but crap sites. Geez, sometimes searching for hard topics can really SUCK.
Pci to usb enhanced host controller
Post a Comment