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From: bch@unc.UUCP (Byron Howes )
Newsgroups: net.misc,net.philosophy
Subject: Re: Compact Divine Intervention?
Message-ID: <6737@unc.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 11-Feb-84 02:01:20 EST
Article-I.D.: unc.6737
Posted: Sat Feb 11 02:01:20 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 14-Feb-84 01:04:25 EST
References: <6735@unc.UUCP>
Organization: University of North Carolina Comp. Center
Lines: 25

Bruce's notion of evaluating a (scientific) theory by the number of
"miracles" required to explain empirical data that do not fit the
theory puts us in the rather interesting position of having to eval-
uate the relative complexity of "miracles."  He suggests that a
miracle which created the entire universe some 2 hours ago is in some
sense bigger than the one responsible for the Big Bang.  While I agree
with this on an emotional level there are those, like Larry Bickford,
who contend that the creationist miracle is actually a lesser
miracle (measured by ease of acceptance) than the many small miracles
required to fill in the gaps in evolutionary theory.  

The point is that the relative measure of miracles isn't a thing which
we humans can meaningfully judge.  The Big Bang miracle, in which the
precise concurrent alignment of many, many small things is required so
that all those smaller processes will work correctly can't usefully be
compared to the immediate creation miracle where everything is set in
place as is.  I suspect the argument really begs the question and 
doesn't get us any further than we are already.
-- 

"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!"

					Byron Howes
					UNC - Chapel Hill
					(decvax!mcnc!unc!bch)