The difference of Man (Introduction)

by dhw, Tuesday, February 19, 2013, 19:45 (4296 days ago) @ David Turell

I am going to summarize this discussion, because arrows are flying in all directions.-It began with my questioning the point of the great-ape-taxonomy-debate. David, you think that classifying humans as primates degrades their specialness. I agree that our huge brains are special, but I see no reason why the classification "primate" should be regarded as degrading. -We agree that all species have their own specialness, but as only one species (us) has a giant brain, we are specially special, and that is why we are degraded by being classified as part of a particular order ("primates"). I still think it's a non-issue.-You believe that the huge human brain is evidence of teleology (God's particular purpose). We agree that the human brain evolved in the same way as the special features of other species. I made this point in order to stress that if our brain is evidence of teleology, then the special features of other species must also be part of your God's purpose. Your response is that information has to come from a designing intellect.-You argued that non-believers want absolute proof, which is impossible. I pointed out that you would want a non-believer to provide absolute proof that chance created life. You respond that if one accepts "proof beyond a reasonable doubt", then God "wins". I regard my own doubts as reasonable, but then I would, wouldn't I?-We are in agreement on the pointlessness of the anti-design conference.-I hope this is a fair summary.