The Extra Face in Mount Rushmore

[John_Harshman]

@Kirk

What I look for in a good scientist is the ability and interest in problem-solving.

Yes, we can all agree that you are both intellectually and morally superior.

And yet, there may be something instructive here. You suggest a test for design of rocks. I point out that the test is flawed because nature can produce similar features. You go off in a huff. Is that perhaps a model for the treatment of intelligent design in general? IDers suggest a test of design in life — CSI, FI, whatever — someone points out that the test is flawed because nature can produce similar features, and the IDer goes off in a huff.

[T_aquaticus]

@colewd

I think you may conclude it is designed but with lower confidence than if George Washingtons face was in the rock. The data supporting design detection will have variation in confidence but this can easily be dealt with.

Until there is an objective and non-arbitrary method for detecting design there doesn’t seem to be much more than personal intuition.

[colewd (Bill Cole)]

@T_aquaticus

Until there is an objective and non-arbitrary method for detecting design there doesn’t seem to be much more than personal intuition.

This is what Kirk was working on until you guys arbitrarily shut the discussion down with all negative and no positive ideas. There have been attempts at objective measures. You can always assert that they are not objective but so what.

[T_aquaticus]

@colewd

This is what Kirk was working on until you guys arbitrarily shut the discussion down with all negative and no positive ideas. There have been attempts at objective measures. You can always assert that they are not objective but so what.

We can also show that those measures are irrelevant.

[colewd (Bill Cole)]

@T_aquaticus

We can also show that those measures are irrelevant.

I have not seen you do this yet without assertion.

[T_aquaticus]

@colewd

I have not seen you do this yet without assertion.

That would require you to be willing to see evidence instead of repeating the same assertions over and over.

[T.j_Runyon]

@T_aquaticus

Those are staurolite crystals

I asked 15 people last year that were non scientists and they all said design. Staurolites are a perfect example of CSI caused by non intelligence