Re: supernatural observation and faith def.

Brian D. Harper (harper.10@osu.edu)
Thu, 31 Oct 1996 14:57:54 -0500

At 09:45 PM 10/29/96 +0800, Steve wrote:

[...]

>It is noteworthy that so strong is this impression of design that
>even non-theists let it slip that they are well aware of it, even
>though they must (by their non-theistic metaphysical worldview) call
>it only *apparent* design. For example, arch-atheist Dawkins' says:
>
>"Biology is the study of complicated things that give the appearance
>of having been designed for a purpose." (Dawkins R., "The Blind
>Watchmaker", Penguin: London, 1991, p1)
>
>And non-theist physicist Paul Davies writes at the very end of his
>book, the Cosmic Blueprint:
>
>"...there is `something going on' behind it all [the universe]. The
>impression of design is overwhelming." (Davies P., "The Cosmic
>Blueprint", Penguin: London, 1995 reprint, p203)
>

But what about your earlier $ugge$tion as to the motivation behind
statements such as this by Davie$?

Brian Harper | "If you don't understand
Associate Professor | something and want to
Applied Mechanics | sound profound, use the
The Ohio State University | word 'entropy'"
| -- Morrowitz
Bastion for the naturalistic |
rulers of science |