Tag: Critical thinking

Debunking Paley’s watch and a minister who lies

Paley’s watch is named after Rev. William Paley, the minister who first used the analogy of finding a watch on the beach as an analogy to prove Biblical creation. Of course it does no such thing but religious conviction tends to limit the ability of even the most intelligent people to consider all the options.

Paley’s watch has morphed into a variety of forms over the years from Mount Rushmore to the 747 in the junkyard. It even underpins several “Look at the trees” type arguments, none of which withstand scrutiny.

Here’s my response to the minister who isn’t just limited in his thinking .. he’s downright deceitful.

Carl Sagan’s razor

Carl Sagan, astronomer and science populiser was no fool. He was the one behind the incredibly successful history of science series, Cosmos. Not only was it a hit in the 1970s when Sagan presented it himself but it was equally popular when Neil de Grasse-Tyson remade it decades later. Such was the ability of Sagan. His razor is as straightforward as it is important. Find out more in under four minutes by clicking the video below.