Thomas Nagel is a brilliant atheist. I have only had the pleasure of reading two of his books (The View from Nowhere and The Last Word). In addition, I recall reading only one of his essays (“Reductionism and Antireductionism” from The Limits of Reductionism in Biology), but it was a top-notch look at the philosophy of biology. While I disagree with much of what he says, he possesses a keen intellect as well as the ability to express that intellect in an enjoyable way.
Not only is Nagel brilliant, he is accomplished in his field. He has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Like me, he has also received support from the National Science Foundation. Probably his greatest award is the International Balzan Prize, which is given to those who do outstanding work in the humanities, natural sciences, culture, and the peace process. He was given that prize for:
…his fundamental and innovative contributions to contemporary ethical theory, relating to both individual, personal choices and collective, social decisions. For the depth and coherence of his original philosophical perspective, which is centered on the essential tension between objective and subjective points of view. For the originality and fecundity of his philosophical approach to some of the most important questions in contemporary life.
Clearly Nagel is a leader in his field. However, he has gone and done the unthinkable, and it has really annoyed a lot of people – especially people who don’t like science.
What was the unthinkable act Nagel did? He said that an intelligent design book (Signature in the Cell) was really good. In fact, he thought it was good enough to be considered a 2009 book of the year. For this, he was raked over the coals.
For example, Dr. Brian Leiter (University of Chicago Law School) said:
Scientists are already taking note of this embarrassing display…which just invites ridicule of the profession
Dr. Jerry Coyne (University of Chicago Department of Ecology and Evolution) said:
Nagel is a respected philosopher who’s made big contributions to several areas of philosophy, and this is inexplicable, at least to me.
Dr. Jeffrey Shallit (computer scientist and Vice-President of Electronic Frontier Canada) said:
In a previous post, I said, “Whenever scientific subjects are discussed, you can count on some philosopher to chime in with something really stupid.” Here’s another example. Thomas Nagel, a philosopher of some repute, nominates Stephen Meyer’s Signature in the Cell as his pick for book of the year in the Times Literary Supplement.
So these people (and others) are upset that Nagel thought Signature in the Cell was a great book. Why? Essentially it is because they don’t really like science very much. Now don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that they dislike everything about science. They probably like many aspects of science. What they dislike, however, is the process by which science progresses. Scientific progress generally occurs when the accepted dogma in science is challenged with clear, coherent, and scientifically accurate material. That’s what Signature in the Cell does, and the “high priests” of science don’t like it at all!
Don’t worry, though. For those of us who love science, there is great news. Signature in the Cell made the list of top ten science books sold by Amazon.com in 2009. Of course, Dr. Coynes book, Why Evolution is True, also made that list, as did Dawkins’s book, The Greatest Show On Earth. This tells me that the process of science is alive and well, despite the best wishes of people like those I quote above. The scientific dogma of the day is being communicated to the masses, but so is a strong challenge to that dogma.
If the dogma is correct, those who hold to it have no reason to worry – the data will speak for themselves, and people will continue to believe the dogma. However, if the dogma is not correct, the budding young scientists who read books like Signature in the Cell will eventually become the scientists who will topple that dogma. Given the responses I quoted above, it seems to me that some people who believe in the dogma are terribly worried.
Before I end this post, I want to highlight one more person who was angered over Nagel’s recommendation. Dr. Stephen Fletcher, a chemist at Loughborough University, said:
Thomas Nagel recommends Stephen C. Meyer’s Signature in the Cell: DNA and the evidence for Intelligent Design. “Intelligent Design” is of course a code phrase to obscure a malicious and absurd thesis; namely, that a supernatural being has interfered in the evolution of life on this planet. If Nagel wishes to take this notion seriously, very well, let him do so. But he should not promote the book to the rest of us using statements that are factually incorrect.
He then goes on to discuss the “factually incorrect” statements Nagel supposedly makes. Of course, Nagel didn’t make “factually incorrect” statements, but Dr. Fletcher’s attack was revealing. At one point, he said:
In describing Meyer’s book, Nagel tells us that it “. . . is a detailed account of the problem of how life came into existence from lifeless matter – something that had to happen before the process of biological evolution could begin” (my italics). Well, no. Natural selection is in fact a chemical process as well as a biological process, and it was operating for about half a billion years before the earliest cellular life forms appear in the fossil record.
Never mind that Dr. Fletcher doesn’t seem to understand that “biological evolution” clearly can’t occur before life, since the word “biological” refers to “life.” The key here is that Dr. Fletcher says what every evolutionist knows but many evolutionary sources take great pains to deny: the origin of life is intimately connected with evolution. A commenter on this blog (Norwegian Shooter) actually tried to make the argument that the origin of life and evolution are not connected using several dishonest evolutionary sources, but he eventually gave up because he couldn’t defend it. Another commenter (Amanda) linked a silly video she had received from some evolutionists. That video also tries to make the same argument. It is clear why dishonest evolutionists try to make such an argument – all the data indicate that the origin of life by natural causes is impossible.
At least Dr. Fletcher makes it clear in his attack on Nagel that such an argument is absurd. Of course evolution and the origin of life are intimately connected, as they both use the same absurd formula:
mistakes + natural selection + eons of time = what we see today
Because of excellent books like Signature in the Cell, science will eventually progress beyond such foolish notions. That’s probably what makes the people I quote above so angry!
I really am quite pleased to be mentioned by name (both of them!) in your posts. I will wear it as a badge of honor. So, thank you. Now to the attack!
Your sophistry knows no bounds. But thankfully you have produced it in such close proximity that it is easy to see and refute. (I think my comrades in arms, Jacob especially, but Greg and George, too, have taxed your time so that you haven’t been able to twist meanings in your posts as readily as before)
Nagel says the origin of life occurred before biological evolution. Tautology (means “duh”).
Fletcher says natural selection is both a chemical and a biological process. True.
You state that biology is life. Extreme tautology (double duh).
You say “Dr. Fletcher says … the origin of life is intimately connected with evolution.” Where in the world did you get that? The only mentions of evolution in Fletcher’s letter are in the two quoted sections you provided – and the second is a quote from Nagel. There is no mention of origin of life either. So how could he have said that?
He does wisely (because I’ve done it, too) recommend those interested in pre-DNA natural selection to read Wikipedia’s article on the RNA world hypothesis.
The weird thing is you believe in natural selection, so it’s bizarre that you conflate it with evolution, which you do not believe in. I guess your need to rationalize away good arguments against your worldview also knows no bounds.
I surmise that you are trying to tie the unknown process of the origin of life to the known-but-denied-by-you process of evolution. So that takes precedence over logical argument.
Speaking of origin of life, I just read another good science post from NPR’s 13.7, What was our most recent common ancestor like?. Fascinating stuff.
As for my comment, I don’t have time to read through old threads, link to the exact comment that I made and then I will defend it. I don’t give up, I just admit that you are more invested in your worldview, so will spend more time and effort protecting it than I do assaulting it.
PS Don’t hold your breath waiting for Meyer to produce the next paradigm shift
PPS Why don’t you post on something from CRSQ or Creation magazine?
I am glad that you are pleased. You can continue to be mentioned by continuing to make absurd claims in your comments. Wait…you have done that here. Thanks!
Your ignorance knows no bounds. I don’t twist meanings in my posts. You are forced to twist meanings in your comments to preserve your preconceived notions. Actually, Greg and Jacob make some good points, so their posts are not nearly as vacuous as yours.
Let’s start with the fact that you don’t even understand the word “tautology.” Here is the definition.
“1. a. Needless repetition of the same sense in different words; redundancy.
b. An instance of such repetition.
2. Logic An empty or vacuous statement composed of simpler statements in a fashion that makes it logically true whether the simpler statements are factually true or false; for example, the statement Either it will rain tomorrow or it will not rain tomorrow.”
Saying that the origin of life occurred before biological evolution is not a tautology. It is not composed of simpler statements that can be true or false, and it is not redundant.
“Biological evolution” means the evolution of living things. Thus, life must exist before biological evolution can occur. However, as Fletcher says, chemical evolution occurred before biological evolution. Thus, Nagel is just giving a chronology. While evolutionists are forced to think that evolution occurred before life formed, Nagel is saying that biological evolution couldn’t occur until after that. I really think I need to send you a dictionary…
“You say ‘Dr. Fletcher says … the origin of life is intimately connected with evolution.’ Where in the world did you get that?” Once again, Shooter, you really need to learn to read. As I quoted Fletcher, he said, “Natural selection is in fact a chemical process as well as a biological process, and it was operating for about half a billion years before the earliest cellular life forms appear in the fossil record. ” Thus, the SAME PROCESS that works in biological evolution works in chemical evolution. Now…think about that…take as long as you want….now read the obvious conclusion….THEY ARE CONNECTED BY THE SAME PROCESS. Do you just not think before you write these things?
You still seem hopelessly confused on what evolution is. No problem. Let me try to clear your head of all your twisted thinking. Natural selection is a process. I believe in it because the data support that it happens. Evolution of one kind of organism to another is a hypothetical explanation for the origin of the different life forms we see. The hypothetical explanation EMPLOYS natural selection, but just because a hypothesis employs a real process, that doesn’t mean the hypothesis is valid. I could hypothesize that snow is the result of a bunch of people shaving a huge block of ice from hot air balloons in the sky. Shaving a block of ice is a real process that produces something that looks like snow. However, that doesn’t indicate my hypothesis is correct. In the same way, evolution employs natural selection (a real process) in its tale-telling process. That doesn’t mean evolution is correct. In fact, the data clearly show that it is not.
It’s not surprising that you would consider that NPR story to be fascinating. However, it is clearly not science. It is story-telling on a grand scale. It is entertaining to read, but only because it shows how outlandish evolutionary thinking can be.
I am sure you don’t want to read through the old threads. It must be very embarrassing to see how often you need to be corrected.
I think you are more invested in your worldview than I am. You are forced to ignore the data, twist my words, and remain ignorant of basic scientific principles just to maintain your worldview. Sounds to me like you are incredibly invested!
Meyer is ALREADY producing a paradigm shift. Scientists are abandoning evolution because of what people like Meyer are doing, and that’s what upsets people who don’t like science.
I will post something from CRSQ or Creation Magazine when it relates to what I want to discuss. I know you hate it when I use evolutionists’ own literature to show how silly evolution is. However, you have to deal with it if you want to actually LEARN something.
P.S. When will you produce a comment that isn’t filled with demonstrably false claims and absurd statements?