Why Coincidences Are Meaningless - Richard Dawkins

Experiment demonstrating the triviality of coincidence.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• science
• scientist
• coincidence
• meaningless
• richard
• dawkins
• experiment
• atheism
• atheist
• bible
• debate
• philosophy
• darwin
• creationism
• design
• intelligent
• truth
• logic
• proof
• response
• theory
• reason
• evidence
• belief
• morality
• earth
• kent
• challenge
• universe
• delusion
• hovind
• biology
• genesis
• selection
• rational
• creationist
• harris
• exist
• holy
• natural
• christopher
• experience
• ethics
• existence
• origin
• does
• spirit
• human
• myth
• theamazingatheist
• morals
• kent hovind

[seniorgomez6689]

I had a dream someone I knew died in a car wreck, then later today heard that some girls aunt died in a car wreck today. I got just a tiny bit antsy and made a point to watch the last minute of this once more. Science is like the inhaler to our childish superstition. 

[shananagans5]

WOW, What are the chances of me clicking on this video?

[schnizle101]

@shananagans5 lol

[kelco93]

@theonlydode Anyway, thanks for trying. If you come up with a better argument feel free to let me know - and I enjoy grappling with these issues so, if you're game, and you want to dodge the 500Chr limit you can always send me a private message.

[kelco93]

@theonlydode .. for a reason) we expect to find purposes wherever we look.

The best summary of science I can think of is that it is a way of trying to make sure that our mental map of reality is as accurate as possible by avoiding the tendency to accept the patterns (hypotheses) as they first occur to us by testing related facts.

Your idea that things are too improbable is related to the idea of IC - it is a form of 'the argument from incredulity and lacks intellectual integrity.

[kelco93]

@theonlydode ... than baseless conjecture. The fact that everything about the physical world suggests that it runs according to cause and effect (an 'efficient' metaphysic) means that an 'efficient' cause for life seems more likely.

This conversation is really about trying to find out whether a teleological metaphysic (things happen because they are fulfilling their purpose) can be considered justifiable. The concept of purpose is clearly innate in human nature (we do things for ...

[kelco93]

@theonlydode I agree - the unending discussion. So -

Firstly, well done for having the intellectual integrity to not use the bible without first establishing its authority.

I'm sure you will agree that the apprehension of 'truth' is an iterative process where our mental model of reality is modified by our subjective experience it. Your error is in thinking that an absence of proof, where there is a plausible hypothesis (theory if you prefer), is no more useful than ...

[theonlydode]

@kelco93 The fact that we can not conduct proper conversation in a "sit down setting" is limiting any strives toward persuasion by either of us. In that case, given that this argument could potentially last a life time, my response to your next comment will be final.

[theonlydode]

@kelco93 This entire argument has gone far beyond the realms of "coincidence" with your input as well. Abiogenesis is a theory (yes theory) which states if life somehow came from inanimate objects, this is how. There have been zero leads or significant strives, and most of all, any credible proof that abiogenesis is possible. I define that as fact not arrogance. Your second statement (below) is beyond ridiculous showing a genuine lack of knowledge and exposure to church, let alone religion.

[kelco93]

@theonlydode As to your arrogant assertion "Completely false!" (and your appeal to Flew's authority) If you research the issue you will find that several quite plausible mechanisms for abiogenesis have been proposed which put the origins of life well within the realms of probability of having happened such that an explanation based in superstition is unnecessary.

Arrogance is a risky stance in the quest for truth - it is impossible to know whether/when more evidence may arise.

[kelco93]

@theonlydode The world I speak of - as I said: "the world you & I live in". I think that your assertion that "moral and ethical values are at an all time low" is -

1. probably what you've been told in church and accepted without consulting valid research;

2. based on a religious standard of morality which is poorly aligned with human wellbeing;

3. Inaccurate by any measure; and

4. Irrelevant to our prior conversation about the necessity of superstition in explaining coincidences.