[bvw]

I think that is an interesting assertion: "It is specious to argue that the universe formed the idea of Man first, then asked itself 'What kind of environment do I need to create to sustain this particular form of life?'"

What do you mean by "it is specious"? And whyso?

* * * *

For we all know that ideas do drive invention in the real world.

[peyton randolph]

What do you mean by "it is specious"? And whyso?

Morton's demon doesn't rest even on the weekend.

"Morton's demon doesn't expend any energy--he gets his victim to expend it for him. He can get his victim to expend massive amounts of intellectual energy figuring out how to convince the world that they are wrong...Those who try to help the poor victims escape the ravages of Morton's demon wear themselves out typing e-mails explaining data and facts which never get through the demon's gate. After years of weariness, the philanthropic individual dies of fatigue."

[IronJack]

What do you mean by "it is specious"? And whyso?

Because it argues that the beneficiary is the cause, not the effect. To use BibChr's example, it is like finding a watch, then asking how the sun and the moon and the stars were all made to reflect the inner workings of the watch. It's inverted cause and effect.