185. Stephen Meyer — Return of the God Hypothesis: Three Scientific Discoveries that Reveal the Mind Behind the Universe (and why Shermer remains skeptical)

The Michael Shermer Show

Michael Shermer

Dialogue, Science, Reason, Michaelshermer, Natural Sciences, Skeptic

4.4 • 921 Ratings

🗓️ 29 May 2021

⏱️ 118 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Beginning in the late 19^th century, many intellectuals began to insist that scientific knowledge conflicts with traditional theistic belief — that science and belief in God are “at war.” Philosopher of science Stephen Meyer challenges this view by examining three scientific discoveries with decidedly theistic implications. Building on the case for the intelligent design of life that he developed in Signature in the Cell and Darwin’s Doubt, Meyer claims that discoveries in cosmology and physics coupled with those in biology help to establish the identity of the designing intelligence behind life and the universe. Previously Meyer refrained from attempting to answer questions about “who” might have designed life. Now he provides an evidence-based answer to perhaps the ultimate mystery of the universe.

Shermer responds to each claim and a stimulating and enlightening conversation ensues.

Note: It is Dr. Shermer’s intention in his podcast to periodically talk to people with whom skeptics and scientists may disagree. In some episodes Dr. Shermer tries to “steel man” a position held by someone with differing views — that is, he says in his own words what he thinks the other person is arguing — but in this case the other person is in the conversation and can represent his own position clearly, which is what happens. As well, such conversations enable principles of skepticism to be employed in ways constructive to those who hold views not necessarily embraced by skeptics and scientists. Such principles should be embraced by all seekers of truth, and that is why we want to talk to people with whom we may disagree.

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to the Michael Sherman Show.
0:07.0	Okay, my guest today is Stephen C Meyer, the famous intelligent design theorist, his book is Return of the God
0:16.1	Hypotheses, three scientific discoveries that reveal the mind behind the universe. Stephen received his PhD from the University of Cambridge
0:26.0	and the Philosophy of Science. He directs the Center for Science and Culture
0:30.1	at the Discovery Institute in Seattle and authored the New York Times bestseller
0:34.4	Darwin's Doubt and Signature in the Cell. And this is sort of the third
0:39.6	volume of his and at least a dozen different major issues in which I push back on all of them and he has of
0:55.6	course rebuttals because there's nothing he hasn't heard from any of us and so to that extent
1:02.4	it's a phenomenal conversation,
1:05.0	talking about everything, physics and biology
1:06.8	and consciousness, morality, why there's something
1:10.1	rather than nothing and in information theory and the laws of physics and the
1:15.4	mathematical universe and on and on and on it it's a phenomenal conversation on the
1:21.4	biggest questions of all and the ultimate one is there something behind
1:26.7	at all something like a god or an intelligent designer a mind well to find out the answer, give this a listen. Thanks for listening.
1:35.0	All right, Stephen Meyer, here it is. The return of the God hypothesis. Three scientific
1:49.5	discoveries that reveal the mind behind the universe.
1:52.8	Well, all right, you know, you and I have done debates over the years many times and we're not
1:59.3	going to do that today.
2:00.5	Let's just have a conversation.
2:01.9	Let's just talk about, you know, the of fun my friend the big questions and the problem with debate and I'm tending probably never going to do them again because you know people are just trying to win.
2:13.3	And it's more tribal, and it becomes more political in that sense.
	...

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