Re: [asa] Life Imperative

On Fri, 23 Nov 2007, David Heddle wrote:

> Paul Davies has an interesting article in SA
> http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=are-aliens-among-us&print=true
> ...
> It seems to me that if life is a low probability event—that is, the fine
> tune physical constants are extremely unlikely and biogenesis extremely
> unlikely, then ID—unless it transforms into a bona fide science that makes
> positive testable predictions, will be at a perpetual stalemate with another
> toothless (in terms of testability) theory: multiple universes. Multiple
> universe theories are perfectly compatible with life's improbability, with
> the advantage that they make no appeal to the supernatural.
>
> Folks, ID is attempting to carve out an existence on the wrong end of the
> probability range.

   I don't think that ID proponents are employing a wrong strategy, given
their goals. Rather, ID proponents have chosen a name for themselves
which doesn't accurately reflect their goals.

   If the goal of ID is to show that the universe is well-designed, then I
agree with you that they are arguing the wrong end of the probability
range. But if the goal of ID is to argue for divine intervention in
biological history, then they are employing the right strategy.

   If it can be shown scientifically that life is a low-probability event
(given known natural mechanisms), then there are several possible
explanations: divine intervention, space aliens, as-yet-unknown natural
processes, multiple universes, or we-just-got-lucky. As you say,
empirical science cannot distinguish which one of those hypotheses is
correct. However, it is possible to add other arguments and evidence,
outside of science, to argue that one of those hypotheses is more
reasonable than the others.

   That is ID's apologetic strategy and goal -- to use a combination
of scientific and extra-scientific arguments to argue for divine
intervention in biological history. It's unfortunate that they have
chosen a name which doesn't accurately reflect that goal; however, it's
understandable that they made that choice given the philosophical,
theological and legal history leading up to it.

Loren

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Received on Fri Nov 23 15:11:57 2007