How Intelligent Design Hurts Conservatives (By making us look like crackpots)

The New Republic ^ | 8/16/05 | Ross Douthat

[bigdakine]

Scripter writes "Are you saying you agree with the poster that said "evolutionism makes positive statements about unobserved, unrecorded history?"

Nope. Cause our genes and the fossil record the history of our evolution, in the same way that the Earth's rock record records the history of our planet and the light from distant galaxies records the history of our Universe..


All that is well and good. However, I recognized what the intent of the original poster's statement was. It was predicated on the false logic, that if nobody observed an event, then we can't draw firm conclusions about it.

Its laughable as well, that you fell for it, thinking it was a good point. WHich is why I asked you, "Should felons convicted solely on the basis of forensic evidence be realeased from prison?"

If you agree with the faulty logic that firm conclusions can't be obtained regarding events in the past unless they occurred under direct human observation, then in order to be logically consistent, you must also agree that convictions solely based on forensic evidence are intrinsically suspect and should be voided.

I trust you now understand why the original statement is foolish. It is foolish because direct human observation isn't necessary and there is a record of the change in life through geologic time, both in rocks and in our genes.



I guess thats why you didn't answer my question.

[scripter]

The original poster made a great point that I happen to agree with from my own studies, and if you want to know some of what that entails, check here.

there is a record of the change in life through geologic time, both in rocks and in our genes.

I hope you don't mind if I disagree.

[mdmathis6]

Makes us look like crack-pots to whom...other Liberals?
They already see conservatives as crack-pots....it doesn't matter if a conservative has an evolutionary scientific world view....liberals will see them as crackpots any way!

[mdmathis6]

Makes us look like crack-pots to whom...other Liberals?
They already see conservatives as crack-pots....it doesn't matter if a conservative has an evolutionary scientific world view....liberals will see them as crackpots any way!

[bigdakine]

there is a record of the change in life through geologic time, both in rocks and in our genes.

scripter writes "I hope you don't mind if I disagree."


You can disagree all you want. You're still wrong on both counts.

[scripter]

I appreciate you sharing your opinion.

[bigdakine]

Scripter writes: "I appreciate you sharing your opinion."

While we're sharing:
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/vertpaleo/fhc/firstCM.htm
http://campus.northpark.edu/physics//bts3910/schimmrich/horses.html
http://www.cruzio.com/~cscp/index.htm

[scripter]

Only your first link works... Since the evolution of the horse was the premier of evolution at one point, I actually did some extensive study on horse evolution.

Some of the links I used are below - I've tried to clean up the links but I'm sure some of the links are no longer working.

http://www.uky.edu/Ag/Horsemap
http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/horses/
http://www.science-frontiers.com/sf033/sf033p14.htm
http://www.equinestudies.org/historical.htm
http://www.horseracingdirectories.com/horse_evolution_4_.html
http://www.freethought-web.org/ctrl/gould_fact-and-theory.html
http://home.primus.com.au/bonno/evolution10.htm
http://www.mirthe.org/interests/evolution.php
http://www.aqd.nps.gov/grd/geology/paleo/paleo_4_1
http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/articles/6733_creation_or_evolution_12_7_2000.asp
http://www.ebonmusings.org/evolution/evoevidence.html
http://www.hku.hk/philodep/courses/max/Phil2130/l12-14.html
http://www.ecotao.com/holism/bp.htm

The study left me with more questions. If the evolution of the horse was the premier of evolution at one point, then the TOE was in much worse shape than I first realized.

[bigdakine]

scripter writes "The study left me with more questions. If the evolution of the horse was the premier of evolution at one point, then the TOE was in much worse shape than I first realized."

LOL. Horse evolution is of many premier examples.

One can only wonder what you mean by "was".

Of course its rather odd that you don't state what the difficulty is.

[scripter]

Of course its rather odd that you don't state what the difficulty is.

For some reason you think I'm interested in engaging you in a long discussion on the subject when I'm not even remotely interested. Nothing has changed and as I see it, the evidence for horse evolution is still non-existent so why waste all that time for a second round... Thanks, but no. That's all my time you'll get for now.

[bigdakine]

Scripter wrties:
"For some reason you think I'm interested in engaging you in a long discussion on the subject when I'm not even remotely interested. Nothing has changed and as I see it, the evidence for horse evolution is still non-existent so why waste all that time for a second round... Thanks, but no. That's all my time you'll get for now."

SO much for "teach the controversy"...

THis is the typical response of the IDers and their creationist travelers.

[scripter]

SO much for "teach the controversy"...

I have no idea what you're talking about. But it's incredible that you think you can monopolize my time at a whim.

[curiosity]

Makes us look like crack-pots to whom...other Liberals?

No, moderates who care about science.