Originally posted by XanthosNZThere are missing links! Between every integer is an infinite number of real numbers that have never been found so you could not possibly get to a billion.
I don't believe in Macro addition. Has anyone ever counted to a billion?
Also, the number 999,999,999 is too perfect it cannot be obtained by random counting so it must have been invented by an intelligent entity we will not name. If you turn it upside down you see the number of the beast!
One could never count to 1 Billion because I estimate the probability of not making a mistake to be zero.
The theory of irreducible complexity shows conclusively that you can never get a more complex number by random counting and the functional complexity of numbers in the 100 million range is clearly greater than that in the sub million range.
Nobody has ever shown that it is possible to get numbers from non-numbers so your theory that all integers came from the integer 1 is false.
Originally posted by telerionI assumed that probability had a same or similar meaning as likelihood or chance. I guess I'm wrong.
[b]the probability that macroevolution occurred appears to be zero.Learn something about probability before using this argument. We need a sticky thread on this subject.[/b]
In a mathematical context, I know that probability lies between 0 and 1; 0 being that something won’t/didn’t happen, and 1 meaning that there is/was 100% chance that something would/did happen.
Yes, the sentence referred to does seem rather awkward; I really wasn't thinking about my word choice when I wrote it.
Originally posted by YugaThe probability that something happened is either 1 or 0. It can't be anything in between. And either of those statements are meaningless really. You can't say what the probability of a past event is (you can say what it was though).
I assumed that probability had a same or similar meaning as likelihood or chance. I guess I'm wrong.
In a mathematical context, I know that probability lies between 0 and 1; 0 being that something won’t/didn’t happen, and 1 meaning that there is/was 100% chance that something would/did happen.
Yes, the sentence referred to does seem rather awkward; I really wasn't thinking about my word choice when I wrote it.
Originally posted by XanthosNZNo, its more complicated than that. A probability of 0 or 1 is almost meaningless as you are effectively saying that the answer is known and therefore there is no probability involved.
The probability that something happened is either 1 or 0. It can't be anything in between. And either of those statements are meaningless really. You can't say what the probability of a past event is (you can say what it was though).
Talking about the probability that a past even actually happened is not the same as the reality of whether or not it did happen. I could say that to me, the probability of you being a man is 90% whereas you are claiming that it can only be 0 or 1. Probability is based on the amount of information available to the person estimating the probability and can vary from person to person. when we talk about future events like a coin toss we often assume that no information is available other than that the flight path of the coin has a random component.
If God is truly the creator, why does he allow some perfectly well functioning living cells to become cancerous, often resulting in a slow, painful death to the organism involved?
What purpose has God served by doing that (for it surely must have been His intention) & isn't it more likely to have just been an unfortunate, but entirely natural mutation?
Originally posted by SquelchbelchGod spilled his coffee on the 'intelligent design' and the stain became cancer
If God is truly the creator, why does he allow some perfectly well functioning living cells to become cancerous, often resulting in a slow, painful death to the organism involved?
What purpose has God served by doing that (for it surely must have been His intention) & isn't it more likely to have just been an unfortunate, but entirely natural mutation?
Originally posted by twhiteheadsurely (it) either is or isn't a man; that's 50/50 isn't it?
No, its more complicated than that. A probability of 0 or 1 is almost meaningless as you are effectively saying that the answer is known and therefore there is no probability involved.
Talking about the probability that a past even actually happened is not the same as the reality of whether or not it did happen. I could say that to me, the probability of ...[text shortened]... no information is available other than that the flight path of the coin has a random component.
Originally posted by snowinscotlandMost probabilities are not 50/50. For example, the chances of the earth being less than 6 billion years old are nowhere near 50/50. The chances of the earth being 6,000, for example, a probably in the regions of several thousand billion to one, but its still hypothetically possible.
surely (it) either is or isn't a man; that's 50/50 isn't it?
Originally posted by twhiteheadThe true probability is either a 1 or a 0 (I can't be 0.9 man can I?) but your knowledge of my sex could be anything in between. You can be 90% sure I am a man.
No, its more complicated than that. A probability of 0 or 1 is almost meaningless as you are effectively saying that the answer is known and therefore there is no probability involved.
Talking about the probability that a past even actually happened is not the same as the reality of whether or not it did happen. I could say that to me, the probability of ...[text shortened]... no information is available other than that the flight path of the coin has a random component.
So, X either happened or didn't happen (1 or 0) but you may be 90% sure it happened or 10% sure it happened (or 50/50 🙄 ).
Originally posted by scottishinnzsorry people - I just cannot believe the logic in some of these posts, and the 'it is or it isn't - that's 50/50' had me rolling in the floor pi**ing myself; I swore I would use it whenever.......
Most probabilities are not 50/50. For example, the chances of the earth being less than 6 billion years old are nowhere near 50/50. The chances of the earth being 6,000, for example, a probably in the regions of several thousand billion to one, but its still hypothetically possible.