(March 9, 2014 at 10:57 pm)Heywood Wrote:(March 9, 2014 at 1:02 pm)rasetsu Wrote: You're missing the point. Since the choice of scale was arbitrary, where something falls on that scale is arbitrarily chosen as well. If I were to choose a scale based on the logarithm using base 80 instead of 10, then something else would show up as the item at the center.
I don't think this is correct. I think the midpoint would be the same regardless of which logarithmic scale was used and what would change is the total orders of magnitude. Admittedly I am not good with numbers and such so I could be wrong here.
(March 9, 2014 at 8:22 pm)Chas Wrote: Between zero and infinity, there is no center.
So, no, life doesn't fall in the middle of things except in the minds of those afraid of having to find their own place and purpose.
Please follow along Chas,
The scale we are talking about is bounded by what is theoretically observable.
(March 9, 2014 at 1:04 pm)Faith No More Wrote: My point was, though, is you're not explaining how this represents a "significant or special place."
Why should I see this as anything more than a mathematical curiosity?
There is only one midpoint on the scale among an infinite number of random points which makes the midpoint special or significant. Since life comes in a range of size, you cannot say it lies at the exact midpoint but the small range life comes in, does include the midpoint.
Why does the range of life include the midpoint? It calls for an explanation. I gave 2, a theistic one and a non theistic one.
And I don't agree with that premise. It is arbitrary.
Skepticism is not a position; it is an approach to claims.
Science is not a subject, but a method.
Science is not a subject, but a method.
