Criteria for determining design

[AirPo]

Nowadays, this is very easy. If it has a label on it that says, "Made in China," it is designed. If it does not, chances are it is not designed. LOL!

Doesn't "Made in China" implied copied?

 

[AirPo]

This is a really interesting question. And what do you mean by designed? This is going to get complicated in the not too distant future:

If we manipulate the genes of a sheep egg, and turn it into a super sheep that grows to 6 feet tall, can run 50 mph, has razor sharp teeth, and produces lamb, bacon, and cheese, is it considered designed or natural?

Sounds like breakfast for the Flintstones.

 

[crjmurray]

For all the huffin and puffin I see about design around here, I'm really surprised no one has spoken up.

 

[ChetSinger]

For all the huffin and puffin I see about design around here, I'm really surprised no one has spoken up.

You restricted the thread to "organisms". I think they were all designed. So being alive is a "design criterion" to me. And atheists likely believe that nothing living is designed. I really don't know where you expect this thread to go.

 

[crjmurray]

You restricted the thread to "organisms". I think they were all designed. So being alive is a "design criterion" to me. And atheists likely believe that nothing living is designed. I really don't know where you expect this thread to go.

I expected people to explain their criteria for determining design. I don't think I restricted anything. If you can explain a criteria for determining design then by all means go ahead. How is being alive design criterion?

 

[ChetSinger]

I expected people to explain their criteria for determining design. I don't think I restricted anything. If you can explain a criteria for determining design then by all means go ahead. How is being alive design criterion?

OK, I'll bite. Because living things don't come into existence except through procreation: they have too many interdependent parts. Ergo, the first ones were engineered. How's that?

 

[crjmurray]

OK, I'll bite. Because living things don't come into existence except through procreation: they have too many interdependent parts. Ergo, the first ones were engineered. How's that?

Is it the interdependent parts that evidences design?

 

[MerlinJ]

And atheists likely believe that nothing living is designed.

GMO's are living things designed by humans. Perhaps domesticated plants and animals too.

I get your point, though, and I have yet to see a living thing which fundamentally could not arise from natural processes.

 

[crjmurray]

OK, I'll bite. Because living things don't come into existence except through procreation: they have too many interdependent parts. Ergo, the first ones were engineered. How's that?

Also, first ones what? First humans? First primates? First reptiles? First self replicating organism?

 

[ChetSinger]

Is it the interdependent parts that evidences design?

Imo, that's one of the evidences, yes.

 

[ChetSinger]

Also, first ones what? First humans? First primates? First reptiles? First self replicating organism?

First cells and the living things made of them.

 

[ChetSinger]

GMO's are living things designed by humans. Perhaps domesticated plants and animals too.

I get your point, though, and I have yet to see a living thing which fundamentally could not arise from natural processes.

Stepping aside from the origins questions, I do think it will be possible to detect the living things that have been engineered by us, such as detecting the presence of tomato DNA in farm-raised trout, etc.

 

[MerlinJ]

Stepping aside from the origins questions, I do think it will be possible to detect the living things that have been engineered by us, such as detecting the presence of tomato DNA in farm-raised trout, etc.

In the not so distant future, when man is examining the DNA of an odd plant specimen, he will look into his microscope and see:

CARL WAS HERE.
​

 

[crjmurray]

Stepping aside from the origins questions, I do think it will be possible to detect the living things that have been engineered by us, such as detecting the presence of tomato DNA in farm-raised trout, etc.

Is there anything like that we can detect in organisms not designed or manipulated by humans?

 

[ChetSinger]

In the not so distant future, when man is examining the DNA of an odd plant specimen, he will look into his microscope and see:

CARL WAS HERE.​

Yeah. Or maybe a US patent number.

 

[AirPo]

Yeah. Or maybe a US patent number.

Wasn't that in some movie?

 

[ChetSinger]

Is there anything like that we can detect in organisms not designed or manipulated by humans?

First, I think, we need a genetic database of the things around us. Then we can begin to look for things that are out of place. There's a lot of money to be made through engineering our food supply. So I think there will be money available to do genetic scans, both for product development and for other purposes such as protecting IP.

 

[ChetSinger]

Wasn't that in some movie?

I think Blade Runner had a manufacturer's serial number encoded in an engineered snake's scales.

 

[Oncedeceived]

You restricted the thread to "organisms". I think they were all designed. So being alive is a "design criterion" to me. And atheists likely believe that nothing living is designed. I really don't know where you expect this thread to go.

Exactly.

 

[Oncedeceived]

Is there anything like that we can detect in organisms not designed or manipulated by humans?

I'd like to take a moment here and ask you what as a Deist you believe according to the creation of the universe and life on earth?