PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS IN THE DISCUSSION OF IRREDUCIBLE COMPLEXITY, NATURALISM, DEMARCATION CRITERION, PROBABILITY, LAW, AND ADEQUATE EXPLANATION

討論無可簡化之複雜性、自然主義、科學分水嶺、或然率、法則、充分解釋的哲學假設

余創豪(Yu Chong-ho)

《建道學刊》 21期 (2004/01) Pp. 109-127

摘要

In Darwin's Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution, Dr. Michael Behe evaluates the possibility of gradualism in macroevolution in the perspective of ＂irreducible complexity,＂ which has become a controversial topic among theologians, philosophers, and scientists. This paper demonstrates that ＂reasoning by analogy＂ regarding the ＂mousetrap metaphor＂ could not illuminate the question at all. Besides, that author asserts that the debate on creation and evolution is not necessarily a religion-versus-science one; one should also consider aspects like probability, law, and the meaning of adequate explanation. After all, both parties are tied to hidden metaphysical assumptions.

並列摘要

在《達爾文的黑盒－生化學對進化論之挑戰》一書中，米高比希以「不能簡化之複雜性」這角度，評鑑宏觀進化論中的漸進主義，「不能簡化之複雜性」已成為神學家、哲學家、科學家爭論的熱門話題。在這篇文章中，作者指出花在「類比思維」來討論「老鼠夾的比喻」的努力，並無助於解決問題，此外，作者認為關於爭辯創造論、進化論中或然率、法則、充分解釋的意義和其他問題，均牽涉到雙方隱藏的形上學假設。