Negative atheism? (Introduction)

by David Turell , Monday, January 05, 2015, 00:53 (3610 days ago) @ dhw
edited by David Turell, Monday, January 05, 2015, 01:27


>dhw: Once intelligence exists, on no matter what level, it can guide itself.-But how do you get to intelligence? After an inorganic universe starts by something, then life has to appear and to develop intelligence, but how?. I see nothing but guidance.-> dhw: The difference in our thought lies in the source and nature of the guidance: yours is sourceless divine intelligence, my hypothetical alternative is evolved and evolving intelligence. (Chance, of course, excludes guidance.) Yes, I am influenced by the agnostic Darwin to the extent that I do not believe in separate creation but in the theory that all life apart from the very first form(s) descended from earlier forms. I am as unconvinced by his hypothesis concerning how this happened (random mutations and gradualism) as I am by your own. -And I view your hypothesis as impossible. Your alternative of an evolving intelligence in an interplay between energy and matter must involve chance, although you deny that. What guides the interplay to reach intelligence? You offer nothing only your wishful thinking. I see no third way between design and chance. Nagel could not find one in his book. I keep coming back to Davies point as to how highly significant it is that sentient humans appeared against all odds. I don't think an inorganic universe can invent a consciousness, which is your proposal. One had to exist to start with.