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Author Topic:   Chance as a sole-product of the Universe
Tangle
Member
Posts: 9489
From: UK
Joined: 10-07-2011
Member Rating: 4.9


Message 88 of 263 (762121)
07-09-2015 7:13 AM
Reply to: Message 87 by Phat
07-09-2015 6:52 AM


Re: Not A Chance
Oh Phat, please don't fall for this word game nonsense. It's designed to sound clever but is actually just intellectualised masturbation.
Chance is, of course 'a thing'. It's the name of the thing that describes how often a coin toss will result in heads or tails (amongst other things).

Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif.
Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 87 by Phat, posted 07-09-2015 6:52 AM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 89 by Phat, posted 07-09-2015 7:25 AM Tangle has replied

  
Tangle
Member
Posts: 9489
From: UK
Joined: 10-07-2011
Member Rating: 4.9


Message 90 of 263 (762133)
07-09-2015 8:10 AM
Reply to: Message 89 by Phat
07-09-2015 7:25 AM


Re: Not A Chance
Phat writes:
In your evidence based opinion...has there ever been a time in the history of time that nothing has existed?
I, like everyone else, have absolutely no idea.
Not only that, I doubt that the question has any meaning that three dimensional, temporal objects like people can make any sense of.

Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif.
Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 89 by Phat, posted 07-09-2015 7:25 AM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 91 by Phat, posted 07-09-2015 8:13 AM Tangle has replied

  
Tangle
Member
Posts: 9489
From: UK
Joined: 10-07-2011
Member Rating: 4.9


Message 93 of 263 (762143)
07-09-2015 9:32 AM
Reply to: Message 91 by Phat
07-09-2015 8:13 AM


Re: Not A Chance
Phat writes:
Its amazing to me how people see no difference between measurable probability and the whole idea of chance as a thing.
You're very easily amazed.
It doesn't matter whether 'chance' is a 'thing' like a table or the description of the probality of a 'thing' happening, like a coin landing heads. We all know what it means.
We know that it's the occurrence of a mutation (as an example) plus selection that causes evolution and that process involves chance. So what strange point are you trying to make? If it's that because chance isn't a 'thing' evolution doesn't happen, you're very, very, wrong.
If you're just saying that chance is not the causal factor, then it's a 'no shit Sherlock' moment.

Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif.
Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 91 by Phat, posted 07-09-2015 8:13 AM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 94 by Phat, posted 07-09-2015 11:07 AM Tangle has replied

  
Tangle
Member
Posts: 9489
From: UK
Joined: 10-07-2011
Member Rating: 4.9


Message 99 of 263 (762169)
07-09-2015 1:44 PM
Reply to: Message 94 by Phat
07-09-2015 11:07 AM


Re: Not A Chance
Phat writes:
What I am trying to do is to define this thing called chance.
You don't have to, it already has a definition - 2 actually.
chance
tʃɑːns/
noun
1.
a possibility of something happening.
"there is a chance of winning the raffle"
synonyms: possibility, prospect, probability, odds, likelihood, likeliness, expectation, anticipation, conceivability, feasibility, plausibility; More
antonyms: unlikelihood
the probability of something desirable happening.
"he played down his chances of becoming chairman"
an opportunity to do or achieve something.
"I gave her a chance to answer"
synonyms: opportunity, opening, occasion, turn, time, moment, window (of opportunity), slot;
2.
the occurrence of events in the absence of any obvious intention or cause.
"he met his brother by chance"
synonyms: accident, coincidence, serendipity, fate, a twist of fate, destiny, fortuity, fortune, providence, freak, hazard; More
My take on it is it does not exist.
You've just been bamboozled by bollocks.

Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif.
Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 94 by Phat, posted 07-09-2015 11:07 AM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 146 by Phat, posted 07-22-2016 5:57 PM Tangle has not replied

  
Tangle
Member
Posts: 9489
From: UK
Joined: 10-07-2011
Member Rating: 4.9


Message 103 of 263 (762592)
07-13-2015 4:43 PM
Reply to: Message 102 by jar
07-13-2015 8:25 AM


Re: Not A Chance
By total mass, micro-organisms win hands downd.
Haldene though thought it was beetles (quote later attributed to Darwin.)
The Creator would appear as endowed with a passion for stars, on the one hand, and for beetles on the other, for the simple reason that there are nearly 300,000 species of beetle known, and perhaps more, as compared with somewhat less than 9,000 species of birds and a little over 10,000 species of mammals. Beetles are actually more numerous than the species of any other insect order. That kind of thing is characteristic of nature.

Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif.
Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 102 by jar, posted 07-13-2015 8:25 AM jar has seen this message but not replied

  
Tangle
Member
Posts: 9489
From: UK
Joined: 10-07-2011
Member Rating: 4.9


Message 111 of 263 (787584)
07-18-2016 1:51 PM
Reply to: Message 108 by Phat
07-18-2016 1:13 PM


Re: What do you mean by chance ?
Phat writes:
First of all, it is impossible for anything to at one time not exist and then to later exist.
Out of nothing, nothing comes.
These are just bear assertions. The concept of 'nothing' is not something you or I understand. Hawkings thinks rather differently.

Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif. Je suis Parisien.
Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 108 by Phat, posted 07-18-2016 1:13 PM Phat has not replied

  
Tangle
Member
Posts: 9489
From: UK
Joined: 10-07-2011
Member Rating: 4.9


Message 137 of 263 (787790)
07-21-2016 7:20 PM
Reply to: Message 135 by mike the wiz
07-21-2016 5:51 PM


Re: What do you mean by chance ?
mtw writes:
To read more about this issue, you may want to read the first message of the following topic but I don't wish to get into the I.D debate again because I've done it so many times now I almost fall asleep if it is mentioned
Bring your argument here or don't bother posting.

Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif. Je suis Parisien.
Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 135 by mike the wiz, posted 07-21-2016 5:51 PM mike the wiz has not replied

  
Tangle
Member
Posts: 9489
From: UK
Joined: 10-07-2011
Member Rating: 4.9


Message 154 of 263 (787886)
07-23-2016 4:11 AM
Reply to: Message 150 by Phat
07-22-2016 6:57 PM


Re: Human Centric Mythos
Phat writes:
why is evidence held in higher regard than faith?
Faith tells us absolutely nothing about what is correct. Who is right the Hindu or the Christian?
Always this need from believers to make faith eqivalent to knowledge......
Evidence points to the best answers and increases our knowledge.
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."

Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif. Je suis Parisien.
Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 150 by Phat, posted 07-22-2016 6:57 PM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 155 by Phat, posted 07-23-2016 10:18 AM Tangle has replied

  
Tangle
Member
Posts: 9489
From: UK
Joined: 10-07-2011
Member Rating: 4.9


Message 157 of 263 (787901)
07-23-2016 11:58 AM
Reply to: Message 155 by Phat
07-23-2016 10:18 AM


Re: Human Centric Mythos
Phat writes:
From a human perspective, this makes sense.
Fixed.
Seeing how this is a science forum, I will defer to you and Theodoric regarding evidence...although I still ascribe to the philosophy that nothing happens "by chance."
Coin toss, dice roll......?

Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif. Je suis Parisien.
Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 155 by Phat, posted 07-23-2016 10:18 AM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 158 by Phat, posted 07-26-2016 6:49 PM Tangle has replied

  
Tangle
Member
Posts: 9489
From: UK
Joined: 10-07-2011
Member Rating: 4.9


Message 159 of 263 (788198)
07-27-2016 1:13 AM
Reply to: Message 158 by Phat
07-26-2016 6:49 PM


Re: Human Centric Mythos
quote:
Is it possible to calculate a fixed probability for either of those?
  —Phat
Coin toss p=.5
Dice roll p=.1666666666667
If you think differently you're about to lose a lot of money.
quote:
Did someone toss the coin and/or throw the dice or did they simply toss themselves?
Sometimes you worry me Phat. What on earth do you mean? Have you been smoking that funny stuff again?

Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif. Je suis Parisien.
Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 158 by Phat, posted 07-26-2016 6:49 PM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 160 by Phat, posted 07-31-2016 7:48 AM Tangle has replied

  
Tangle
Member
Posts: 9489
From: UK
Joined: 10-07-2011
Member Rating: 4.9


Message 164 of 263 (788427)
07-31-2016 1:46 PM
Reply to: Message 160 by Phat
07-31-2016 7:48 AM


Re: Human Centric Mythos
Phat writes:
My point is that you cant calculate probability on cosmic events.
You can calculate probability on anything with enough information. But in any case, none of this seems relevant to anything....?

Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif. Je suis Parisien.
Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 160 by Phat, posted 07-31-2016 7:48 AM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 165 by Phat, posted 08-01-2016 12:47 AM Tangle has replied

  
Tangle
Member
Posts: 9489
From: UK
Joined: 10-07-2011
Member Rating: 4.9


Message 166 of 263 (788471)
08-01-2016 3:18 AM
Reply to: Message 165 by Phat
08-01-2016 12:47 AM


Re: Necessary Certainty
Phat writes:
My point is that I believe that the universe cannot be said to have occurred by chance. The universe was in fact created by necessary certainty. That it is means that we are. I struggle for the words I want to say. It may well be that one could assert that a Designer/Creator is unnecessary, but I would say that if the universe exists by necessity and if we exist and can intellectualize this stuff, than Certainty is involved rather than chance.
No Phat, what you are saying with all these mental gymnastics is that you don't understand how all this can have come about. You're tying yourself in knots with barely understood ideas.
Well nobody understands and it can't be resolved just by thinking and talking bollox - people far cleverer than you and me have failed to get anywhere with these sorts of arguments for thousands of years. The only progress we've made towards answers have come from mathematics and physics and those are beyond our comprehension.
I suggest you stick to your simple beliefs which are designed to get us over these difficult problems of incomprehension and not bother with trying to reconcile it with actual knowledge because it's pointless. It has never got anywhere and it never will - it'll just mess up your head.
The alternative, of course is to let go and realise that what you believe does not correlate to reality and get on with life for what it actually is without the waste of energy and time that is belief; quite short, but also quite interesting.

Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif. Je suis Parisien.
Life, don't talk to me about life - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 165 by Phat, posted 08-01-2016 12:47 AM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 169 by Phat, posted 03-04-2019 11:08 AM Tangle has replied

  
Tangle
Member
Posts: 9489
From: UK
Joined: 10-07-2011
Member Rating: 4.9


Message 175 of 263 (849298)
03-04-2019 11:55 AM
Reply to: Message 169 by Phat
03-04-2019 11:08 AM


Re: Necessary Certainty
Phat writes:
My point is that I see it as a spiritual war of ideas. Perhaps I am overthinking it in regards to science and physics...but look what this author suggests. He is basically describing chaos as a belief.
Well that was a huge pile of words with no obvious meaning.
I don't see any spiritual war; what I see is science trundling along creating knowledge and religious people getting upset when something is discovered that contradicts a personal belief. This war of yours is one sided - like Don Quixote tilting at the windmill - the windmill is oblivious.
Phat writes:
My point is that I believe that the universe cannot be said to have occurred by chance. The universe was in fact created by necessary certainty. That it is means that we are. I struggle for the words I want to say. It may well be that one could assert that a Designer/Creator is unnecessary, but I would say that if the universe exists by necessity and if we exist and can intellectualize this stuff, than Certainty is involved rather than chance.
Well you may be right, some scientists think that the universe had to occur because the conditions for it exist. But it's a probabilty calculation and no-one knows yet.
All you're doing Phat, is telling us what you want to believe. It's not based on anything.

Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif. Je suis Parisien. I am Mancunian. I am Brum. I am London.I am Finland. Soy Barcelona
"Life, don't talk to me about life" - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 169 by Phat, posted 03-04-2019 11:08 AM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 176 by Phat, posted 03-04-2019 11:58 AM Tangle has replied

  
Tangle
Member
Posts: 9489
From: UK
Joined: 10-07-2011
Member Rating: 4.9


Message 177 of 263 (849301)
03-04-2019 12:01 PM
Reply to: Message 176 by Phat
03-04-2019 11:58 AM


Re: Necessary Certainty
Phat writes:
Sometimes philosophy cannot be explained through objective proof or maths. Does that make such ponderings useless?
As knowledge, yes. But it seems to make some people feel better about their lot to create these philosophical fantasies for themselves.

Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif. Je suis Parisien. I am Mancunian. I am Brum. I am London.I am Finland. Soy Barcelona
"Life, don't talk to me about life" - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 176 by Phat, posted 03-04-2019 11:58 AM Phat has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 178 by Phat, posted 03-04-2019 12:03 PM Tangle has replied

  
Tangle
Member
Posts: 9489
From: UK
Joined: 10-07-2011
Member Rating: 4.9


Message 185 of 263 (849310)
03-04-2019 1:46 PM
Reply to: Message 178 by Phat
03-04-2019 12:03 PM


Re: Necessary Certainty
Phat writes:
I need certainty and not probability.
For as long as all you have is belief, there is no certainty.
If you want certainty, I can tell you for certain that you have a short time alive and that it's a good idea to be happy while you're here if you can.
The happy afterlife is a very, very, very low probability. A very poor bet Phat.

Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif. Je suis Parisien. I am Mancunian. I am Brum. I am London.I am Finland. Soy Barcelona
"Life, don't talk to me about life" - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 178 by Phat, posted 03-04-2019 12:03 PM Phat has seen this message but not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 186 by FLRW, posted 04-16-2019 6:29 PM Tangle has not replied

  
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