Active Users:1595 Time:29/07/2026 03:49:11 PM
Those worldviews are unsupported by empirical evidence. Dreaded Anomaly Send a noteboard - 01/12/2010 01:41:27 AM
Several worldviews assert that the universe or a creator thereof does possess human qualities. Tom's entire point is that the discovery of extraterristrial life provides justification toward framing this universal tendency towards biogenesis in non-physical terms--not, as you accuse him of, characterizing the cosmos in such a manner as an axiom.


The discovery of extraterrestrial life does not, objectively, provide any justification for anthropomorphizing the universe. Adding human qualities to the universe solely as an explanation for alien life violates Occam's Razor. Explanations exist which do not require adding those qualities, and further, there is no other indication that those qualities exist, so they would have to be added in a manner consistent with every other observation that did not identify or require them. Given all of this, it's much more likely that someone who sees evidence of alien life as support for an anthropomorphic universe is selectively interpreting the evidence to support his preexisting bias toward such a universe.

Also, as an additional comment on Tom's post, the existence of some form of alien life is very far from the existence of sentient life, and the suggestion that life in any environment would tend toward sentience demonstrates a misunderstanding of evolution.
Reply to message
Is NASA set to reveal on Thursday signs of possible extraterrestial life within the solar system? - 30/11/2010 03:49:40 AM 1273 Views
Interesting. - 30/11/2010 04:43:15 AM 708 Views
crap! I will be watching this! - 30/11/2010 05:04:58 AM 860 Views
Goddammit Wikileaks get on this *NM* - 30/11/2010 05:05:19 AM 356 Views
There's no one to smear, why would wikileaks be interested? *NM* - 30/11/2010 01:45:58 PM 343 Views
If there is life in the solar system then it is likely a natural development in the universe. - 30/11/2010 05:12:38 AM 746 Views
Seems to put atheists in a bit of a catch-22 there. - 30/11/2010 05:54:25 AM 907 Views
Bwa? - 30/11/2010 06:45:33 AM 800 Views
Sorry, yeah. That is not my position. - 30/11/2010 07:03:17 AM 790 Views
The best will be when we find other intelligent life - 30/11/2010 02:32:35 PM 697 Views
Well, I don't actually agree with the first part of your Catch-22. At least, not entirely. - 30/11/2010 02:43:13 PM 835 Views
Using anthropomorphic terms to describe the universe only reflects on you, not on the universe. *NM* - 30/11/2010 07:31:04 PM 355 Views
What an arbitrary and meaningless statement. *NM* - 30/11/2010 07:52:13 PM 296 Views
Anthropomorphizing concepts is a cognitive bias. - 30/11/2010 11:19:23 PM 705 Views
Only given a certain metaphysical framework. - 01/12/2010 12:18:09 AM 745 Views
Mind dumbing that down a bit? - 01/12/2010 12:43:47 AM 688 Views
I think he is saying - 01/12/2010 01:26:34 AM 877 Views
That ain't not a lot simpler - 01/12/2010 01:35:38 AM 820 Views
Yes. - 01/12/2010 01:44:41 AM 774 Views
Those worldviews are unsupported by empirical evidence. - 01/12/2010 01:41:27 AM 898 Views
No worldviews are supported by empirical evidence. *NM* - 01/12/2010 01:57:23 AM 337 Views
Empiricism is unsupported by empirical evidence. *NM* - 01/12/2010 02:21:52 AM 300 Views
Empirical evidence is the only objective standard. - 01/12/2010 02:59:18 AM 746 Views
Empirical evidence cannot fully explain reality. - 01/12/2010 03:28:41 AM 849 Views
Re: Question (use google now!): what's the net energy of the universe? - 01/12/2010 03:35:57 AM 758 Views
Re: - 01/12/2010 03:45:22 AM 955 Views
Re: Re: - 01/12/2010 04:04:38 AM 746 Views
Yes. I know what empiricism is. - 01/12/2010 05:17:05 AM 1052 Views
Re: You are a smart person. - 01/12/2010 03:09:13 AM 728 Views
Thanks. - 01/12/2010 03:30:46 AM 965 Views
Interesting. I agree with what you're saying, actually. - 30/11/2010 07:49:51 PM 675 Views
It won't change the argument in the least. - 01/12/2010 05:26:16 AM 863 Views
I have the feeling it's probably not going to be that. - 30/11/2010 06:02:48 AM 754 Views
Ohh, exciting! - 30/11/2010 08:37:32 AM 719 Views
noooo! - 30/11/2010 10:19:27 AM 673 Views
Boring primitive things would be cool. - 30/11/2010 02:54:10 PM 716 Views
Hey, there's a name I recognize, "Iron Lisa" - 30/11/2010 09:25:01 AM 865 Views
WE'RE ALL GONNA DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE - 30/11/2010 02:33:30 PM 776 Views
I, for one, welcome our new alien overlords. *NM* - 30/11/2010 02:35:04 PM 310 Views
"I, for one, welcome our new INSECT overlords"! - 01/12/2010 12:40:27 AM 752 Views
but we don't know if they're insects yet! - 01/12/2010 12:55:52 AM 701 Views
I'll not bow to any mere Bacterial Overlords, Eukaryote Overlords only!!! *NM* - 01/12/2010 01:02:20 AM 320 Views
So you're prejudiced against the nuclearly challenged? - 01/12/2010 01:09:57 AM 710 Views
Down right genocidal toward them - 01/12/2010 01:31:47 AM 695 Views
Genocide is a bit extreme - 01/12/2010 02:13:18 AM 712 Views
They had better have a green man *NM* - 30/11/2010 10:45:56 AM 285 Views
Because you need somebody to attack Aginor and Balthamel? *NM* - 01/12/2010 01:04:23 AM 292 Views
Oh no you didn't *NM* - 01/12/2010 01:14:55 AM 290 Views
Seriously. - 01/12/2010 01:26:54 AM 673 Views
Re: But then you got turned on just thinking about the phrase? - 01/12/2010 02:23:02 AM 778 Views
I'm actually a tiny bit giddy about this. *NM* - 01/12/2010 01:04:49 AM 293 Views
Re: Arsenic. *NM* - 01/12/2010 02:09:51 AM 308 Views
Re: Perhaps just as awesomely: - 01/12/2010 02:21:35 AM 829 Views

Reply to Message