Puddles and “fine-tuning”

April 30, 2012 | Filed under: Ken Perrott,Philosophy | Posted by:

I like this image. It really brings home the implications of Douglas Adams‘ comment ridiculing creationist assumptions.

Image credit: kingofgeek.

It also puts the so-called “fine-tuning” arguments in their place. These have got the situation “arse about face.”

Far from the whole universe being fine-tuned to produce intelligent animals like us, we are inevitably “fine-tuned” by our environment. Natural selection has produced organisms which are tuned to survive in the existing universe (or our part of it).

It couldn’t be otherwise.

Strangely the Biologic Institute (the creationist Discovery Institute “research arm”) also noted this comment of Douglas Adams. Their response: “Well, if a puddle actually woke up and thought anything, it would be entitled to that opinion.”

I think they missed the point.

See also:
Bafflingly inane post at Biologic Institute
Discovery Institute: What Are They Thinking?

Related articles:

  1. Fine-tuning fallacies
  2. Designer spin II
  3. Mindboggling
  4. Armageddon Weekend? It’s the end of the world as we know it (and they don’t feel fine)
  5. Miracle Soap claims lead to £25,000 fine for religious TV channel

One Response to Puddles and “fine-tuning”

  1. avatar Nancy April 30, 2012 - 8:52 am

    I don’t think they would get the point even if it came up out of the ground and smacked them in the face.

    Reply

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