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Author Topic:   How can Biologists believe in the ToE?
nator
Member (Idle past 2190 days)
Posts: 12961
From: Ann Arbor
Joined: 12-09-2001


Message 136 of 304 (420273)
09-07-2007 7:07 AM
Reply to: Message 130 by Q
09-06-2007 7:25 PM


quote:
Creation Science is looked down on even when the science is good,
Show me the "good" Creation science.
I've certainly never seen any.
Creationists almost never do science, actually. They spend much of their time writing non-peer reviewed popular press books full of untruths and distortions of real scientists' work. The rest of their time they spend manouvering in local school politics to try to sneak their religious views into science classes.
quote:
just cause the word creation, much like how creationists must feel about going through school being taught a subject that isn't true but arguing about it only gets you removed from class.
Er, how can a kid in school "know" that a subject "isn't true" before she has even learned anything about it? If the basis for her non-acceptance of Biology is religiously based, then she hasn't made a determination based upon rational assesment of the evidence.
quote:
is YOUR world view and judgment based on what you feel is fact. Not everyone believes in that "fact". Basically it appears that anyone that doesn't believe in that view is dumb while everyone that does is greatly more superior in understanding science... again... not true for everyone.
Tell me, Q, should the people believe who in alien abductions, that the Holocaust never happened, that the 9/11 WTC bombing was a Bush regime conspiracy be allowed to determine for our schools what is "fact"? After all, it is just their "worldview" that determines what they "feel" is fact, right?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 130 by Q, posted 09-06-2007 7:25 PM Q has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 137 by Q, posted 09-07-2007 8:33 AM nator has replied

Q
Junior Member (Idle past 6066 days)
Posts: 12
From: Fort Knox, KY USA
Joined: 09-06-2007


Message 137 of 304 (420279)
09-07-2007 8:33 AM
Reply to: Message 136 by nator
09-07-2007 7:07 AM


quote:
Er, how can a kid in school "know" that a subject "isn't true" before she has even learned anything about it? If the basis for her non-acceptance of Biology is religiously based, then she hasn't made a determination based upon rational assesment of the evidence.
when you say that, this is what I was talking about. To dismiss out of hand based on what is accepted today as the rational. Remember the leading scientists of the days years ago thought the world was flat until shown other wise, there was only so many elements of The Periodic Table of Elements, until found otherwise ( Bromine (Br) atomic number 35 for instance ) and those were all facts in there days. The funny thing about the issue is that both ToE and ID start at the same unknown problem ( HOW did it start ).
quote:
Creationists almost never do science, actually. They spend much of their time writing non-peer reviewed popular press books full of untruths and distortions of real scientists' work. The rest of their time they spend manouvering in local school politics to try to sneak their religious views into science classes.
again the "real scientists" are brought up, the dumb ID scientists are just trying to stir up trouble ? I think real science is done on both sides and both sides have and issue of accepting that one thing listed above that neither side can prove as fact. For real Science we have to follow the Scientific Method
The benefits from science are dramatic and widespread. By using scientific principles, man has pulled back the curtain of ignorance and advanced the quality of life for millions of people. With these achievements, science justifiably deserves a good reputation.
Taking a closer look, the essence of science is the scientific method where a hypothesis is tested by experiment. That is,
1) State the question
2) Form a hypothesis
3) Do experiments
4) Interpret data and draw conclusions
5) Revise theory (go back to step 2)
Instead of endless philosophical discussions to prove a point, experiment becomes the final arbitrator of truth - a successful approach.
The issue becomes a bit sticky when discussing origins. How do we test the theory of evolution? We don't have the luxury of having a miniature universe with eons of time in the corner of a laboratory.
So this leaves both evolutionists and creationists in same the boat. No absolute way to objectivity test their assertions. No eyewitnesses... Both are left to propose a model and then compare it with nature for consistency.
Notice too, that good theories are falsifiable. Now consider the theory of evolution ... How can it be proved false? What fraction of the theory of evolution is open to invalidation, some small detail, or the entire principle? The approach seems to be, "look, you're here and there is no intelligent designer so evolution must be true!". Is this science or something else?
both sides face serious problems in my opinon. notice the
4) Interpret data and draw conclusions
that is what both sides do in there studys and research.
now just for a moment lets say that ID's are wrong, that really changes nothing in the matter of "science" and "education" BUT what if the Evo's are wrong... thats a whole other issue. That would mean that all the "science" based on the theory must be looked at because to start with a falsehood can not lead to a right ending. Do I think this will ever happen ? of course not, this topic will rage forever. As long as man is here, this topic will be here.
quote:
Tell me, Q, should the people believe who in alien abductions, that the Holocaust never happened, that the 9/11 WTC bombing was a Bush regime conspiracy be allowed to determine for our schools what is "fact"? After all, it is just their "worldview" that determines what they "feel" is fact, right?
we are talking about science not conspiracys, there is diffrance.
note: as a side note, I am dyslexic, and I am not on my home computer witch has a browser that auto corects my spelling based on how I type, so if you find alot of gramer spelling etc errors, Im sorry Im at work ( darn goverment computers ! shhh I work for The Goverment oooo LOL )
I aints got no collage either , jsut my personal views on topics that have interested me for as long as I remember, most my time is taken up reading about both sides of the fence so I might not get my point accross in a clear way but I try

This message is a reply to:
 Message 136 by nator, posted 09-07-2007 7:07 AM nator has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 139 by Chiroptera, posted 09-07-2007 9:01 AM Q has not replied
 Message 140 by RAZD, posted 09-07-2007 9:04 AM Q has replied
 Message 141 by Vacate, posted 09-07-2007 9:07 AM Q has not replied
 Message 142 by Wounded King, posted 09-07-2007 9:07 AM Q has replied
 Message 143 by jar, posted 09-07-2007 11:33 AM Q has not replied
 Message 149 by Dr Adequate, posted 09-07-2007 12:39 PM Q has not replied
 Message 151 by Dr Adequate, posted 09-07-2007 12:48 PM Q has not replied
 Message 154 by nator, posted 09-07-2007 10:35 PM Q has not replied

Q
Junior Member (Idle past 6066 days)
Posts: 12
From: Fort Knox, KY USA
Joined: 09-06-2007


Message 138 of 304 (420280)
09-07-2007 8:44 AM
Reply to: Message 134 by kuresu
09-06-2007 11:41 PM


kuresu writes:
He might be a fence-splitter
I am not a fence-splitter ( or what I now like to now call "A Frank Collins" lol)
I will say I started on one side, slide to the other at some point, then sat on the fence for a few years while I did some personal research and made a desicion.
I dont subscribe to Evolution. But I'm also not your typical ID'r either. I really dont get to upset about alot of things that are said, there is no need to honestly. I can play on both sides when talking, I dont see my side and say yours is ABSOLUTLY WRONG!! omgz DIAF!! BURN!! lol. Most of my co-workers and friends are ToE staunch belivers ( even a few with some rather... interesting? topics heh ) I do belive in ID, but that dosnt mean I dont read and watch shows and research ToE, you have to do that to make up your own mind, dont you think ?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 134 by kuresu, posted 09-06-2007 11:41 PM kuresu has not replied

Chiroptera
Inactive Member


Message 139 of 304 (420282)
09-07-2007 9:01 AM
Reply to: Message 137 by Q
09-07-2007 8:33 AM


Remember the leading scientists of the days years ago thought the world was flat until shown other wise....
But this isn't what you are saying in regards to evolution, Q. You're saying that it's possible that the world is flat and that all the scientists today are wrong despite all the evidence that says otherwise. That is a more accurate analogy to what you are saying in regards to evolution.

I could tell you what I've read about evolution, the big-bang, super-universes, quantum foam, and all that stuff. Eventually you'd ask a question I can't answer, then I'd have to go look it up. Even If I had the time for that shit, in the end you'd ask a question science hasn't answered yet. So let's save time and skip ahead to "I don't know." -- jhuger

This message is a reply to:
 Message 137 by Q, posted 09-07-2007 8:33 AM Q has not replied

RAZD
Member (Idle past 1425 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


Message 140 of 304 (420283)
09-07-2007 9:04 AM
Reply to: Message 137 by Q
09-07-2007 8:33 AM


To dismiss out of hand based on what is accepted today as the rational.
What is accepted today as rational is science, not untested hypothesis. And the way ideas get into science is by way of tested hypothesis, not by politics or popular vote. It does not matter what the common lay person thinks about evolution, for instance, because they are not involved with studying the science.
The funny thing about the issue is that both ToE and ID start at the same unknown problem ( HOW did it start ).
Nope. Evolution starts with life existing. Evolution is the change in hereditary traits in populations from generation to generation, so there has to be an initial population for it to work.
Abiogenesis is the study of possible development of life from chemicals, and it is an interesting field. There are several threads talking about aspects of this science.
ID starts with assuming a designer and then looking for ways to find evidence of it (in the kindest terms using what it should be instead of what it all too frequently is -- politics).
again the "real scientists" are brought up, the dumb ID scientists are just trying to stir up trouble ?
The proper way to respond to the assertion made is to actually show creationists doing good science ...
both sides face serious problems in my opinon. notice the
4) Interpret data and draw conclusions
that is what both sides do in there studys and research.
Yes and the better interpretations and conclusions use all the data instead of just ones that support an agenda. But I'm glad you brought up the issue of "both sides" ...
... as I think we need to discuss both sides of the design debate before we go much further.
BUT what if the Evo's are wrong... thats a whole other issue.
Yes, that would prove that the Silly Design Theory was correct eh?
we are talking about science not conspiracys, there is diffrance.
Yes, and the ID movement was started as a conspiracy to subvert education: see the wedge document
quote:
The wedge strategy is a political and social action plan authored by the Discovery Institute, the hub of the intelligent design movement. The strategy was put forth in a Discovery Institute manifesto known as the Wedge Document,[1] which describes a broad social, political, and academic agenda whose ultimate goal is to "defeat [scientific] materialism" represented by evolution, "reverse the stifling materialist world view and replace it with a science consonant with Christian and theistic convictions"[2] and to "affirm the reality of God."[3] Its goal is to "renew" American culture by shaping public policy to reflect conservative Christian values.[4]
Those are political, not scientific motives.
Question: are you an IDist OR a christian?
Enjoy.
Edited by RAZD, : SDT theory proof

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This message is a reply to:
 Message 137 by Q, posted 09-07-2007 8:33 AM Q has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 144 by Q, posted 09-07-2007 11:37 AM RAZD has replied

Vacate
Member (Idle past 4621 days)
Posts: 565
Joined: 10-01-2006


Message 141 of 304 (420285)
09-07-2007 9:07 AM
Reply to: Message 137 by Q
09-07-2007 8:33 AM


Remember the leading scientists of the days years ago thought the world was flat until shown other wise, there was only so many elements of The Periodic Table of Elements, until found otherwise ( Bromine (Br) atomic number 35 for instance ) and those were all facts in there days.
Creationism was also thought to be fact until it was shown otherwise.
The funny thing about the issue is that both ToE and ID start at the same unknown problem ( HOW did it start ).
ToE is not about how it started. That would be abiogenesis or further back Big Bang.
I think real science is done on both sides
The real question then is do you have any publications to show you are correct?
both sides face serious problems in my opinon. notice the
4) Interpret data and draw conclusions
Yet one side can land a man on the moon, cure diseases, and predict discoveries years in advance. For having serious problems the scientific method just seems to work.
That would mean that all the "science" based on the theory must be looked at because to start with a falsehood can not lead to a right ending.
It would be quite bizarre considering its predicability.
we are talking about science not conspiracys, there is diffrance.
No, you where talking about science and creationism, in regards to creationism there is little difference. Did you hear the one about the global conspiracy by scientists to hide the truth about ToE?
Edited by Vacate, : Spelling

This message is a reply to:
 Message 137 by Q, posted 09-07-2007 8:33 AM Q has not replied

Wounded King
Member
Posts: 4149
From: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Joined: 04-09-2003


Message 142 of 304 (420286)
09-07-2007 9:07 AM
Reply to: Message 137 by Q
09-07-2007 8:33 AM


I think real science is done on both sides
Well then why not give us some examples of real science done on the ID side? Ideally this would be science actually supportive of the ID position. I know there are a few papers published by ID proponents but neither Doug Axe nor Michael Behe, perhaps the two most prominently published researchers, seem to have anything published which actually supports ID.
TTFN,
WK

This message is a reply to:
 Message 137 by Q, posted 09-07-2007 8:33 AM Q has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 145 by Q, posted 09-07-2007 12:14 PM Wounded King has not replied

jar
Member (Idle past 414 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 143 of 304 (420303)
09-07-2007 11:33 AM
Reply to: Message 137 by Q
09-07-2007 8:33 AM


On the Periodic Table.
Remember the leading scientists of the days years ago thought the world was flat until shown other wise, there was only so many elements of The Periodic Table of Elements, until found otherwise ( Bromine (Br) atomic number 35 for instance ) and those were all facts in there days.
I found it interesting that you brought up the Periodic Table, because it is a classic example of how science does work and why the Scientific Method (TOE) is far more likely to be right than ID or Biblical Creationism.
The important thing about Mendeleev's Table was that it had gaps and reordered many of the placements of elements in earlier attempts at creating a table. He took another series of steps based on the reasoning behind his arrangement and predicted two things; that when the elements he reordered were examined with greater precision the then accepted atomic weights for those elements would be found to be wrong; and that elements would be found to fill in his blanks and even what the properties of each of those elements would be.
I cannot overstate the importance of those actions. He presented a model that explained what was already known, and was also useful for making predictions about what would be learned in the future. In addition, as more was learned we found that the new elements discovered were exactly as he predicted and that the atomic weights of those he rearranged were as he predicted.
His model explained what was seen as well as what would be discovered. It went even further and provided the basis for us to create NEW elements, ones not found on earth, with a high degree of confidence of what their properties would be even before we created them.
The Periodic Table is a great example of why the TOE is valuable and ID and Biblical Creationism are worthless.
The value of the TOE has been in helping us understand what is seen, but in also providing the basis for future discoveries. What we have learned from the TOE has let us make predictions, and so far those predictions have been born out by each new discovery.
ID and Biblical Creationism have no predictive potential. There is nothing there to form our basis. A good example is in ID. When based on the evidence seen in living things it is pointed out that the I in ID should stand for Inept or Incompetent or Inelegant or Inscrutable or Ignorant we are told that we cannot know the Intent of the Designer. Well sorry, if we cannot know the Intent of the Designer then we cannot predict what the Designer will do. If that is the case then the ID concept is worthless.
The same argument is applicable to Biblical Creationism. The two (actually they are really just one) schools of thought are simply worthless.

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

This message is a reply to:
 Message 137 by Q, posted 09-07-2007 8:33 AM Q has not replied

Q
Junior Member (Idle past 6066 days)
Posts: 12
From: Fort Knox, KY USA
Joined: 09-06-2007


Message 144 of 304 (420304)
09-07-2007 11:37 AM
Reply to: Message 140 by RAZD
09-07-2007 9:04 AM


quote:
Question: are you an IDist OR a christian?
  —RAZD
I am a Christian. Yes I believe in ID by God. but why do you ask that question specifically ?
I am not a Deist if that was what you were wondering from the ID aspect.
But, you wont find me quoting The Bible much in posts, you wont find me making references to Biblical aspects of this topic either. Thats never made to much sense to me ( personally ).
I honestly try to stay away from that area when in the arena of E vs ID. but as I stated in another post, I guess that makes me not your typical Christian IDer. Normally when I am asked about my faith, I simply say I'm a Creationist.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 140 by RAZD, posted 09-07-2007 9:04 AM RAZD has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 153 by RAZD, posted 09-07-2007 1:48 PM Q has not replied

Q
Junior Member (Idle past 6066 days)
Posts: 12
From: Fort Knox, KY USA
Joined: 09-06-2007


Message 145 of 304 (420311)
09-07-2007 12:14 PM
Reply to: Message 142 by Wounded King
09-07-2007 9:07 AM


Removed
* off topic *
Edited by Q, : fix link
Edited by Q, : off topic

This message is a reply to:
 Message 142 by Wounded King, posted 09-07-2007 9:07 AM Wounded King has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 146 by crashfrog, posted 09-07-2007 12:23 PM Q has not replied
 Message 147 by Chiroptera, posted 09-07-2007 12:23 PM Q has not replied

crashfrog
Member (Idle past 1487 days)
Posts: 19762
From: Silver Spring, MD
Joined: 03-20-2003


Message 146 of 304 (420312)
09-07-2007 12:23 PM
Reply to: Message 145 by Q
09-07-2007 12:14 PM


For example:
Dr. Eugene F. Chaffin, Professor of Physics
Prof. Linn E. Carothers, Associate Professor of Statistics
Dr. Jack W. Cuozzo, Dentist
What would these people know about biology? And since when are dentists "scientists"? These lists are invariably specious because they include people for whom biology is well outside their field of expertise - as well as individuals who, in fact, do not contend the scientific consensus of evolution, but have in fact been put on the list dishonestly.
Dr. Steve Austin, Geologist
I see the Six Million Dollar Man found a new line of work.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 145 by Q, posted 09-07-2007 12:14 PM Q has not replied

Chiroptera
Inactive Member


Message 147 of 304 (420313)
09-07-2007 12:23 PM
Reply to: Message 145 by Q
09-07-2007 12:14 PM


You didn't answer WK's question, Q. He asked:
Well then why not give us some examples of real science done on the ID side?
You listed a bunch of names, but have given no particulars about any scientific research that supports either recent origins or ID.

I could tell you what I've read about evolution, the big-bang, super-universes, quantum foam, and all that stuff. Eventually you'd ask a question I can't answer, then I'd have to go look it up. Even If I had the time for that shit, in the end you'd ask a question science hasn't answered yet. So let's save time and skip ahead to "I don't know." -- jhuger

This message is a reply to:
 Message 145 by Q, posted 09-07-2007 12:14 PM Q has not replied

AdminNosy
Administrator
Posts: 4754
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Joined: 11-11-2003


Message 148 of 304 (420314)
09-07-2007 12:33 PM


Topic!!!
The list of so called scientists who disagree with the ToE are NOT on topic here.
If Q wants to defend an obviously overstuffed list then it should be taken elsewhere. Small suspensions to anyone carrying on with this.
Edited by AdminNosy, : correct author

Dr Adequate
Member (Idle past 304 days)
Posts: 16113
Joined: 07-20-2006


Message 149 of 304 (420317)
09-07-2007 12:39 PM
Reply to: Message 137 by Q
09-07-2007 8:33 AM


when you say that, this is what I was talking about. To dismiss out of hand based on what is accepted today as the rational. Remember the leading scientists of the days years ago thought the world was flat until shown other wise,
No they didn't, you made that up.
Eratosthenes of Cyrene measured the circumference of the Earth back in the 3rd century BC
Now, you quote me one scientist who claimed that the world was flat.
there was only so many elements of The Periodic Table of Elements, until found otherwise ( Bromine (Br) atomic number 35 for instance ) and those were all facts in there days.
Again, this is something you made up. The periodic table predicted the existence of elements that hadn't been found: to accept the periodic table was to accept that there were more elements than were known at the time.
The funny thing about the issue is that both ToE and ID start at the same unknown problem ( HOW did it start ).
No.
both sides face serious problems in my opinon. notice the
4) Interpret data and draw conclusions
That's not a problem. If what you're doing is hypothesis testing, then the interpretation of the data is simply that it confirms or disconfirms the hypothesis. If I think pigs can't fly, and one flies in through my window, then the interpretation is: "I was wrong".
So this leaves both evolutionists and creationists in same the boat. No absolute way to objectivity test their assertions. No eyewitnesses...
Ah yes, this again. You notice that in order to put their gibble on a par with evolution, they have to deny the possiblity of answering questions about the past at all, without "eyewitnesses" (yeah, like they're the gold standard of evidence, right).
Just as someone who wants to put "2 + 2 = 5" on a par with "2 + 2 = 4" has to deny that anything is true ...
Both are left to propose a model and then compare it with nature for consistency.
And nature is consistent with ... guess which model?
Notice too, that good theories are falsifiable. Now consider the theory of evolution ... How can it be proved false? What fraction of the theory of evolution is open to invalidation, some small detail, or the entire principle? The approach seems to be, "look, you're here and there is no intelligent designer so evolution must be true!". Is this science or something else?
That statement was evidently written by a brazen liar with no sense of shame.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 137 by Q, posted 09-07-2007 8:33 AM Q has not replied

Chiroptera
Inactive Member


Message 150 of 304 (420318)
09-07-2007 12:43 PM
Reply to: Message 130 by Q
09-06-2007 7:25 PM


This is on topic.
I would agree that over 50% ( but not over 65% ) of scientists believe in ToE and don't believe in a creator of any kind....
Well, the "not over 65%" seems to be wrong.
According to Wikipedia:
One 1987 estimate found that more than 99.84% of almost 500,000 US scientists in the earth and life sciences supported evolution over creation science. An expert in the evolution-creationism controversy, professor and author Brian Alters, estimates that "99.9 percent of scientists accept evolution". A 1991 Gallup poll of Americans found that only about 5% of scientists (including those with training outside biology) identified themselves as creationists.
So the question from the OP still stands:
If the evidence is so ambiguous, or so open for reinterpretation, why do the vast majority of scientists (especially in the biological sciences, where they work first-hand with the so-called "ambiguous" evidence) support the theory of evolution?

I could tell you what I've read about evolution, the big-bang, super-universes, quantum foam, and all that stuff. Eventually you'd ask a question I can't answer, then I'd have to go look it up. Even If I had the time for that shit, in the end you'd ask a question science hasn't answered yet. So let's save time and skip ahead to "I don't know." -- jhuger

This message is a reply to:
 Message 130 by Q, posted 09-06-2007 7:25 PM Q has not replied

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