The problem with gods is parsimony. When you are addressing issues or solving problems, by necessity you cannot create more problems than you solve and consider it effective. You can't "throw the baby out with the bathwater", for example because the resulting dead baby would be a bigger problem than dirty bath water. Inserting gods creates the exact same problem (you create bigger problems than the god solution can solve).
But like I mentioned, ID really drives the point home. Basically they say - "we don't care who the designer is, it could be a bunch of intelligent space zebras". Essentially then if you replace any instance of god with "intelligent space zebras" you can see exactly how absurd the idea of god is.
And lets be clear, ID has gone to extra lengths to show that it could be "any intelligent agent" secretly betting that their followers have already picked an intelligent agent and hoped no one would ask (how many times did I have to repeat my argument before anyone asked? Maybe 100). Gods can always be effectively replaced by intelligent space zebras as shown by the entire "field" of ID.
The reason a person doesn't notice they are making the problems worse is that they are biased against asking questions about god. Where did god come from? Why does he have nipples? Was he just lonely? Sticking god in and discounting questions about god makes it SEEM like you have solved the problem, but in fact, you just made it worse and you are only ignoring the new problems you have created.
It's easier to see the issue if you follow the IDots idea and instead of god, stick in the intelligent space zebras. Not only are they a completely effective replacement for god, but they are obviously ridiculous and much easier to get past the bias against asking questions. Why would space zebras make a universe? Why would they design intelligent monkeys? Where did they come from? What kind of music do they like? What are their politics?
The only reason anyone ever inserts a god and then THINKS they have created parsimony, is because they have convinced themselves they can't ask questions about the god. If you start asking questions about god, you completely destroy the parsimony the god "solution" provided and you essentially throw the baby out with the bathwater.
It's easier to see the issue if you follow the IDots idea and instead of god, stick in the intelligent space zebras. Not only are they a completely effective replacement for god, but they are obviously ridiculous and much easier to get past the bias against asking questions. Why would space zebras make a universe? Why would they design intelligent monkeys? Where did they come from? What kind of music do they like? What are their politics?
The only reason anyone ever inserts a god and then THINKS they have created parsimony, is because they have convinced themselves they can't ask questions about the god. If you start asking questions about god, you completely destroy the parsimony the god "solution" provided and you essentially throw the baby out with the bathwater.
It is Occam's razor then that kills all gods. When it rains, its just a natural occurrence, its not intelligent space zebras spraying water all over the place. When there is a big bang, its just a natural occurrence, its not because intelligent space zebras crashed their space car. When self replicating chemicals evolve into a primitive life form, its just a natural occurrence, not because intelligent space zebras have set up a terrarium.
In fact, intelligent space zebras are LESS absurd than any god because there is evidence that other intelligent life COULD live in the universe. There is however, absolutely no evidence for any god at all.
In fact, intelligent space zebras are LESS absurd than any god because there is evidence that other intelligent life COULD live in the universe. There is however, absolutely no evidence for any god at all.
No comments:
Post a Comment