RE: Detecting design or intent in nature
January 25, 2015 at 6:05 am
(This post was last modified: January 25, 2015 at 6:24 am by Heywood.)
(January 25, 2015 at 5:10 am)downbeatplumb Wrote: As a side note to this rather irritating conversation I shall add a side bar.
Complex things can come about as a result of non-intelligence just by doing what materials do.
If you put nails at random in a board and put the board nail down in washing up liquid when you take the board out of the liquid surface tension will put connections between the nails that uses the smallest possible lines between the nails.
If you wanted to work out the same problem yourself it would take ages and complex maths, but the liquid does it just because of surface tension.
I've seen this done on science programmes but can I find the buggers now.
What you are talking about is emergent complex phenomena. However keep in mind that some emergent complex phenomena requires intellect or it will not emerge. The flocking of birds or the schooling of fish is an emergent complex phenomena that you don't see except when things with brains are involved. Have you ever seen dust particles flock they way birds or fish do?
Could evolution be one of those emergent complex phenomena that require intellect? That is a valid question and the only way to answer it scientifically is to observe evolutionary systems coming into existence and noting whether or not intellects were always required. If such an an endeavor leads to a conclusion that completely contradicts someones world view.....you should expect some pushback regardless of how valid your approach is. People don't like their faith shaken.
