phonon
Posts: 396
Joined: Nov. 2006
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| Quote (Richardthughes @ Jan. 22 2007,14:32) | More Tard from Atom:
http://www.uncommondescent.com/archives/1981#comment-86754
| Quote | | The creator of a structure is what decides its inherent purpose. If a blind process created us, we have no real purpose, only the “illusion” of purpose. |
*looks at stapler being used as a paperweight on my desk*
Its the authoritative tone that tickles me. |
I think the term "inherent" is the problem here. Sure, the inherent purpose of a stapler is to be played by Rob Schneider in a movie called The Stapler, but it could be used for other functions.
There is this huge problem with ID and language. I think it comes from their previous battles in politics (and that's all ID boils down to, a political battle). By using the English language to swerve and argument subtly one way or the other, the debater can seemingly "win" an argument, or at least successfully preach to the choir, or even convince the gullible.
For instance, the term "Junk" DNA never meant "garbage" DNA, complete refuse. It mean junk. When I go to a auto junk yard, I can pick up spare parts and reuse them. Or there could be a junk drawer at someone's house. Well, you don't keep waste and refuse in a drawer, but you do keep junk. There was an excellent post about antifreeze proteins recently on Panda's Thumb where this sort of thing was addressed. But the IDers pounced on the term junk DNA and declared that the people who coined the term obviously meant refuse or waste DNA.
So, when a biologist publishes his/her work and includes terms like "design" or "purpose" the IDers will inevitably pick up on it and use it in their political game.
I'm not saying that biologists should choose their words simply to thwart IDers and other creationists, but I just wish that people weren't so stupid and easily convinced by dumb things based on simple language manipulation.Maybe I could wish and pray (and pray and pray) but it won't happen in my lifetime. I guess that sort of thing is just not an act of god.
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With most men, unbelief in one thing springs from blind belief in another. - Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
To do just the opposite is also a form of imitation. - Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
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