Re: [asa] ID without specifying the intelligence?

Iain wrote:

> While I agree with much of what you have said here, I'd have to say
> that I disagree here. I don't think, in the case of "explaining
> our origins", there is a distinction to be made between natural and
> supernatural. While an ET would be of limited (ie finite)
> intelligence, all one has to do is to invoke the idea of an ET that
> is of sufficient intelligence to design us. We are not intelligent
> enough to design us for sure - maybe Mr. Spock's race from Star
> Trek would be. But if not, one only has to imagine an even more
> highly developed alien race.
>
> Because no limit is placed on the assumed, but finite intelligence
> of the supposed ET that designed us, then equally to invoke such an
> unknown ET as an explanation of our apparent design fails as well
> to qualify as science because it has no explanatory power. We just
> say "a sufficiently complex ET could have designed us".

I agree with you completely. Aliens can only potentially be detected
if we assume specific limited capabilities on their part -- as in
SETI. Anything else has no explanatory power. Aliens cannot be
invoked as causes for the origin or history of life for the very
reason you state.

Keith

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Received on Sat Sep 15 12:08:08 2007