An Observation about Intelligent Design

[goofball]

I didn't read every post here but all the ones i did read (excepting the one by the OP) are made by morons.

That's a pretty astute observation and, simple as it may be, something I've never thought of.

It makes no apparent sense for a god who created us (in his own image) to design a universe that takes several hundred lifetimes to go interesting places.

Maybe he didn't but so far as we know...

[drudman]

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I am admittedly not highly trained in these things, but I do have a question about what seems to me to be a piece of evidence which would contradict the idea of intelligent design.

It is my understanding that c, the speed of light, is the highest possible velocity that a physical particle can attain.

It is also my understanding that the common unit of long distances in astronomy is the light year.

Doesn't it seem like an extraordinary 'design flaw' that in something the size of our physical universe the highest possible speed is the speed of light?

Sorry if this is just an ignorant question, but if it is, hopefully there is a simple answer.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

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Wormholes and extraspatial dimensions would be an efficient way of keeping humans out of places they shouldn't be poking their nose, while at the same time providing interstellar conduits for whatever uses necessary.

Go ahead and sentence me, because I am guilty of participating in metaphysical uttering! [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[daryn]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In risposta di:</font><hr />
A few days after that he was in the mood for lions and tigers and bears.

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oh my [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

[wacki]

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a piece of evidence which would contradict the idea of intelligent design.


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It's called the human eyeball. Do a search on 2+2 I've discussed this more than I care to ever talk about it again.

[Cooker]

I am surprised no one else pointed out that even though the maximum speed a particle can travel in any inertial frame is the speed of light, it is in fact possible to travel to any location in the universe in whatever proper time (the time you actually experience) you wish (some acceleration conditions will of course apply since you don't really want to be ripped to shreds by shear forces).

Since you don't have a working knowledge of space-time I will simply say in layman's terms that you can go anywhere you wish in as short a time as you wish to experience, but when you return the world would have aged much more than you expect assuming you travel quite far and quite fast (fast meaning some sensible fraction of c). This is why the end of Contact is retarded. The Earth should have aged faster than Jodie Foster, but she experienced more time.

[Dov]

Thanks cooker.

I don't completely understand your response yet, but it has certainly given me a direction to look in.

[The Dude]

Dov, I think it's possible that if God created the entire universe for man, not all of it was necessarily meant for us to visit. Afterall, couldn't he have made it in order for us to appreciate its beauty, not to travel to every corner of?

[bohemian]

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What makes you think the universe is created for us?

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I don't. That is the postition that was explained to me by a religious practitioner.

They think that intelligent design is obvious, I'm sure you've heard the arguments.

I suppose you are implying that who it was designed for is not important. It is an interesting thought, but I'm not sure I follow.

After all, if it was designed, then it must have been for someone. If not us, then who?

Oh yes, and before we get sidetracked, what do you think of my original question?

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Informed religious practitioners would argue that the earth was created for human life, not the entire universe. We don't need that much space. I think that answers your question.

[PairTheBoard]

I agree with goofball that this is a truely novel idea that I've never heard of nor thought of before. Also, cooker is right, and I think just 1g acceleration is adequate for pretty long trips within a human lifespan. It would require a really good mass to propulsive energy converter though.

Maybe one way trips are an "intelligent" way to go.

Also, it might not be such a bad thing for us to be stuck close to home for quite a while. You don't want toddlers wandering around the city until they've grown up a little do you?

PairTheBoard

[bronzepiglet]

Great post. I do believe it's absolutely correct that we can't go making conclusions of much weight based on our poor understanding of space and time and how to manipulate these things.

I wouldn't criticize the poster for asking the questions, though. It was an interesting observation.