dianahsieh Posted May 30, 2007 Report Share Posted May 30, 2007 By Paul from NoodleFood,cross-posted by MetaBlog [From the Science Notes blog.] Customer: Hello. I wish to complain about this so-called 'scientific theory' what I purchased not half an hour ago from this very establishment. Salesman: Oh yes, 'Intelligent Design'. What, uh... what's wrong with it? Customer: I'll tell you what's wrong with it, my lad. Its vacuous, that's what's wrong with it! Salesman: No, no, uh... what we need now is to 'teach the controversy'... Customer: Look matey, I know an empty 'argument from incredulity' when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now. Salesman: No, no, it's not empty: it's just being elaborated. Remarkable theory, 'Intelligent Design', innit, eh? I mean, just look at all these books and articles: millions and millions of words...! Customer: The verbiage don't enter into it, my lad. It's stone dead. It's a non-starter. Empirically untestable, it belongs in metaphysics. This 'theory' makes no predictions; has no contribution to make beyond extended polemics; and can't even be honest about who it thinks the 'Designer' was. Bereft of all logical and epistemological credibility, it has no scientific status! If certain right-wing and fundamentalist pressure-groups hadn't hit upon it as a way of opposing decades of uncomfortable scientific and social progress, it'd be pushing up daisies! It's off the table. It's kicked the waste-paper bucket. THIS IS A NON-THEORY! Salesman: Well, I'd better replace it then. [takes a quick peek around] Sorry, squire: looks like that's all we've got... Customer: I see, I see. I get the picture. Salesman: I've got a piece of coal that looks quite a bit like a human tibia, if you squint at it... Customer: Pray, is it part of a theory that unifies the paleontological and biological sciences and leads to a powerful understanding of observed homologies and the nested hierarchy of life? Salesman: Not really. Customer: WELL IT'S HARDLY A BLOODY REPLACEMENT FOR DARWINISM THEN, IS IT? http://ObjectivismOnline.com/archives/002574.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.