Natures wonders: a beetle fools ants to give it food (Introduction)

by dhw, Monday, August 28, 2017, 13:15 (2642 days ago) @ David Turell

dhw: 1) “A” primary purpose means there are other primary purposes. Please tell us what they are.
2) What is a “necessary side purpose”? The whale, the monarch butterfly, and the weaverbird’s nest were necessary for what?
3) If appearance for no apparent reason is the criterion for something appearing to be God’s sole purpose, then the appearance of the duckbilled platypus for no apparent reason makes it appear to be God’s sole purpose.
4) Your theory has always been an attempt to read God’s mind. A reading of God’s mind that comes up with all the anomalies and illogicalities that I keep pointing out and which you keep acknowledging might just possibly be wrong.

DAVID: I try to fathom God's purposes from what has been produced. You can interpret 'primary' purpose as meaning others are present, but I look at primary, secondary and tertiary purposes in that order. Humans with their brains are primary. Bush of life supports evolutionary time period and is secondary. Of course I could be wrong. but using a teleological approach, I feel I'm closer to the truth than you are.

When I put on my theist’s hat, I also use a teleological approach based on what has been produced. I try to match possible purpose to observable history. But I realize that you feel you are closer to the truth than I am. Perhaps we should leave it at that.