Re: [asa] Keller on Evolution

> There is a Spanish saying, "Las cosas, claras, y el chocolate, oscuro,"
> that is, all things have to be clear; however, chocolate can be dark.
>
>MR Only Dark Chocolate is edible, yuk to milk chocolate. Some American
>friends staying with us had to take loads of Cadburys chocolate back with
>them. I couldnt convince them that Sainsburys own brand was made at
>Cadburys as I had seen it in a cadburys factory.
>
> What is then wrong to make clear the distinction between experimental
> sciences and historical sciences? One is not denigrating one at the
> expense of the other. Forensic science is forensic science, which uses
> experimental sciences to solve historical problems. What is wrong with
> that? Is not that what evolutionary theory is?
>
MR Consider geology as THE historical science. It is based on observation
and recording (an undervalued part of science), the comparative method
(pioneered by Cuvier on fossils in c1800) and it uses experiments of various
kinds , and the conclusions of physics and chemistry.

The basic method of putting rocks in order is the method of superposition
i.e. from the force of gravity stuff at the bottom got there first (unless
it was squeezed in later)
Also helpful in giving the historical sequence are cross-cutting
relationships.

The comparative method is used on sedimentology and experiements are often
devised

These give qualitative ways of considering time and for quantitative ways
these depend on radiometric age dating which go back to the experimental.

I am tempted to say that historical science is more open to error but the
history of experimental science is full of errors!

It would take too long to give a detailed account of why geology is SCIENCE,
but to my knowledge no one has ever given a good case of why it isnt except
what Nares in 1838 called the "want of ocular proofs" or as Ham put it
"where you there?", which is unswerable because it doenst make sense.>
>
I wait for someone to give a good reasoned argument why geology as
historical science is not both science and reliable and also why the
arguments for a vast timescale are invalid.

Over to you

Michael

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Received on Thu Feb 28 17:25:05 2008