The Revenge of Pythagoras
How a Mathematical Sharp Practice Undermines the Contemporary Design Argument in Astrophysical Cosmology
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8399015 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Robert Klee (corresponding author) |
| Year | 2002 |
| Volume | 53 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 331-354 |
| Publication date | 2002-09-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0007-0882 • E-ISSN: 1464-3537 |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1093/bjps/53.3.331 |
| OpenAlex | W2134776559 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 15 |
Recent developments in astrophysical cosmology have revived support for the design argument among a growing clique of astrophysicists. I show that the scientific/mathematical evidence cited in support of intelligent design of the universe is infected with a mathematical sharp practice: the concepts of two numbers being of the same order of magnitude, and of being within an order of each other, have been stretched from their proper meanings so as to doctor the numbers evidentially. This practice started with A. S. Eddington and P. A. M. Dirac in the 1920s and 1930s, but it is still very much alive today. 1 Introduction 2 The birth of a sharp practice 3 High tide for the anthropic principle 4 How not to do things with numbers 5 The recalcitrant sloppiness of crud 6 How excited can excited carbon‐12 be? 7 Is a pile of doubts a doubtful pile? 8 Conclusion
Anthropic principle · Argument (complex analysis) · Astronomy · Cosmology · Epistemology · Intelligent design · Order (exchange) · Physics · Theoretical physics · Universe · History and Developments in Astronomy · Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs · Philosophy · Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
| Citations per year | 0.08 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2014 - 2014 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |