Intelligent design is fascinating, as there is absolutely no argument for it, and yet there are people who believe in it.
It claims to fill in the holes in the theory of evolution, but it does so in such a clumsy way that it fills the holes with nothing but air. At the same time it removes all the explanations there are in the theory of evolution, and replaces them with air as well.
Paul A. Hanle writes that "the notion of intelligent design is clever". No, it's not. It is brain dead from beginning to end. There are some questions to ask about evolution, and not all of them are stupid. However, "intelligent design" is not the answer to any of them.
It is true that our current knowledge of the evolution of species does not explain every detail of what has happened during the past billion years. However, that only means it is incomplete - not that it is wrong.
The Bible is not complete either. It does not tell you which means of transport our souls will use to reach heaven - by train, by helicopter, carried by flights of angels? Nowhere does the Bible specify this. That does not mean that the Bible is wrong. Just that it is incomplete. Like the theory of evolution.
30 September 2006
28 September 2006
Pan-African
There are a lot of things to say about the expression "ubuntu". It is used to describe some very nice and important things like the necessity of inter-human relations and kindness. The hitch is that it probably does not exist. In Xhosa and Zulu, where the word comes from, it is certainly used with a different meaning from what it has acquired when it became an international word. One dictionary translates it simply as "humanity".
But one thing is certain, it is not "an African worldview". Talking about "an African worldview" implies that people in Egypt have more in common with people in Swaziland or Angola than they do with people in Jordan.
If you are European, try giving an example of a "European worldview", which applies from Albania to Iceland. If you are Asian, try giving an example of an "Asian worldview" which would apply from North Korea to Turkey. If you are American or a journalist at the BBC, just trust me: it makes no sense.
But one thing is certain, it is not "an African worldview". Talking about "an African worldview" implies that people in Egypt have more in common with people in Swaziland or Angola than they do with people in Jordan.
If you are European, try giving an example of a "European worldview", which applies from Albania to Iceland. If you are Asian, try giving an example of an "Asian worldview" which would apply from North Korea to Turkey. If you are American or a journalist at the BBC, just trust me: it makes no sense.
Kant was wrong
The Berlin Opera is hesitant about a performance of Mozart's Idomeneo, as the scenography includes the cut off head of the prophet Mohammad. This, it is said, generates a security threat, considering the ardent responses to the Mohammad cartoons in Jyllandsposten.
Anyone who thinks the answer here is clear, is wrong. Kant's idea of a categorical imperative, which is supposed to be applied to all situations that resemble each other, is an idea for lazy people, who do not bother looking into all the circumstances of each individual case.
Whether the Berlin Opera should perform this scenography of Idomeneo or not, is impossible to tell. Anyone who says they have an answer is wrong.
Anyone who thinks the answer here is clear, is wrong. Kant's idea of a categorical imperative, which is supposed to be applied to all situations that resemble each other, is an idea for lazy people, who do not bother looking into all the circumstances of each individual case.
Whether the Berlin Opera should perform this scenography of Idomeneo or not, is impossible to tell. Anyone who says they have an answer is wrong.
27 September 2006
Let's Solve it Ourselves
A very wise man, me, has reported that the speed by which species disappear from the earth approximates that of a paleontologic mass extinction.
But that is just the natural selection.
Luckily we can create our own new species with gene technology.
Is there anything as beautiful as nature?
But that is just the natural selection.
Luckily we can create our own new species with gene technology.
Is there anything as beautiful as nature?
26 September 2006
Yugoslavia remains
Looking at a map of the remaining candidate countries for the EU, it turns out that the only countries who are left in the line are Turkey, Albania and Yugoslavia. At least that would have been the case, had the maps stayed the way they were 15 years ago.
The situation is a little more complicated now, as Yugoslavia broke up into: Slovenia (already a member in the EU), Croatia and Macedonia ("official candidates"), Serbia, Bosnia and Montenegro (why-not? countries).
But for us who grow up when Yugoslavia was still a real country, the mnemonic is "Yugoslavia is in line for the EU".
The situation is a little more complicated now, as Yugoslavia broke up into: Slovenia (already a member in the EU), Croatia and Macedonia ("official candidates"), Serbia, Bosnia and Montenegro (why-not? countries).
But for us who grow up when Yugoslavia was still a real country, the mnemonic is "Yugoslavia is in line for the EU".
We are getting two more friends
It was confirmed today that Romania and Bulgaria may join the EU in January 2007.
Let's just not forget that we are not getting two new friends. It is just two of our existing friends that are invited inside. Dear Serbia, Ukraine, Albania, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Swaziland and Belize and all of our other friends out there. We have not forgotten you. We are ashamed of having to say that we have no more room inside right now. You will be invited inside, as soon as we have made some more room.
If it is a day when we happen to behave decent.
Let's just not forget that we are not getting two new friends. It is just two of our existing friends that are invited inside. Dear Serbia, Ukraine, Albania, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Swaziland and Belize and all of our other friends out there. We have not forgotten you. We are ashamed of having to say that we have no more room inside right now. You will be invited inside, as soon as we have made some more room.
If it is a day when we happen to behave decent.
25 September 2006
Respect or Accept?
The pope has received ambassadors from 22 mainly moslem countries to stress the respect we Christians (agnostics or not) have for Islam.
Personally I have no respect at all for Islam. I think it is a religion that is nuts. But I realise that a lot of of other religions must think the same thing about my own Christianity. Jesus, God's son! Wine turning into blood, and then Christians drink it like vampires! Talk about crazy beliefs!
The important thing for man is not to find good things with and respect other people's beliefs. It is much more important for man to accept other people's crazy beliefs than their sensible ones. Accepting madness is the most urgent challenge.
Personally I have no respect at all for Islam. I think it is a religion that is nuts. But I realise that a lot of of other religions must think the same thing about my own Christianity. Jesus, God's son! Wine turning into blood, and then Christians drink it like vampires! Talk about crazy beliefs!
The important thing for man is not to find good things with and respect other people's beliefs. It is much more important for man to accept other people's crazy beliefs than their sensible ones. Accepting madness is the most urgent challenge.
24 September 2006
Our Enemy: The Young Ones
After unrest at Nørrebro in Copenhagen (København), 266 people have been arrested.
The strange thing here is that no one seems to know why it all happened. There was a demonstration "for" Ungdomshuset (the House of the Youth) at Nørrebro. The demonstrators had not told the police about the demonstration in advance, and some of them claim they simply "defended themselves".
When we are young we want to see results - quick visible results. If the result happens to be arson and vandalised buildings, so be it - as long as it is a result.
Unfortunately it is quite common that we stay young the first 90 or so years after our fifth birthday.
The strange thing here is that no one seems to know why it all happened. There was a demonstration "for" Ungdomshuset (the House of the Youth) at Nørrebro. The demonstrators had not told the police about the demonstration in advance, and some of them claim they simply "defended themselves".
When we are young we want to see results - quick visible results. If the result happens to be arson and vandalised buildings, so be it - as long as it is a result.
Unfortunately it is quite common that we stay young the first 90 or so years after our fifth birthday.
A Proof of the Obvious is Usually Wrong
It is now claimed that the Iraq war worsens the terror threat.
As it is so obvious that it is true, it is likely that the report that concludes it is bad. The New York Times realises it is obvious, but "this is obvious" is not news. They need a report or something to refer to - something new that happened.
Consequently they look desperately for any source that says anything remotely like it, and then publish it without critically evaluating the source. It is not needed, as it came to the obvious conclusion.
Sadly, this kind of less than serious journalism may be the only way to get the truth through the thick skull of a rather dim friend of mine who is president of a superpower somewhere.
As it is so obvious that it is true, it is likely that the report that concludes it is bad. The New York Times realises it is obvious, but "this is obvious" is not news. They need a report or something to refer to - something new that happened.
Consequently they look desperately for any source that says anything remotely like it, and then publish it without critically evaluating the source. It is not needed, as it came to the obvious conclusion.
Sadly, this kind of less than serious journalism may be the only way to get the truth through the thick skull of a rather dim friend of mine who is president of a superpower somewhere.
No surprise, but a waste of... everything
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