Comments on: The Turtle and the Fencepost: On Science, the Search for Truth, and the Teaching of ID in the Public Schools http://www.byron-harvey.com/2005/08/the-turtle-and-the-fencepost-on-science-the-search-for-truth-and-the-teaching-of-id-in-the-public-schools/ refusing to drink the kool-aid for anyone Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:00:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Byron http://www.byron-harvey.com/2005/08/the-turtle-and-the-fencepost-on-science-the-search-for-truth-and-the-teaching-of-id-in-the-public-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-2700 Byron Mon, 29 Aug 2005 13:08:26 +0000 http://www.byron-harvey.com/2005/08/26/the-turtle-and-the-fencepost-on-science-the-search-for-truth-and-the-teaching-of-id-in-the-public-schools/#comment-2700 JPE, Of course, you're right about that, and I thought that through before I posted; here's my answer: my point was not meant regarding the viability of a person putting the turtle there (in which case, of course, you're dead-on), but rather the idea that an explanation would be rejected a priori. The man rejected, a priori, the idea of "intelligent placing", whereas some scientists reject, a priori, any notion of an intelligent agent designing life. Perhaps it could be said, as you make the point, that the analogy doesn't hold perfectly if you include man as part of nature (and, of course, he IS!), but separating him out as an intelligent agent, as opposed to a random series of events, I think it still holds---and regardless of the "perfection" of the analogy, the point remains. JPE,

Of course, you’re right about that, and I thought that through before I posted; here’s my answer: my point was not meant regarding the viability of a person putting the turtle there (in which case, of course, you’re dead-on), but rather the idea that an explanation would be rejected a priori. The man rejected, a priori, the idea of “intelligent placing”, whereas some scientists reject, a priori, any notion of an intelligent agent designing life. Perhaps it could be said, as you make the point, that the analogy doesn’t hold perfectly if you include man as part of nature (and, of course, he IS!), but separating him out as an intelligent agent, as opposed to a random series of events, I think it still holds—and regardless of the “perfection” of the analogy, the point remains.

]]> By: matt b http://www.byron-harvey.com/2005/08/the-turtle-and-the-fencepost-on-science-the-search-for-truth-and-the-teaching-of-id-in-the-public-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-2669 matt b Sat, 27 Aug 2005 15:32:22 +0000 http://www.byron-harvey.com/2005/08/26/the-turtle-and-the-fencepost-on-science-the-search-for-truth-and-the-teaching-of-id-in-the-public-schools/#comment-2669 B - thnx for the note on the blog and the card. I'm not wired to the internet yet, though. I believe you also sent the card, so thanks as well. Trying to get organized at home and otherwise. It's still a ways uphill. keep in touch...I will want to connect when I can. B – thnx for the note on the blog and the card. I’m not wired to the internet yet, though. I believe you also sent the card, so thanks as well.

Trying to get organized at home and otherwise. It’s still a ways uphill.

keep in touch…I will want to connect when I can.

]]> By: jpe http://www.byron-harvey.com/2005/08/the-turtle-and-the-fencepost-on-science-the-search-for-truth-and-the-teaching-of-id-in-the-public-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-2648 jpe Fri, 26 Aug 2005 17:12:27 +0000 http://www.byron-harvey.com/2005/08/26/the-turtle-and-the-fencepost-on-science-the-search-for-truth-and-the-teaching-of-id-in-the-public-schools/#comment-2648 <i>“I must be scientific,”, he says, “and thus, I must produce a naturalistic answer to this dilemma. </i> People are part of nature. Hypotheses that account for people (see, eg: global warming) are naturalistic hypotheses. So, for example, I walk into my office, and see my coworker's coffee cup perched precariously on the refrigerator. Which is the better hypothesis: my coworker did it, or God did it? If you opt for the latter, there are probably some doctors that can help you with that. “I must be scientific,”, he says, “and thus, I must produce a naturalistic answer to this dilemma.

People are part of nature. Hypotheses that account for people (see, eg: global warming) are naturalistic hypotheses.

So, for example, I walk into my office, and see my coworker’s coffee cup perched precariously on the refrigerator. Which is the better hypothesis: my coworker did it, or God did it? If you opt for the latter, there are probably some doctors that can help you with that.

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