Intelligent Design From Information Theory?
Posted by Mark Nelson on 17th August 2005 | Permanent Link
Yes, I’d like somebody to listen to this radio show and let me know just how George Gilder manages to use Information Theory in support of Intelligent Design, as promised in the teaser. Somehow I’m suspicious that the term is being used in a very loose sense, but who knows?
Considering that it is ultimately a matter of faith and not science, it seems kind of foolish to have a debate on the topic, but Richard Dawkins will gladly wade into this one any chance he gets.
August 17th, 2005 at 9:05 pm
But Gilder is completely full of nonsense. Information Theory has nothing to do with cosmogony, really.
August 18th, 2005 at 12:28 am
I can see why no reputable scientist wanted to debate this twit. I think he’s claiming that it’s impossible for DNA to mutate spontaneously because it contains “too much” information. He claims that information theory “proves” this assertion.
He also uses the same tired old junk about how an eye is too complicated to have evolved.
I think also, as the host notices, he doesn’t understand what the human genome project is.
Ultimately I think Gilder doesn’t understand the difference between compression and a hash. This mis-understanding may well be the basis of his claims that information theory proves the point of “intelligent design”.
August 18th, 2005 at 12:30 am
Oo, and he pulls out Hilter! I think the rules of the game are that you lose as soon as you invoke Hilter.
August 18th, 2005 at 9:08 am
>But Gilder is completely full of nonsense. Information
>Theory has nothing to do with cosmogony, really.
Well, you’re right about that! But like a lot of guys, he manages to make a living out of his hot air. I can’t help but be envious of that part.