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Wednesday, November 19, 2008 12:00 AM

God enough

We should see the ceaseless creativity of nature as sacred, argues biologist Stuart Kauffman, despite what Richard Dawkins might say.

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  • Wednesday, November 19, 2008 09:28 AM

    @spoodles

    If everyone believed as you did, and there was absolute "meaninglessness" in the universe, you and I would not exist. People would not obey laws, would crash cars into each other willy-nilly, resort to much more violence and crime than we see in the world today, etc, etc. Chaos incarnate.

    What? That doesn't even make sense.

    Here's a more accurate way of putting it. In a universe without meaning, people could write stuff like that and no one would ever correct them.

    "Meaning" implies intent, information to be conveyed, and significance. None of those concepts can be separated from the framework of language itself--that's why words and sounds have different meanings when different people from different parts of the planet say them.

    Your idea of meaning is more akin to holy writ: all meaning derives from God, and God gives us life, puppies, and unicorns, therefore without it everything falls apart. That's so stupid I can't even believe I need to refute it.

    But the world goes on, whether we ascribe meaning to something or not.

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