Miscellaneous (General)

by dhw, Monday, December 02, 2024, 11:20 (1 day, 20 hours, 36 min. ago) @ David Turell

Negative theology

DAVID: Natural evolution could not have produced us. We are designed to be here.

According to you, every life form was designed to be here, although 99% of them had no connection with us. Why else would you label your God’s use of evolution as inefficient?

dhw: […] Looking at your list, I’d say that we can be certain that IF God exists, he is not a human being. (Negative.) I would say that if his motive for creating us was to be recognized and worshipped, or he enjoys creating and is interested in his creations(positive), that is feasible, but then it is not feasible to say he’s selfless.

DAVID: God's selflessness means He expects no self-interest gains from His creations.

I know what “selflessness” means. I don’t know how you can apply the term to a God who you think enjoys creating, is interested in his creations, and may have created us because he wanted us to recognize and worship him.

DAVID: Total misunderstanding of the point. A God who creates without self-interest is perfectly feasible.

So please once and for all tell us why you think he created life in general and us in particular.

Cellular intelligence: renal cell memory

dhw: [..] I would suggest that cell behaviour only looks automatic when cells are performing their routine duties. Intelligence comes into play when something new is required.

DAVID: As I've noted renal cells and liver cells must be able to alter their routines as circumstances require to maintain the proper balances.

dhw: Thank you for repeating the point I have just made. They have the ability to change when required. That requires intelligence.

DAVID: Or following intelligent instructions.

dhw: If they are able to alter their routines as circumstances require, it means they have the ability to do so. Having an ability does not mean having to follow instructions.

DAVID: I just stated they do it by following directions.

I know what you have just stated. But you also stated (now bolded) that they have the ability to alter their routines. An ability to do something is not the same as following instructions!

Stoicism
From an interview with Massimo Pigliucci:

DAVID: without the support of religion what do you do? This interview tells us face life with a stiff upper lip. DHW should tell us how he does it.

I gave you a full answer to your personal question, in the hope that you would understand why religion is NOT fundamental to stoicism or to virtue.

DAVID: 'You sound like a virtuous guy. I think I am also.

I have no doubt that you are, and I can assure you that I also do my very best to stick to the principles I listed. They do not require the support of religion, and you may be surprised to know that I have agnostic and atheist friends who are also very decent people.

Time differs on the moon

QUOTES: the net result of this is a 56-microseconds-per-day drift." (That's 0.000056 second.)
When it comes to navigation, a drift of 56 microseconds over a day between a clock on the Moon and [a clock] on Earth is a big difference.

Oh good heavens above, how the heck could all those moon trips back in the 1960s and 1970s possibly have been successfully navigated when nobody knew there was a big difference of 0.000056 second per whole day? Without that blink of an eye, Neil Armstrong should never have been able to take his one small step. I demand a recount.