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Author Topic:   Detecting Intelligence - SETI and ID Compared
Straggler
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Posts: 10333
From: London England
Joined: 09-30-2006


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Message 1 of 3 (644896)
12-21-2011 1:05 PM


What do SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) and the Intelligent Design movement have in common? They both operate under the premise that we are able to meaningfully discern between things which have been intelligently designed by non-humans and things which haven’t been designed at all. Are they correct? If so what is the methodology for reliably and objectively distinguishing between things which are intelligently designed and things which may appear to be but which in fact occur naturally without the involvement of any conscious intent?
If (for example) we were to detect a repeated signal from a far off star expressing the value of Pi to 128 decimal places in binary emitted at the frequency of the Hydrogen line I would suggest that we could very reasonably consider this a sign of intelligent beings. Certainly SETI enthusiasts would consider it as such.
But what exactly is it that makes this an example of intelligent design? On what basis are we concluding conscious intelligent intent? And should this sort of example give IDists hope that their claims of detecting intelligent design of a more general sort has any validity?
If SETI can spot intelligent design what method are they using and can IDists apply the same methods?

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 Message 2 by AdminModulous, posted 12-21-2011 1:29 PM Straggler has not replied

AdminModulous
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Message 2 of 3 (644900)
12-21-2011 1:29 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Straggler
12-21-2011 1:05 PM


I'm promoting despite there being an open thread on the subject (Compare and Contrast ID and SETI) because the older thread is ancient and many of the participants are no longer here and because this thread has a slightly different theme. I mention it merely for completeness.

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 Message 1 by Straggler, posted 12-21-2011 1:05 PM Straggler has not replied

AdminModulous
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Posts: 897
Joined: 03-02-2006


Message 3 of 3 (644903)
12-21-2011 1:29 PM


Thread Copied to Intelligent Design Forum
Thread copied to the Detecting Intelligence - SETI and ID Compared thread in the Intelligent Design forum, this copy of the thread has been closed.

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