Is our solar system weird? All others are different (Introduction)

by David Turell , Wednesday, December 12, 2018, 14:46 (1954 days ago) @ dhw

QUOTE: "The presumption back in 1995 was that astronomers would find many exoplanetary systems where the probability of advanced life possibly existing in that system would be greater than zero. More than twenty-three years later, with a database of 2,888 planetary systems and 3,877 planets, only one planetary system and only one planet possess the characteristics that the possible existence of advanced life needs. It requires little effort to discern the identity of that single planetary system and single planet."

DAVID: Our planet is special and so is our solar system. God at work.

dhw: I wonder why the authors specify “advanced life”. Do they expect to find primitive life? Even the simplest form of life is extremely complex. But I’m afraid it will make no difference to theists or atheists if life is or is not found. If it’s not found, atheists will say: “Lucky us.” Theists will say: “God at work.” If it’s found, atheists will say: “In the right conditions, life will arise spontaneously.” Theists will say: “God at work.” I’m not sure, though, how many theists will say: “God specially designed these primitive forms of life on Planet X because his sole purpose was to specially design H. sapiens on Planet Earth.”

The authors were describing the opinions of scientists many years ago. Hugh Ross, a theistic scientist, is simply expressing how unusual our Earth seems to be.