Uncommon Descent Serving The Intelligent Design Community

Michael Denton’s new book: Nature is fine-tuned for human existence

Denyse O'Leary
May 10, 2022
Books of interest, Fine tuning, Intelligent Design
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Michael Denton has a new book out, The Miracle of Man: The Fine Tuning of Nature for Human Existence

Currently:

From the publisher:

For years, leading scientists and science popularizers have insisted humans are nothing special in the cosmic scheme of things. In this important and provocative new book, renowned biologist Michael Denton argues otherwise. According to Denton, the cosmos is stunningly fit not just for cellular life, not just for carbon-based animal life, and not even just for air-breathing animals, but especially for bipedal, land-roving, technology-pursuing creatures of our general physiological design. In short, the cosmos is specifically fit for creatures like us. Drawing on discoveries from a myriad of scientific fields, Denton masterfully documents how contemporary science has revived humanity’s special place in nature. “The human person as revealed by modern science is no contingent assemblage of elements, an irrelevant afterthought of cosmic evolution,” Denton writes. “Rather, our destiny was inscribed in the light of stars and the properties of atoms since the beginning. Now we know that all nature sings the song of man. Our seeming exile from nature is over. We now know what the medieval scholars only believed, that the underlying rationality of nature is indeed ‘manifest in human flesh.’ And with this revelation the… delusion of humankind’s irrelevance on the cosmic stage has been revoked.”

David Klinghoffer, “The Miracle of Man: New Book by Michael Denton” at Evolution News (May 10, 2022)
Comments
Denton is describing a 4 dimensional jigsaw puzzle. One dimension is cosmology and the characteristics of elements and basic molecules and planet formation in addition to the four forces and cosmological constants. The second dimension is bio complexity. The third dimension is terrestrial characteristics or the unique characteristics of Earth and our solar system. This has been covered before in several places but Denton expands on it in ways I have not seen before. The fourth dimension is time as dimensions two and three develop over time to form the amazing now. Of course since this has a long way to go, it is not clear what time will do with the other three dimensions.jerry
May 15, 2022
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Just got my copy delivered. No spoilers, Jerry. ;) Andrewasauber
May 14, 2022
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The Denton book is one interesting fact after the other from hundreds of sources. For example,
Would science develop on a planet like Venus? Science had its beginnings in observations of the sun and stars. Not possible if the atmosphere is completely cloud covered as on Venus. Cosmos, Carl Sagan
jerry
May 14, 2022
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The third chapter is about oxygen and how it is necessary (biologically and chemically) for complex life. As oxygen increased in the atmosphere, life forms got bigger and more complex. An atmosphere such as Earth with 15-30% oxygen is necessary for complex life. Currently 21%. Because oxygen is necessary for complex life, and must be constantly replenished by something like photosynthesis, it is a possible sign of complex life on exoplanets.jerry
May 14, 2022
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The second chapter of Denton’s book is about water, the most amazing molecule in the universe. This chapter takes the fine tuning of Earth much further than what I read before. The focus of ID has been on cosmology and biology. This expands terrestrial fine tuning which has been a minor aspect of ID. This chapter alone is worth the time/price of the book.jerry
May 14, 2022
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So far I am through 5 lectures on Life in our Universe#24. If one wants a blow by blow speculation on how the universe and Earth evolved this is the conventional wisdom. It sounds like I am disparaging the course. Not in the least. He makes the point that the Earth is fine tuned for life though he doesn’t use that term. He did use it for the universe. After one chapter of Denton, they are consistent. https://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/life-in-our-universejerry
May 13, 2022
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F.N: just for record, I have put up an OP that shows the new post dialogue box. KFkairosfocus
May 13, 2022
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JVL, the settings are obviously strict given highly polarised context; I have commented at WP sites where commenters can embed vids etc. That UD is far stricter says something about the toxic atmosphere its moderators have to deal with. I have no reason to believe they are censorship based. I have been hit many times, I just shrug. I only comment about it as you have made a mini campaign off implying censorship and support of same; I have no reason to believe there is somehow a special JVL setting for UD's filter. I suggest, trigger words chosen, frequency of comments on the same thread, etc. . UD bans, for cause of abusive, trollish, disruptive behaviour. Obviously there is a difference between falling off the 12 step wagon every now and then and habitual abusiveness. On vulgarity, I point to the broken window theory. KF PS, why should admins waste time and disclose targetting information to hostile potential attackers? Yes, I know a lot of people find it hard to think in those terms, I struggle with pics that family want to splash in even funeral programmes. (And, I am now up to five.) PPS, apart from no comments I am unaware of author generated comment control settings.kairosfocus
May 13, 2022
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I just ordered it myself. #1 New Release in Anatomy That's good to see.Silver Asiatic
May 12, 2022
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OK. So I ordered the book. Looking forward to reading it this summer out on the porch. Andrewasauber
May 12, 2022
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JVL WordFence seems to get at me just about when I’m making strong points against some of the stalwart ID supporters that post to this site.
I don't remember any strong point made by you except that you cry like a girl . Are you the single child of your parents?Lieutenant Commander Data
May 12, 2022
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You aren't making any points, though. There is a challenge that can be up to $10,000,000. All someone needs to do is step up and demonstrate that a coded information processing system, like the genetic code, can arise without intelligent agency volition. They even allow an intelligent agency to set the initial conditions. Then physics and chemistry take over. OR they can just discover one that already exists and go from there. Many have tried. All have failed.ET
May 12, 2022
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Banned again! This time from: https://uncommondescent.com/intelligent-design/casey-luskin-asks-can-claims-about-punctuated-equilibrium-accommodate-the-scientific-data/ This is just comical now. WordFence seems to get at me just about when I'm making strong points against some of the stalwart ID supporters that post to this site. Kairosfocus tells me over and over again it's just some weird side-effect of the security software installed. But he is not going to question the site admins to find out a) if something can be done about it or b) if it's targeted against certain commenters. I can tell you, obviously, it's thread based otherwise I wouldn't be able to move to another thread to comment. So, it's not a site-wide glitch or problem. That argues for some kind of parameter being set or reset for a particular thread. Maybe by the thread author, maybe by the site admin. I know no one actually cares but I think it matters. This site cannot proclaim any kind of objective or unbiased presentation if there is a suggestion that some commenters are being restricted on an individual basis. If I'm wrong then someone should be able to present the settings and logs showing that I'm wrong. The site admins have that data. This issue can be 'solved'. Let's see what happens.JVL
May 12, 2022
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chuckdarwin- for starters: The genetic code involves a coded information processing system in which mRNA codons REPRESENT amino acids. And the ribosome is a genetic compiler, complete with error detection. There isn't any evidence that nature can produce coded information processing systems. There isn't even any way to test the claim that nature can produce coded information processing systems. Christopher Hitchens said that we can dismiss such claims. There is ONE and ONLY one known cause for producing coded information processing systems and that is via intelligent agency volition. So, using our KNOWLEDGE of cause-and-effect relationships, in accordance with Newton's 4 rules of scientific reasoning, we infer the genetic code is intelligently designed. Science 101 Flail away. It's expected.ET
May 12, 2022
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ET/50 Explain to me precisely what the "scientific explanation" provided by ID for our existence comprises...chuckdarwin
May 12, 2022
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Earth to chuckdarwin- Intelligent Design offers the only scientific explanation for our existence. Without Intelligent Design all you have to try to explain our existence is sheer dumb luck. And that is the antithesis of science.ET
May 12, 2022
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Chuckdarwin at 47, ID is about nothing, and it's a waste of time? Design, intelligent design, makes more sense than a driverless car careening down the road. It can only crash, but an intelligence has been in control. As far as wasting time, each person chooses what to do with his time, passively or actively.marker
May 12, 2022
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"frustration in having to waste time" CD, So you are here because you are frustrated that someone has a different opinion? You are admitting you are here for personal reasons, and not actually interested in what an ID blog has to present? There's lots of good stuff on UD, if you care to open your mind. Andrewasauber
May 12, 2022
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SA/46 For those of us that take science seriously, "anti-IDism" isn't driven by fear, but rather frustration in having to waste time dealing with yet one more "explanatory worldview" that offers the moon and delivers nothing. It is slickly packaged, dumbed-down, re-treaded teleology for the masses.....chuckdarwin
May 12, 2022
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Anti-IDism is driven by fear. People see the irrefutable logic of ID. They walk right up to it. In some cases, they even affirm it (as JVL does with his SETI claim). But then they back away, or run away. That's driven by fear. So is the hostility and ridicule and hatred of ID. They want to kill it. Darwin did, for sure.Silver Asiatic
May 12, 2022
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I'm looking forward to Denton's book - it's advertised as his best so far. The full text of the book that inspired his work on ID (Fitness of the Environment by Henderson) is available: https://archive.org/details/cu31924003093659 Actually that book is a good refutation of the puddle argument (which was invented by a comic novelist - but I guess that's ok and you don't need to be a scientist after all). I want to get Denton's book on Water also. There is a wealth of important ID reading to keep up with.Silver Asiatic
May 12, 2022
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Those who make the puddle argument full well know it is known water fills a puddle by mechanical necessity. If there is a super law forcing our cosmos to sit where it is, that would be super fine tuned.kairosfocus
May 12, 2022
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What absurd niches will anti ID people enter into? From Denton’s book
This monograph will provide what is to my knowledge the most comprehensive review in print of nature’s unique fitness for human biology by describing a stunning set of ensembles of prior environmental fitness, many clearly written into the laws of nature from the moment of creation, enabling the actualization of key defining attributes of our biology.”
Like puddles anti ID people find nonsense to seep into. They have to. They have nothing else. We already have examples on this thread as the usual suspects have weighed in with inanity. I’ve always said the most interesting question is why they behave in such a manor? jerry
May 12, 2022
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"It describes gravity." Jerry, Quite. It certainly doesn't describe humanity. Someone made a container for us, to grow in, to put it rudely. ;) Andrewasauber
May 12, 2022
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Does that describe human beings too?
It describes gravity.jerry
May 12, 2022
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Re: The Puddle Analogy Water in puddle state went exclusively and mindlessly to whatever would naturally hold it. Does that describe human beings too? Andrewasauber
May 12, 2022
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May I suggest people but Denton’s new book and discuss it. It’s extremely interesting. For example, I already bought the book on clocks.jerry
May 12, 2022
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@ Silver Asiatic But there wasn't stasis in Lenski's flasks, poor, stable and sparse as that environment is.Fred Hickson
May 11, 2022
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Fred Hickson:
There is another domain of life, the Achaea, and there was an event, symbiogenesis, that resulted from an archaeon engulfing a bacterium which set Eukaryotes off on their journey.
That is the untestable story, anyway. Eukaryotes are much more than an archaeon with an undigested bacterium. Eats all of the others. Saves this one for later. But wait! Now they are partners! Pure desperation.ET
May 11, 2022
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In Lenski's experiment e coli were in "flasks of nutrient kept at 37°C". "As the environments are identical, you might not expect the strains to diverge genetically." "In such a sparse and stable environment, one might expect stasis." So, in a sparse and stable lab environment, one might expect stasis and no genetic divergence. And also ... "Bacteria have been around over 3 billion years." In fact, strains of bacteria have show stasis for hundreds of millions of years - not in a lab setting with temperatures set at 37 degrees. But rather in every part of the earth. Every environmental condition. In a sparse and stable environment, one might expect stasis. And we find stasis in every environmental fluctuation and in trillions of diverse niches.Silver Asiatic
May 11, 2022
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