Posted on 12/02/2005 8:35:59 AM PST by ckilmer
Straw man, anyone?.
Do you know Seth? If you do, tell him thanks for the great article :-)
The difference is that we can find concrete evidence through SETI, but not through ID.
Morning ping. Even if this isn't worthy of cranking up the ping machine, this should be archived as a means of comparing good vs. bad/bogus science in the context of the ID debate.
"Well you see, Norm, it's like this... A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as
the slowest buffalo and when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones
at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a
whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by
the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain
can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Now, as we know, excessive
drinking of alcohol kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and
weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates
the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. And
that, Norm, is why you always feel smarter after a few beers."
Does anyone know what the radio frequencies from Earth would "look like" if someone was in another star system doing the same, SETI-like experiment?
"All your intelligent design are belong to me"
Sounds like this might be Cliff the Postman pretending to be an actual scientist. By the way SETI did have one important function. It has thoroughly debunked the concept of a big bang beginning by acknowledging that there are many blue shift situations whereas a big bang would require an expanding universe with only red shifts!
ID is just as valid as any conceptual theory and probably fits the current, factual information better than other more traditionally held theories. SETI is probably worried that their funding might be cut if they do not support the politically correct version of reporting.
SETI must be going reeeeeal slow these days. Shostak has a lot of time on his hands to weave strawmans to peddle.
That's before actually tackling questions of ID's validity. He's just a sloppy debater who skates by on an inflated impression of his reputation.
Well, its because the credibility of the evidence is not predicated on its complexity. If SETI were to announce that were not alone because it had detected a signal, it would be on the basis of artificiality.
//////////////////
this is a gob smaker. so the signature of intelligence is its artificiality.
?
What is truly amazing here is that this guy makes the case for ID!!
He claims that SETI is seeking narrow, organized signals, much in the same way we can discern if an object if fabricated by the unnatural appearance and shape.
Well, life is an organization of chemicals and elements that exist everywhere, but when assembled properly----life.
ID purports that such organization is evidence of design at work rather than random chance.
The radio signals sought by SETI are those organized and not those emanating from random chance.
Well, he is the senior astronomer at SETI, and his cv says his Ph.D is in astronomy from Caltech, so mabe we can give him the benefit of the doubt.
...a big bang would require an expanding universe with only red shifts!
Uhhh, no, it wouldn't require that.
Our of curiousity, what is the "concrete evidence" that points to extraterrestrial intelligence?
This, plus your claim to be An Actual Scientist, is making my B.S. meter twitch. Explain how the Big Bang cancels all proper motion, and renders orbital mechanics invalid.
That's because "intelligent design" has absolutely no scientific basis but SETI does...as the article explains quite well.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.