JoshuaZ comments on The Wonder of Evolution - Less Wrong

34 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 02 November 2007 08:49PM

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Comment author: JoshuaZ 17 May 2012 10:23:53PM 1 point [-]

I don't think you need to invoke any sort of Bayesian issues there. Just ask which is simpler. You also are going one step ahead of what is necessary because as far as I can tell, Ghazzali isn't even ok with theistic evolution.

Comment author: Bugmaster 17 May 2012 10:37:25PM 2 points [-]

Just ask which is simpler.

I want to taboo the word "simpler", because its meaning is vague. "God did it" is certainly a simpler statement than "Here, read this 500-page biology textbook and find out".

because as far as I can tell, Ghazzali isn't even ok with theistic evolution

I think my example still applies, though. Ultimately, we still have purely physical things like fossils, DNA molecules, etc. etc.; as far as I understand, Ghazzali doesn't dispute the fact that these items exist, only the conclusions we can draw from their existence.