I did. But on this issue, I'd recommend "climbing mount improbable" by the same author. :-) Jostein
2007/6/14, Christian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > AlunFoto wrote: > > The "intelligent design" hypothesis has repeatedly tried to hold up > > examples of irreducible complexity as signatures of a sentient, and > > necessarily divine creator. > > > > One thing they repeatedly fail to take into consideration is that the > > precursors of the traits they look at may have evolved for other > > purposes than the present. The bacterium flagella held up by Michael > > Behe is afaik the latest example of just that. In many organisms, > > however, one finds the molecular components that make up the flagella > > applied for other purposes, and the combination of the components > > isn't as big a step up as Behe argues. > > > > Another thing they don't consider is that an organ can have an > > evolutionary advantage in simpler forms than the present. The > > mammalian eye used to be a favourite example; that if you took away > > any of the parts of the eye it wouldn't work, and ipso facto it must > > have been created, not evolved. Not so, because even the most > > primitive photoreceptors would give an advantage to those who posessed > > them over those who didn't. In addition, there is the fact that there > > are many different eye constructions out there, all quite advanced in > > today's organisms. The insect/arthropod eye with all its facets, the > > vertebrate eyes (quite different between fish and say, whales, but > > still sharing many anatomical features). Arguably, the most advanced > > eye belongs not to a vertrabrate, but to an octopus. For example, the > > octopus eye does not have a blind spot like all vertebrate eyes have. > > > > Ultimately, the concept of a designer also begs the question of who > > designed the designer. > > > > Jostein > > HA! You read "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins. I thoroughly > enjoyed that book (I received it as, of all things, a Christmas > present!). Dawkins is a kind of hero to me. > > -- > > Christian > http://photography.skofteland.net > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > -- http://www.alunfoto.no/galleri/ http://alunfoto.blogspot.com -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
