Re: OT: Intelligent Falling

Since we're poking fun at ID, I'll post this -- it's evidently making
the rounds on Usenet and anyone who's a fan of Monty Python and not a
fan of ID should enjoy it.

Customer: Hello. I wish to complain about this so-called 'scientific
theory' what I purchased not half an hour ago from this very
establishment.

Salesman: Oh yes, 'Intelligent Design'. What, uh... what's wrong
with it?

Customer: I'll tell you what's wrong with it, my lad. Its vacuous,
that's what's wrong with it!

Salesman: No, no, uh... what we need now is to 'teach the
controversy'...

Customer: Look matey, I know an empty 'argument from incredulity'
when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now.

Salesman: No, no, it's not empty: it's just being elaborated.
Remarkable theory, 'Intelligent Design', innit, eh? I mean, just
look at all these books and articles: millions and millions of
words...!

Customer: The verbiage don't enter into it, my lad. It's stone dead.
It's a non-starter. Empirically untestable, it belongs in
metaphysics. This 'theory' makes no predictions; has no contribution
to make
beyond extended polemics; and can't even be honest about who it
thinks the 'Designer' was.

Bereft of all logical and epistemological credibility, it has no
scientific status! If certain right-wing and fundamentalist
pressure-groups hadn't hit upon it as a way of opposing decades of
uncomfortable scientific and social progress, it'd be pushing up
daisies! It's off the table. It's kicked the waste-paper bucket.
THIS IS A NON-THEORY!

Salesman: Well, I'd better replace it then. [takes a quick peek
around] Sorry, squire: looks like that's all we've got...

Customer: I see, I see. I get the picture.

Salesman: I've got a piece of coal that looks quite a bit like a
human tibia, if you squint at it...

Customer: Pray, is it part of a theory that unifies the
paleontological and biological sciences and leads to a powerful
understanding of observed homologies and the nested hierarchy of
life?

Salesman: Not really.

Customer: WELL IT'S HARDLY A BLOODY REPLACEMENT FOR DARWINISM THEN,
IS IT?

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: OT: Intelligent Falling
    ... dead parrots anyone? ... | Salesman: Oh yes, 'Intelligent Design'. ... | Customer: I'll tell you what's wrong with it, ...
    (rec.arts.mystery)
  • Re: Yet Another announcement of the death of darwinism
    ... Salesman: Oh yes, 'Intelligent Design'. ... Customer: I'll tell you what's wrong with it, ... Salesman: No, no, it's not empty: it's just being elaborated. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Yet Another announcement of the death of darwinism
    ... Salesman: Oh yes, 'Intelligent Design'. ... Customer: I'll tell you what's wrong with it, ... I know an empty 'argument from incredulity' when I ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Yet Another announcement of the death of darwinism
    ... Salesman: Oh yes, 'Intelligent Design'. ... Customer: I'll tell you what's wrong with it, ... I know an empty 'argument from incredulity' when I ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: how to buy hardwood?
    ... In woodworking, that won't do you much good, other than how much it will ... out that way if you're a new customer ... ... AAMOF, if there are six 'salesman" in the place, ... of business, and each time you go back it will get easier. ...
    (rec.woodworking)