A quote from Hume 6 Oct 2008 But, allowing that we were to take the operations of one part of nature upon another, for the foundation of our judgement concerning the origin of the whole, (which never can be admitted,) yet why select so minute, so weak, so bounded a principle, as the reason and design of animals is found to be upon this planet? What peculiar privilege has this little agitation of the brain which we call thought, that we must thus make it the model of the whole universe? Our partiality in our own favour does indeed present it on all occasions; but sound philosophy ought carefully to guard against so natural an illusion. [Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, 1779, part 2] Have to say that “What peculiar privilege” would be a great title for a blog… Hat tip to John Atkins, my office mate. Creationism and Intelligent Design Religion
Creationism and Intelligent Design Darwin, God and chance 5 Sep 200818 Sep 2017 One of the enduring objections to evolution of the Darwinian variety is that it is based on chance, and so for theists who believe God is interventionist, it suggests that God is subjected to chance, and hence not onmi-something (present, potent or scient). Darwin and his friend Asa Gray debated… Read More
Metaphysics Evolution Quotes: Feyman on religion and science 15 Jun 2010 I do not believe that science can disprove the existence of God; I think that is impossible. And if it is impossible, is not a belief in science and in a God – an ordinary God of religion — a consistent possibility? Yes, it is consistent. Despite the fact that… Read More
Evolution Species, framing, and stuff 24 Mar 2008 So here’s a neo-Thomist talking about species, and not getting it due to (i) prior metaphysical commitments, and (ii) not understanding Aristotle – dude, he never called anything a species, not in the biological sense. Eidos and genos were just ordinary words he coopted for the Metaphysics and Posterior Analytics…. Read More
What peculiar privilege has this little agitation of the brain which we call thought, that we must thus make it the model of the whole universe? It’s not a privilege. It’s not even a choice 😉
What is Man that a creature of such limited intellect thinks Himself competent to establish what the Infinite may do?