The science in this article is excellent but the interpretation is highly suspect. Surely we are not nearly as advanced in our understanding of life as some scientists have believed; this discovery is clear evidence that we have greatly overestimated our understanding of life and the ways that it originated and thrived. If there is a creator, I would imagine that her methods are very complex, and that it will be a long while before we are close to a full understanding of such things. To conclude that this discovery further removes the likelihood of a spiritual creation force (which I take as proper postulation of the theory of “intelligent design”) is more unjustified arrogance. Such unjustified confidence in one’s knowledge and conclusions is the hallmark of bad science and bad philosophy.
The science in this article is excellent but the interpretation is highly suspect. Surely we are not nearly as advanced in our understanding of life as some scientists have believed; this discovery is clear evidence that we have greatly overestimated our understanding of life and the ways that it originated and thrived. If there is a creator, I would imagine that her methods are very complex, and that it will be a long while before we are close to a full understanding of such things. To conclude that this discovery further removes the likelihood of a spiritual creation force (which I take as proper postulation of the theory of “intelligent design”) is more unjustified arrogance. Such unjustified confidence in one’s knowledge and conclusions is the hallmark of bad science and bad philosophy.