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.
Is NASA set to reveal on Thursday signs of possible extraterrestial life within the solar system?
30/11/2010 03:49:40 AM
- 1075 Views
photsynthesis using arsnic hmm I am going to have to check this out
30/11/2010 05:07:22 AM
- 676 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
- 600 Views
Re: If there is life in the solar system then it is likely a natural development in the universe.
30/11/2010 05:18:05 AM
- 746 Views
Seems to put atheists in a bit of a catch-22 there.
30/11/2010 05:54:25 AM
- 659 Views
Bwa?
30/11/2010 06:45:33 AM
- 648 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
- 681 Views
Using anthropomorphic terms to describe the universe only reflects on you, not on the universe. *NM*
30/11/2010 07:31:04 PM
- 289 Views
What an arbitrary and meaningless statement. *NM*
30/11/2010 07:52:13 PM
- 216 Views
Anthropomorphizing concepts is a cognitive bias.
30/11/2010 11:19:23 PM
- 549 Views
Only given a certain metaphysical framework.
01/12/2010 12:18:09 AM
- 592 Views
Mind dumbing that down a bit?
01/12/2010 12:43:47 AM
- 532 Views
I think he is saying
01/12/2010 01:26:34 AM
- 732 Views
In short, demanding that everyone use your particular worldview is unfair.
01/12/2010 02:21:26 AM
- 627 Views

Those worldviews are unsupported by empirical evidence.
01/12/2010 01:41:27 AM
- 684 Views
Empiricism is unsupported by empirical evidence. *NM*
01/12/2010 02:21:52 AM
- 236 Views
Empirical evidence is the only objective standard.
01/12/2010 02:59:18 AM
- 588 Views
Empirical evidence cannot fully explain reality.
01/12/2010 03:28:41 AM
- 659 Views
Re: Question (use google now!): what's the net energy of the universe?
01/12/2010 03:35:57 AM
- 616 Views
Time does not exist separately from space, as Einstein demonstrated almost a century ago.
01/12/2010 03:36:56 AM
- 669 Views
I have my own theories about time, but they're not ready for presentation yet
01/12/2010 03:56:38 AM
- 908 Views
Re: I have my own theories about time, but they're not ready for presentation yet
01/12/2010 04:30:44 AM
- 977 Views
Hey, there's a name I recognize, "Iron Lisa"
30/11/2010 09:25:01 AM
- 676 Views
WE'RE ALL GONNA DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
30/11/2010 02:33:30 PM
- 626 Views
I, for one, welcome our new alien overlords. *NM*
30/11/2010 02:35:04 PM
- 238 Views
"I, for one, welcome our new INSECT overlords"!
01/12/2010 12:40:27 AM
- 602 Views
but we don't know if they're insects yet!
01/12/2010 12:55:52 AM
- 545 Views
I'll not bow to any mere Bacterial Overlords, Eukaryote Overlords only!!! *NM*
01/12/2010 01:02:20 AM
- 244 Views
So you're prejudiced against the nuclearly challenged?
01/12/2010 01:09:57 AM
- 556 Views
It's this kind of blind adherence to political correctness that is tearing us apart!
01/12/2010 01:28:39 AM
- 541 Views
They had better have a green man *NM*
30/11/2010 10:45:56 AM
- 209 Views
Because you need somebody to attack Aginor and Balthamel? *NM*
01/12/2010 01:04:23 AM
- 212 Views
Oh no you didn't
*NM*
01/12/2010 01:14:55 AM
- 207 Views
