South Africa’s biggest forum. Discuss, discover, and connect with thousands of members.
So there's no such thing as quote-mining, except that there is, but it's not called quote-mining because... Wait, what?As I said before there's no such thing as "quote-mining." The spell-checker comment was obviously meant in jest. Can't believe you took it seriously.But the correct fallacy is "quoting out of context" when that is the case. Quote-mining is an evolutionist invention for when someone's words are used against their argument. Even Conservapedia gets this one right.
![]()
I don't simply see life now. I see nested hierarchies, evidence in genetics, the brazillions of fossils cataloguing life's gradual development in response to its environment, the geographical distribution of related organisms, and a host of other bits of information which leaves me in no doubt of evolution's truth.Exactly what I said, a mechanism is needed. Contrary to what you and Isaac think just adding energy doesn't result in complexity. Mindlessly adding energy to a system just speeds up naturally processes. The most common process is decay that reduces complexity. You simply see life NOW and assume energydidit™. That's not a mechanism, it's a cop-out.
Well, your individual interpretation of the concept doesn't make for an at all convincing argument. Best we stop harping on about it then...Techne's link didn't tell me much. I am simply giving my interpretation as requested. There seems to be no standard definition of complexity so we require the individual use of logic and reasoning.
It's not solved for a reason. Every experiment so far has shown how unlikely if not impossible it is to happen. Here's an experiment for you. If you are ever if a room full of scientists (random selected and not some atheist convention) ask how many don't believe in evolution. Then ask how many believe life was Divinely created instead of just springing up by accident.
They are two different questions - how is recognising this simple truth a cop-out?Everyone keeps claiming that evolution has nothing to do with the emergence of life but then conveniently NEVER defines what the first life is supposed to be. You can then claim evolution is true even if everything was separately created and allowed to evolved. That's a cop-out.
No, what he does is propose in the very bit you omitted that life does not operate within these boundaries. And yes, strictly speaking he is misapplying it by essentially conflating the concepts of disorder and entropy. Entropy again applies in its strictest sense to thermodynamics and is not simply transferable to discussions on interpretations of complexity.Then Isaac Asimov and many others are misapplying it as well. I don't think they are and Isaac gives us examples of complexity just after defining the second law.
Whilst you might view your deductions as stemming from 'clear and obvious' logic, the simple truth is that you have not a single shred of evidence in support of your position. This leaves you at a bit of an impasse, as the only reasonable conclusion is that your 'clear and obvious' logic is faulty.Yes it's been pretty much established evolutionists don't want their own words and ideas used against them. Even had an evilutionist tell me I'm evil for doing it. Apparently he never watched an episode of Law & Order to realise this is how the real world works. I didn't ignore the rest, I said it was bogus and used clear and obvious logic to show it. Your ad hominems against me aren't working.
Ima just ignore your peculiar analogy and respond thusly: we have no grounds on which to claim it extraordinary. We've barely scratched the surface of our own little blue dot; for all we know the universe might be positively teeming with life. Unless we can positively identify it as extraordinary we can only go where the evidence points, and you know where that is...Pietie built a watermill. When asked by Koos how it's going to work without a stream Pietie told him not to worry because he's using a tank and as the wheel turns it's also pumping water back up into the tank. When Koos tells him these things don't work Pietie tells him "Aye but mine is an exception."
If Isaac's claim is true it's an extraordinary one. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof.
Descent with modification. There's your mechanism. Besides - and again - the second law deals with heat flow in a closed system; an increase in local complexity is not a decrease in entropy. It won't ever equate, no matter how many times you assert that it should.Was talking mainly about the surface... but in any case where are the terminators then? See above, the point of diversification is never defined but assuming that it requires some level of simplicity leading to complexity, Isaac states "Life on earth has steadily grown more complex." That's the problem you keep missing. Complexity doesn't just increase it requires a mechanism. Even then complexity decreases. Things deteriorate. They stop working. They fall apart. Death and extinction happen - deal with THAT!
As above.So you believe in an intelligent influence then? Because that's the only influence that increases overall order.
...whilst you're seeing only high levels of 'complexity' and displaying utter incredulity at the proposition that this state can be reached gradually and mindlessly. Here's the problem you have to overcome: EVERYTHING that has ever been comprehensively explained has been shown to be the result of mindless forces acting on inanimate objects. Every time, without exception. You are the one proposing exceptions here...They're more complex than their initial states because of natural laws. You're seeing rudimentary complexity and jumping straight to the level of complexity in something like a computer. This jumping inclination seems like a pattern in evolutionist thinking. That level of complexity doesn't happen from the mindless addition of energy. Maybe somebody will know who I'm talking about here as I can't remember but the idea is that any machine with a complex interworking of parts has such a higher chance of one of them failing in a critical way that it shouldn't even be working so it's inevitable that everything breaks down. The more complex and less redundant it is the quicker it breaks down. Life is the most complex machine in existence.
The increased complexity becomes apparent when considering the mud's state before and after drying, not comparing one patch to another.https://www.google.co.za/search?q=c...MGoaYhQfik62LCA&ved=0CE8QsAQ&biw=1276&bih=913
See a pattern there? Exactly. There is no complexity because any pattern will substitute.
...in a closed system, when talking about heat flow. Are we done with this yet?As for your snowflake example, it's the natural inclination of everything to take on the lowest energy state possible.
I think you'll find it's a little more complicated than that...The arrangement causing the pattern is exactly as a result of that. The saying no two snowflakes are alike is because there isn't a lot of order involved.
Your premise is that if complex things fall apart no biological system should be able to duplicate itself. That is simply bogus. We can design a machine or computer virus that does exactly that. Without continual maintenance however the process will gradually break down and come to a halt at some point but it does not happen immediately like you seem to think it should. It also requires an intelligent cause to initiate so the invariable consequence this has does nothing to my position here but it does a lot to yours.
You are making the same mistake that Mark Isaak makes here when he says "Creationists thus misinterpret the 2nd law to say that things invariably progress from order to disorder." Isaac Asimov then does exactly that and describes it as such.
The confusion here is not mine. For some reason Asimov is right on this one because many others view it like this as well AND we can plainly see it in action.
You lot are the ones confused here by thinking the 2nd law is being applied to "information theory" when it's actually the principle of the 2nd law that applies.
And I told you before contextomy didn't take place. I am not required to state a person's every position on every matter nor would this be a reasonable expectation.
Goals can be subjective, ends happen whether you deny the facts or not.
It IS science, or do you want to deny photosynthesis? LOL
It's an open system for energy, not for complexity. Asimov isn't being misrepresented, he's just plainly wrong. Complexity doesn't transfer from one part of the universe to another. Energy is transfered. Energy needs a mechanism to create complexity.
If intelligent design is "so flawed" why do you trust science to get it right on evolution?
Just because we reject pseudoscience doesn't mean we have to reject science. People that know me know I'm very passionate about real science. Evolution ain't it, m'kay.
LOL sounds like rza level lunacy.He has responded. And to summarise:
There is no such thing as quote-mining. People who believe in evolution created that word. No such thing.
Terminators documentary.
Law and Order documentary.
Isaac Asimov was wrong because...just because.
Evolution still doesn't address abiogenesis. Apparently the two are linked somehow.
Redefining words.
Pietie, Koos and a water...er...mill...
He was talking about the surface of the earth being a closed system. Wait...hang on. Ah screw it. Yip, just the surface. Or something like that.
Erected a few strawmen with the intelligent influence thing.
Complexity is not complexity unless you redefine it and agree with swa. Otherwise you're just stupid, apparently.
Then on the one hand we have intelligent design and then on the other we don't. But both confirm his position. Apparently.
And then so much baloney and contradiction about embryos.
So, porchrat - that is how. And he was using logic and reason. Naturally...
LOL sounds like rza level lunacy.
Could someone quote the section in which Swa actually addresses the embryo - human thing directly. I really can't wait to see how that is allowed for by his twisted logic but evolution isn't. Should be good for some laughs.![]()
HapticSimian said:And that has what to do with the fact that your misapplication of principles of thermodynamics would make the development of an embryo from a fertilised egg impossible? It's not my embryo example; it's the invariable consequence of what you're suggesting.
Swa said:Your premise is that if complex things fall apart no biological system should be able to duplicate itself. That is simply bogus. We can design a machine or computer virus that does exactly that. Without continual maintenance however the process will gradually break down and come to a halt at some point but it does not happen immediately like you seem to think it should. It also requires an intelligent cause to initiate so the invariable consequence this has does nothing to my position here but it does a lot to yours.
porchrat said:I can't wait to see how Swa explains how an embryo develops into a fully developed human being without violating his exceptionally twisted understanding of the 2nd law of thermodynamics. Talk about an increase in complexity!
I still can't get over it. This is something on an intellectual level that I would expect from rza.
Swa said:You hanging on to this canard as well? As already said no explanations are needed for your misconceptions. And increase in complexity? LMFAO
Btw. is it a flawless process?
Oh I see his argument comes from ignorance of biochemical processes involved. I can't say I am surprised.This...
and...
...this.
Valid is a subjective concept. A few hundred years ago it was valid that if you sailed far enough you'll fall off the side of the earth. The only thing that's true is the truth but nobody knows what that is.Okay, I understand the importance of putting scientific discoveries under scrutiny however I'm pretty sure there have been many many long nights spent trying to do just this with evolution. Guess what? It's still valid and with more and more discoveries being made every day the evidence just gets even stronger.
What I can suggest is why don't you lay out your alternate hypotheses to these flaws in evolutionary theory. Maybe this would be a better way of going about it.
Where the fossil record and genetics and ERVs all show different hierarchies. The "brazilions" of fossils catalog a history of sudden appearances and extinctions of species and not evolution leading to diversification. The major phyla appear already fully formed. The ancestry of fish, birds, insects, reptiles and mammals and all major taxonomic groups is undocumented in much the same manner. Geographic distribution? Genetics show the cow is more related to the dolphin than the horse. If you have no doubt of evolution's "truth" the blinders are fitting really tight.I don't simply see life now. I see nested hierarchies, evidence in genetics, the brazillions of fossils cataloguing life's gradual development in response to its environment, the geographical distribution of related organisms, and a host of other bits of information which leaves me in no doubt of evolution's truth.
It has? Project Steve shows what?Been done, to varying degrees of seriousness. Project Steve springs to mind...
Here's the thing: that it has not been experimentally verified shouldn't come as a surprise. We don't yet know the exact conditions prevalent on the young(ish) Earth and, assuming that the emergence of life is a rare event, we might never get there. This limitation does however not change one bit the direction that all the evidence we do have points to.
And it's never defined where evolution is supposed to start. How is that NOT a cop-out?They are two different questions - how is recognising this simple truth a cop-out?
He's not misapplying it. You are under the impression that because it was invented to apply to thermodynamics that the principle can't apply to complexity. It's widely regarded that it does because it's held universally true. You just dismiss it because it conflicts with your preconceived beliefs. Where he's conflating it is by claiming adding massive amounts of blind energy to a system can increase order and complexity. It doesn't by itself so it's an unproven claim that life doesn't operate within those boundaries.No, what he does is propose in the very bit you omitted that life does not operate within these boundaries. And yes, strictly speaking he is misapplying it by essentially conflating the concepts of disorder and entropy. Entropy again applies in its strictest sense to thermodynamics and is not simply transferable to discussions on interpretations of complexity.
Not a shred of evidence? Well holy smoke neither have you. It's all suppositions and convoluted logic to twist evidence that can fit a variety of scenarios and then claiming it supports only your position. The reasonable conclusion here exists only in your fantasies.Whilst you might view your deductions as stemming from 'clear and obvious' logic, the simple truth is that you have not a single shred of evidence in support of your position. This leaves you at a bit of an impasse, as the only reasonable conclusion is that your 'clear and obvious' logic is faulty.
There are plenty of grounds to claim it's extraordinary. Things universally decay, they deteriorate, they fall apart. Even with machines we make. Complexity doesn't just increase locally without a mechanism. Natural causes are not sufficient for highly ordered systems. The universe might... it might have a 3rd charge particle, it might have protons orbiting electrons, it might have atoms traveling faster than light. It might have a lot of things that contradict existing laws of physics but until we know we don't accept that there are exceptions. That is where the evidence points. The only thing pointing towards it being an exception is your belief.Ima just ignore your peculiar analogy and respond thusly: we have no grounds on which to claim it extraordinary. We've barely scratched the surface of our own little blue dot; for all we know the universe might be positively teeming with life. Unless we can positively identify it as extraordinary we can only go where the evidence points, and you know where that is...
Active force or a passive description. Random processes do not result in complexity. For an increase in complexity there has to be an active force guiding it in a direction. In this case it must actively cause the correct mutations as random events only decrease complexity.Descent with modification. There's your mechanism. Besides - and again - the second law deals with heat flow in a closed system; an increase in local complexity is not a decrease in entropy. It won't ever equate, no matter how many times you assert that it should.
Here's the problem for you to overcome: everything that has ever been comprehensively explained does not exhibit high levels of complexity. The certain exceptions are only explained as man made structures. For life to be the result of mindless forces it has to be proposed as an exception....whilst you're seeing only high levels of 'complexity' and displaying utter incredulity at the proposition that this state can be reached gradually and mindlessly. Here's the problem you have to overcome: EVERYTHING that has ever been comprehensively explained has been shown to be the result of mindless forces acting on inanimate objects. Every time, without exception. You are the one proposing exceptions here...
Rudimentary complexity. It's apparent there's no intricacy involved when comparing one patch to another.The increased complexity becomes apparent when considering the mud's state before and after drying, not comparing one patch to another.
That's utterly ridiculous. They are in fact not closed systems but require a power source. They clearly show your idea that living creatures wouldn't be able to reproduce themselves if complexity is decreasing as false.Again, your analogies of computer viruses and machines fail because they represent closed systems.
Dude, seriously... without wanting to sound patronising you are spewing utter, utter rubbish. Rubbish that either isn't applicable (but sounds like it should be to you) or rubbish that has been refuted years if not decades ago. If you are as open-minded as you purport to be, here's a challenge for you: Set aside your preconceived notions for a bit, go here, and start at the top. Check up what's said to your heart's content, but do so with honesty and integrity. Follow the citations. Read the papers. Just... take on a bit of information not tainted by fundagelical nonsense. You might just come out a little less incredulous on the other side.
I don't know why this continually has to be pointed out. Simply adding energy isn't a sufficient condition. If you truly believe it is then put a broken computer in the sun, it should repair itself by your account.Asimov also, inconclusion to the complete quote, pointed out that the earth is NOT a closed system and that we have this thing called a star.
Because once you go above kindergarten explanations you realise energy does not create complexity and his conjecture that complexity can increase somewhere as long as it decrease somewhere else is proven false.He also pointed out (in response to being misquoted) that kindergarden explanations are best suited for kindergarden.
See aboveThe second law applies to usable energy in a closed system. Complexity (a relative measure, especially in your usage) does not apply as the earth is not a closed system.
This has been pointed out numerous times that it's not necessary to state all a person's views. The point is that the principle of entropy applies to complexity so his bogus explanation of how it doesn't apply to life is irrelevant. Your ad hominems have been duly noted and also your personal attacks and insults. Fan of ghoti much?Your argument is one from authority, you are using Asimov as said authority. It is a reasonable expectation that Asimov's view's approximate yours, or failing that, that the quotation is complete enough to unquivocably establish his view (and context of his statement).
Failing to do so misrepresents Dr. Asimov. It is false witness. It is lying.
You are a liar.
Photosynthesis is a mechanism of energy conversion. As explained to Haptic here the basis of evolution doesn't even exist so to claim it as a consequence is just another presupposition.Photosynthesis is a consequence of evolution.
a) Yet it doesn't stop it from being recognised.a) Complexity is a relative evaluation. (especially in your case)
b) Asimov was providing a kindergarden explanation for entropy.
c) Ilya Prigogine won the 1977 Nobel prize in chemistry for proving you wrong.
And you're an authority on what constitutes science? You sound almost like Ruse in the Scopes trial after which he was ridiculed by science philosophers.Intelligent design isn't science.
None of them support evolution exclusively.Theory of Evolution isn't supported by a single discipline, it's supported by a cross section of sciences.
Sure: http://articles.latimes.com/1997/aug/31/news/mn-27505Fossils, DNA, ERV lines contradict each other?
Amazing!
Wow this is news to me, please can you provide a source?
Your and Haptic's argument is one from ignorance. Cellular differentiation takes place from generic cells that already contains all the information needed to build a whole organism. That's why when your brain cells die it should be possible to replace them using stem cells. It's even possible this information is all contained in every other cell as techniques are being developed to turn them into stem cells. Proteins and glycoproteins are already present as DNA templates in the zygote and the forming gametes. Bodies arise because body plans are recursively passed on in every stage of the reproductive cycle. Anybody suggesting that this is just some cells that willy nilly decide to form the same complexity every time conception takes place is woefully ignorant of the processes involved. Complexity is already present, it's built in. Get it? Good.Oh I see his argument comes from ignorance of biochemical processes involved. I can't say I am surprised.
For shame Swa go do some research and stop simplifying what is an incredibly complex process with claims that it is merely "[duplicating] itself". Don't be fooled, at the biochemical level the development of a human being from a bunch of cells requires massive differentiation and specialisation from a bunch of pretty generic looking stem cells. Forget the physiological level, looking deeper the biochemical changes going on are incredible. This is not a case of simply "[duplicating] itself" and those who suggest it is are woefully ignorant of the processes involved. All sorts of energy barriers must be overcome to create proteins, glycoproteins etc. that were not present in the original embryo. If your interpretation of thermodynamics were valid this would simply not be possible.
Here's the problem for you to overcome: everything that has ever been comprehensively explained does not exhibit high levels of complexity. The certain exceptions are only explained as man made structures. For life to be the result of mindless forces it has to be proposed as an exception.
Of course they're closed systems. :wtf: They might require external power to function, but their routines are not open to outside influence. The fact that the hardware supporting the closed software systems would break down does not change this.That's utterly ridiculous. They are in fact not closed systems but require a power source. They clearly show your idea that living creatures wouldn't be able to reproduce themselves if complexity is decreasing as false.
I propose we change tack here, all in the quest of extricating you from your ignorance. Why don't you start with the wiki article on the Evidence of Common Descent - right at the top - and start formulating a hypothesis which better fits every single thing mentioned. Don't neglect to check each reference. I'll do the same with the article on Evidence for Creationism... hell, I'll take on the article on the Evidence against Evolution too. I think you'll agree that both are quite unbiased and complete in their current forms, and well worth a read.Here's a challenge for you. Set aside all your preconceived notions and examine which of those claims are true and which ones aren't. Don't just continue parroting them religiously but do your own research. I know creationists that were once evolutionists that did exactly that and saw how fundamentalist some of those "refutations" are.
And you're an authority on what constitutes science? You sound almost like Ruse in the Scopes trial after which he was ridiculed by science philosophers.Intelligent design isn't science.
A new level of crazy has just emerge. EVERYTHING is open to outside influence. Only the universe is assumingly a truly closed system. Next we'll hear that metal doesn't rust.Of course they're closed systems. :wtf: They might require external power to function, but their routines are not open to outside influence. The fact that the hardware supporting the closed software systems would break down does not change this.
Are you suggesting that merely fitting is enough to confirm evolution? Strikingly enough it all fits within the context of creation as well. That's the point you keep overlooking. It's not conclusive but circumstantial. Start with the article on circumstantial evidence. The mistake you make is in jumping straight to the evidence confirming the conclusion. In some cases this would be correct if there was no other plausible explanation. Example is a crime scene where the defendant's fingerprints are found. That would place them at the scene of crime but if it can be explained that there's a good reason for fingerprints to be there, e.g. they visited there regularly in the past, then the fingerprints are useless as evidence.I propose we change tack here, all in the quest of extricating you from your ignorance. Why don't you start with the wiki article on the Evidence of Common Descent - right at the top - and start formulating a hypothesis which better fits every single thing mentioned. Don't neglect to check each reference. I'll do the same with the article on Evidence for Creationism... hell, I'll take on the article on the Evidence against Evolution too. I think you'll agree that both are quite unbiased and complete in their current forms, and well worth a read.
Please explain then what evidence you want. I just gave you 3 sources for evidence.No Swa, you must have "misinterpreted" what I was asking for.
Please provide a source where Evidence contradicts Evidence in terms of ERV, Fossils & DNA.
So you will only consider some contradictions as valid? ERVs showing chimps more closely related to bonobos and gorillas than to humans IS in contradiction to genetics showing chimps more closely related to humans. It's your attempts at selectively accepting contradictions here that are in vein.What you will not find is a modern day horse fossil that dates 65 Million years, THAT would be a contradiction. You won't find that DNA sequencing proves that we are closer to chickens than Chimpanzees, THAT would be a contradiction.
You won't find a fossil of a poodle in the cambrian explosion period, THAT would be a contradiction.
Your attempts at coming across as someone that is educated are in vein if I had to spell this out for you.
And you ARE seeking the truth? LMFAO trollDon't know why I'm arguing with this guy, I know he's not seeking truth. He's trolling, be it ignorantly or arrogantly or possibly both, he's trolling.
Consensus does not determine truth.Wow...
Hmmm what constitutes as a science... hmmmm....
What if all the notable scientific organisations reject Intelligent Design? would it then still be a science?
I'm not the one confused here. There is nothing but logical fallacies that attempts to prove evolution.If you are confused about what is a science and profess that ID is a science, you really shouldn't be arguing about such things.
ID is not a science because, well unfortunately, science is based on evidence and there is literally nothing but logical fallacies that attempts to prove ID.
ID is theistic evolution in disguise. There's nothing in ID that prevents evolution, only evolution through natural blind processes. Evolution shouldn't in any case make claims of natural or unnatural causes so the incompatibility is between ID and atheistic Darwinism and not ID and evolution.ID is Creationism trying another angle at fighting the ToE, in the courts of course they came short because, courts also use evidence to give verdicts :,(
I'm not a proponent of the DI but as for the scientific community stating that there's no controversy:A quote from wiki (Intelligent design and science):
The relationship between Intelligent design and science has been a contentious one. Intelligent design is presented by its proponents as science and claims to offer an alternative to evolution. The Discovery Institute, a politically conservative think tank and the leading proponents of intelligent design, launched a campaign entitled "Teach the Controversy" which claims that a controversy exists within the scientific community over evolution. The scientific community, however, states that there is no controversy and rejects intelligent design as creationism due to ID proponents' lack of peer-reviewed research and the scientifically undefined quality of observable intelligence.
http://www.evolutionnews.org/2011/05/science_law_and_economics_come046871.htmlAfter watching their pro-LSEA scientific peers testify about scientific problems with evolution, one anti-LSEA LSU biologist still had the audacity to testify before the House Education Committee that "there is no controversy among professional biologists about fact of evolution". When one representative asked him, "Did you hear the testimony of the other professors we had here that were speaking before this committee?," he fumbled in response.
And there you go. There is no demarcation criteria for separating science from non-science that's accepted by the majority of science philosophers. The article then goes on to list such a demarcation criteria just like Ruse did in the Scopes trial after which he got tremendous flack from science philosophers.More from the same article:
Defining Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the world.[38][39][40][41] The boundaries between what is and what is not to be considered science, known as the demarcation problem, continues to be debated among philosophers of science and scientists in various fields.[42]