Register | Sign In


Understanding through Discussion


EvC Forum active members: 65 (9162 total)
4 online now:
Newest Member: popoi
Post Volume: Total: 915,817 Year: 3,074/9,624 Month: 919/1,588 Week: 102/223 Day: 0/13 Hour: 0/0


Thread  Details

Email This Thread
Newer Topic | Older Topic
  
Author Topic:   Does science ask and answer "why" questions?
Panda
Member (Idle past 3713 days)
Posts: 2688
From: UK
Joined: 10-04-2010


(4)
Message 14 of 353 (647007)
01-07-2012 5:55 PM
Reply to: Message 8 by Dr Jack
01-07-2012 1:20 PM


Mr J writes:
"Why do birds fly south in winter?"
And if we look at the 'how' question aswell...
Why do birds fly south in winter?
The primary motivation for migration appears to be food; for example, some hummingbirds choose not to migrate if fed through the winter. Also, the longer days of the northern summer provide extended time for breeding birds to feed their young. This helps diurnal birds to produce larger clutches than related non-migratory species that remain in the tropics. As the days shorten in autumn, the birds return to warmer regions where the available food supply varies little with the season. (from wiki)
How do birds fly south in winter?
Navigation is based on a variety of senses. Many birds have been shown to use a sun compass. Using the sun for direction involves the need for making compensation based on the time. Navigation has also been shown to be based on a combination of other abilities including the ability to detect magnetic fields (magnetoception), use visual landmarks as well as olfactory cues. (from wiki)
Both questions answered by science.
Neither question answered by religion.
Edited by Panda, : No reason given.

If I were you
And I wish that I were you
All the things I'd do
To make myself turn blue

This message is a reply to:
 Message 8 by Dr Jack, posted 01-07-2012 1:20 PM Dr Jack has not replied

  
Panda
Member (Idle past 3713 days)
Posts: 2688
From: UK
Joined: 10-04-2010


Message 61 of 353 (647326)
01-09-2012 9:42 AM
Reply to: Message 59 by jar
01-09-2012 8:47 AM


Re: Nuances.
jar writes:
Sure we can study how a hammer is made, but the process is not the hammer.
Which aspect of the hammer do you think is not able to be scientifically studied and explained?
Edited by Panda, : No reason given.

If I were you
And I wish that I were you
All the things I'd do
To make myself turn blue

This message is a reply to:
 Message 59 by jar, posted 01-09-2012 8:47 AM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 63 by jar, posted 01-09-2012 9:47 AM Panda has not replied

  
Panda
Member (Idle past 3713 days)
Posts: 2688
From: UK
Joined: 10-04-2010


Message 64 of 353 (647330)
01-09-2012 9:49 AM
Reply to: Message 62 by jar
01-09-2012 9:46 AM


Re: Nuances.
jar writes:
I'm saying that no matter how much you study the hammer it is still not the hammer itself.
Perhaps you could clearly identify which aspect of the object (that we will call 'hammer') is unable to be investigated by science?
Edited by Panda, : No reason given.
Edited by Panda, : No reason given.

If I were you
And I wish that I were you
All the things I'd do
To make myself turn blue

This message is a reply to:
 Message 62 by jar, posted 01-09-2012 9:46 AM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 65 by jar, posted 01-09-2012 9:58 AM Panda has replied

  
Panda
Member (Idle past 3713 days)
Posts: 2688
From: UK
Joined: 10-04-2010


Message 67 of 353 (647334)
01-09-2012 10:13 AM
Reply to: Message 65 by jar
01-09-2012 9:58 AM


Re: Nuances.
jar writes:
You can investigate all you want but it will still not be the preference itself.
Science can investigate all (which by definition includes your preference) but it can't investigate your preference...
jar writes:
You can investigate the hammer all you want but it will still never be the hammer itself.
Science can investigate the hammer, but it can't investigate the hammer...
jar writes:
You can investigate love all you want but it will never be the experience itself.
Science can investigate love (which by definition includes the experience of love) but it can't investigate the experience of love...
Each explanation you have provided contradicts each itself.
Perhaps you could clearly identify which aspect of any of your examples is unable to be investigated by science?

If I were you
And I wish that I were you
All the things I'd do
To make myself turn blue

This message is a reply to:
 Message 65 by jar, posted 01-09-2012 9:58 AM jar has seen this message but not replied

  
Panda
Member (Idle past 3713 days)
Posts: 2688
From: UK
Joined: 10-04-2010


Message 116 of 353 (647510)
01-10-2012 4:39 AM
Reply to: Message 113 by jar
01-09-2012 7:42 PM


Re: Observations in the realm of thoughts
jar writes:
No, the neurons do not cause love, honor, faith, beauty, God ...
But since we can stimulate those sensations by altering the brain chemistry - clearly they do.

If I were you
And I wish that I were you
All the things I'd do
To make myself turn blue

This message is a reply to:
 Message 113 by jar, posted 01-09-2012 7:42 PM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 118 by Straggler, posted 01-10-2012 7:37 AM Panda has not replied
 Message 119 by jar, posted 01-10-2012 8:28 AM Panda has not replied

  
Panda
Member (Idle past 3713 days)
Posts: 2688
From: UK
Joined: 10-04-2010


Message 172 of 353 (647785)
01-11-2012 10:09 AM
Reply to: Message 171 by jar
01-11-2012 8:28 AM


Re: Observations in the realm of thoughts
jar writes:
and I still see no evidence that science can explain why I think something.
That is because you refuse to look:
quote:
I do not try to reconcile those things.
Hiding from reality is not conducive to an accurate understanding of it.

If I were you
And I wish that I were you
All the things I'd do
To make myself turn blue

This message is a reply to:
 Message 171 by jar, posted 01-11-2012 8:28 AM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 173 by jar, posted 01-11-2012 10:12 AM Panda has replied

  
Panda
Member (Idle past 3713 days)
Posts: 2688
From: UK
Joined: 10-04-2010


Message 174 of 353 (647789)
01-11-2012 10:20 AM
Reply to: Message 173 by jar
01-11-2012 10:12 AM


Re: Observations in the realm of thoughts
jar writes:
Sorry but knowing the process and mechanics does not explain the question which is "why I think something".
Sorry but knowing the process and mechanics does explain the question which is "why I think something".
I can even produce examples of chemicals affecting people's preferences, but I know that you "do not try to reconcile those things".
Your baseless assertion is not supported by any evidence.
And your refusal to confront conflicting evidence is indicative of cognitive dissonance and confirmation bias.

If I were you
And I wish that I were you
All the things I'd do
To make myself turn blue

This message is a reply to:
 Message 173 by jar, posted 01-11-2012 10:12 AM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 175 by jar, posted 01-11-2012 10:21 AM Panda has replied

  
Panda
Member (Idle past 3713 days)
Posts: 2688
From: UK
Joined: 10-04-2010


Message 176 of 353 (647793)
01-11-2012 10:33 AM
Reply to: Message 175 by jar
01-11-2012 10:21 AM


Re: Observations in the realm of thoughts
jar writes:
No, it tells me how I think something.
And it tells you why.
Your preferences are not separate from the physical world - they are part of your brain.
What happens to your brain affects your preferences.
If you had a car crash and damaged specific parts of your brain you could spend the rest of your life loving Justin Bieber's music.
"Why do you love Justin Bieber's music?" "Because I had a car crash and got brain damage."
Science can study and identify the how and the why.
Your arguments have rapidly drifted into little more than a feeble repetition of "Nuh-uh!"
This convinces me that you are unable to substantiate your claim.

If I were you
And I wish that I were you
All the things I'd do
To make myself turn blue

This message is a reply to:
 Message 175 by jar, posted 01-11-2012 10:21 AM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 177 by jar, posted 01-11-2012 10:46 AM Panda has not replied

  
Panda
Member (Idle past 3713 days)
Posts: 2688
From: UK
Joined: 10-04-2010


Message 212 of 353 (647938)
01-12-2012 6:27 AM
Reply to: Message 211 by Chuck77
01-12-2012 6:15 AM


Chuckles writes:
Why do monkeys like bananas?
Maybe because God caused it to be that way...
Why do paedophiles like touching children?
Maybe because God caused it to be that way...

If I were you
And I wish that I were you
All the things I'd do
To make myself turn blue

This message is a reply to:
 Message 211 by Chuck77, posted 01-12-2012 6:15 AM Chuck77 has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 213 by Chuck77, posted 01-12-2012 6:29 AM Panda has replied

  
Panda
Member (Idle past 3713 days)
Posts: 2688
From: UK
Joined: 10-04-2010


Message 214 of 353 (647940)
01-12-2012 6:32 AM
Reply to: Message 213 by Chuck77
01-12-2012 6:29 AM


Chuckles writes:
Feel free tho, to answer why monkeys like bananas.
Was your explanation not good enough?
I thought you were advocating god as the reason - but if you want to retract that, then fine.

If I were you
And I wish that I were you
All the things I'd do
To make myself turn blue

This message is a reply to:
 Message 213 by Chuck77, posted 01-12-2012 6:29 AM Chuck77 has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 215 by Chuck77, posted 01-12-2012 6:34 AM Panda has replied

  
Panda
Member (Idle past 3713 days)
Posts: 2688
From: UK
Joined: 10-04-2010


Message 216 of 353 (647942)
01-12-2012 6:42 AM
Reply to: Message 215 by Chuck77
01-12-2012 6:34 AM


Chuckles writes:
I don't follow?
No, not often.
{abe}
So, to clarify your first statement:
Which of these is correct...
1) God causes only monkeys to like bananas.
2) God causes all things to like bananas.
3) God causes only monkeys to like the things they prefer.
4) God causes all things to like all the things they prefer.
Which one of those do you agree with?
Edited by Panda, : No reason given.

If I were you
And I wish that I were you
All the things I'd do
To make myself turn blue

This message is a reply to:
 Message 215 by Chuck77, posted 01-12-2012 6:34 AM Chuck77 has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 217 by Chuck77, posted 01-12-2012 6:54 AM Panda has not replied

  
Panda
Member (Idle past 3713 days)
Posts: 2688
From: UK
Joined: 10-04-2010


Message 231 of 353 (648084)
01-13-2012 6:05 AM
Reply to: Message 229 by Chuck77
01-13-2012 2:32 AM


...
Edited by Panda, : deleted my snark

If I were you
And I wish that I were you
All the things I'd do
To make myself turn blue

This message is a reply to:
 Message 229 by Chuck77, posted 01-13-2012 2:32 AM Chuck77 has not replied

  
Panda
Member (Idle past 3713 days)
Posts: 2688
From: UK
Joined: 10-04-2010


Message 271 of 353 (648316)
01-14-2012 12:41 PM
Reply to: Message 269 by Dr Adequate
01-14-2012 5:46 AM


Re: God Given Preferences
Dr A writes:
But I still have no idea what you're talking about.
It was a reference to Sherlock Holmes.
But it didn't actually make sense.
I think Chuckles was trying to be clever - but that is not one of his strengths.

If I were you
And I wish that I were you
All the things I'd do
To make myself turn blue

This message is a reply to:
 Message 269 by Dr Adequate, posted 01-14-2012 5:46 AM Dr Adequate has not replied

  
Newer Topic | Older Topic
Jump to:


Copyright 2001-2023 by EvC Forum, All Rights Reserved

™ Version 4.2
Innovative software from Qwixotic © 2024