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Author Topic:   Discovery or Ignorance: The Choice Is yours?
Straggler
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Posts: 10333
From: London England
Joined: 09-30-2006


Message 1 of 2 (473631)
07-01-2008 1:08 PM


SCIENCE AS OBSERVATION
The idea of science as observation and explanation alone is a commonly held misapprehension. One that IDists and creationists are especially prone to.
The basis of science is testing. Not observation per se. The testing of theories against the facts of nature. The formulation and testing of hypotheses is the key to the power of scientific investigation. Observation is a means to an end in this respect not an end in itself.
An untested explanation borne of observation is a hypothesis at best and subjectively derived, philosophically biased nonsense at worst.
THE TEST OF NATURE
Unless the conclusions we make about nature are tested against nature itself they are unscientific and, in any objective terms, not to be considered reliable. That is why verification by prediction is the gold standard of scientific investigation. We can make our theories fit known facts. We can work our philosophical bias and subjective interpretations around known evidence. We can easily fool ourselves into believing false explanations for known phenomenon.
But it is all but impossible to make specific new facts of nature fit our theories of nature. Predictions of new physical phenomenon made from theory and verified by observation are the most objective tests of theory possible.
Thus we achieve a level of objectivity by means of predicted results that is impossible through explanatory theories alone.
Predicted results also open up new areas of research and lead to future discoveries.
THE PROGRESS OF KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Currently established scientific theories have passed such tests. Currently established scientific theories have opened up new areas and new questions to investigate.
Creationist/IDist positions make no attempt to pass such tests. Creationist/IDist theories have led to no new research areas or discoveries.
Why is this?
By predicting new results and opening up new areas of investigation science is forever pushing the boundaries of knowledge forwards.
By claiming an immaterial designer of some sort as an explanation to every conceivable problem or area of ignorance IDism is a backwards looking barrier to progress.
ID AS A BARRIER TO PROGRESS
IDism asks no questions. IDism undertakes no investigation into new physical phenomenon.
Instead IDism claims to have all the conclusions in place. The methods of IDism, such as they are, seek only to verify that which is already believed to be known.
How can an endeavor that asks no questions and undertakes no investigation call itself science? How can such a philosophy hope to increase human knowledge?
What new phenomenon has the creationist or IDists method discovered recently? Or indeed ever? What new technologies have been developed as a result of such theories? None? Why is this?
Until IDists can predict new and as yet unknown physical phenomenon by means of the "God hypothesis" such conclusions will rightfully be considered unreliable, unscientific and ultimately pointless in terms of discovery and progress.
On what grounds can IDists/Creationists claim that their viewpoint is scientific when no new discoveries, new technologies or advancement in knowledge has ever been gained as a result of their explanations or research endeavors? Ever.
CONCLUSION
In short - Science is a philosophy and method of discovery whilst creationism (in all its various ID forms) is a philosophy of ignorance.
Note: Rather than getting into a battle of dictionary definitions regarding what science is and is not I would prefer that people address the arguments being made against ID/creationism as a dead end to progress, knowledge and discovery
Edited by Straggler, : No reason given.
Edited by Straggler, : No reason given.

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Message 2 of 2 (473709)
07-02-2008 6:43 AM


Thread copied to the Discovery or Ignorance: The Choice Is yours? thread in the Intelligent Design forum, this copy of the thread has been closed.

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