Excellent, excellent thread --- I am working, trying to keep up with the conversation.
With a dictionary in one hand (figuratively), and math and chemistry classes now dimming in my memory, I would ask the following:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trapper John
But I will take the POV that these building blocks arise universally from abiotic chemistry and that they are very common throughout the universe.
(Doc, the laws of nature are universal constants and do not vary.)
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Trapper John,
You know this is "universal" how ?
It seems to me that we (papal non)postulate daily, but remain in the infancy in the study of mathematics.
Chemistry provides us with a window to
our limited physical world -- might not "universal" chemistry alter our construct of the science ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trapper John
For instance intelligent life arising, IMO, is not a given - more likely an accident. In my view it is entirely possible that we are the most advanced life-form in the universe.
Taking this view, leads to a very, very humbling philosophy. And hence, why I said that, based upon the genetic engineering example I mentioned, that intelligent design is a fact. That intelligence is us! Think about it.
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I doubt that a "like-form" that evolved from a grass eating, bug infested, simian creature to the dominant animal on this planet in less than 300,000 years is a candidate for "most advanced life-form" in the universe. Having said that, the rapid evolution of the species might lend credence to some cosmic genetic engineering experiment.
Your "humbling philosophy" would have the solar system revolving around the earth
SnT