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Author Topic:   Questions for William Dembski
sidelined
Member (Idle past 5908 days)
Posts: 3435
From: Edmonton Alberta Canada
Joined: 08-30-2003


Message 6 of 31 (420806)
09-09-2007 4:19 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by taylor_31
09-09-2007 2:17 PM


taylor 31
So what do you think I should ask?
Ask him these questions.
Do you agree with the following statement from the news website the Christian Post ?
Intelligent design is the theory that the complexity and organization of life are evidence of the living things having been designed, calling on an intelligent creator or designer that may be responsible for their complexity.
If not ask him to clarify since he himself has said as much. If yes then ask him
Is the intelligent designer is more complex and organized than his "design" in the same way that we are more complex and organized than our designs.
If not then ask him how this could be so.
If yes , then ask him what intelligence designed the intelligent designer that designed the world.
I am betting that he cannot answer and will try to divert the focus away from the question. Do not allow him to weasel out of it.

It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.
Charles Darwin

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 Message 1 by taylor_31, posted 09-09-2007 2:17 PM taylor_31 has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 8 by Doddy, posted 09-10-2007 4:55 AM sidelined has replied

  
sidelined
Member (Idle past 5908 days)
Posts: 3435
From: Edmonton Alberta Canada
Joined: 08-30-2003


Message 9 of 31 (420906)
09-10-2007 7:18 AM
Reply to: Message 8 by Doddy
09-10-2007 4:55 AM


Doddy
It seems that one is all too easy to weasel out of by simply asserting that the designer(s) was/were uncaused.
No problem there because we can just as easily say {via Occam's razor} that the universe was also uncaused.
Either that, or if he really wants to make the creationists angry, he could simply say that we don't know anything about the designer(s), so we can't determine if he/she/it/they needs designing or was designed or by whom.
By the same line of reasoning though we cannot say intelligent design is therefore meaningful as a hypothesis now can we?
And seeing as people at Q&A sessions don't usually get more than one question, I don't think you could prevent it.
True, but you could get together with others to continue the line of questioning.
Edited by sidelined, : No reason given.

It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.
Charles Darwin

This message is a reply to:
 Message 8 by Doddy, posted 09-10-2007 4:55 AM Doddy has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 11 by Doddy, posted 09-10-2007 7:50 AM sidelined has replied

  
sidelined
Member (Idle past 5908 days)
Posts: 3435
From: Edmonton Alberta Canada
Joined: 08-30-2003


Message 13 of 31 (421069)
09-10-2007 10:36 PM
Reply to: Message 11 by Doddy
09-10-2007 7:50 AM


Doddy
It is explaining 'specified complexity', specifically that of living organisms.
It just has to be shown to be true enough to be an alternative to evolution.
The hypothesis of intelligent design applies to whatever designer they would employ for whatever explanation. Since complexity is the key word the hypothesis must apply to any designer.

It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.
Charles Darwin

This message is a reply to:
 Message 11 by Doddy, posted 09-10-2007 7:50 AM Doddy has not replied

  
sidelined
Member (Idle past 5908 days)
Posts: 3435
From: Edmonton Alberta Canada
Joined: 08-30-2003


Message 21 of 31 (421347)
09-12-2007 7:50 AM
Reply to: Message 17 by Cold Foreign Object
09-11-2007 6:58 PM


Cold Foreign Object
Theist scholars do not usually allow questions from inferior persons.
That makes sense if they wish to keep hidden the man behind the curtain.
Questioning presupposes superiority, that is, the superior questions the inferior. I doubt that a person like you will get a chance to question the superior.
What a croc! Questioning has nothing to do with superiority or inferiority , it has to do with understanding by inquiry.It does not matter who the person is on a given topic questioning is to be encouraged as it is the means by which the validity of an arguement is tested.
A person who merely relies on their level of education or their reputation as support for a position is not a sensible fellow and should know better in the first place.

It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.
Charles Darwin

This message is a reply to:
 Message 17 by Cold Foreign Object, posted 09-11-2007 6:58 PM Cold Foreign Object has not replied

  
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