From: "Gary Britt" 

Until we observe them, you are just GUESSING (or should I say using the
scientific method) that they exist and what we may find.  There are what 12
planets in our own solar system and with the odds of life springing up
everywhere so easily as Tony claims I would expect at least 8 of them to
have life just as complicated as modern man.  If they don't maybe life
springing up isn't so easy after all.  If you go by the observations we are
able to make, the odds are astronomical against life just springing up from
nothing by chance much less then having all the conditions right at each
step on the way to life as complicated and intelligent as modern man.  If
the scientific method is using what can be observed to predict/guess about
what you can't.  Then the scientific method does NOT support Tony's guess
that life springs up pretty damn easily all on its own.

Gary

"Steve Ewing"  wrote in message
news:op.s0e2ipnqsagvys{at}news.barkto.com...
> On Thu, 17 Nov 2005 18:44:29 -0500, Tony Williams  wrote:
>
> >> Gary Britt wrote:
> >>  Just look at all the planets we have directly observed that are
> >> capable of supporting life, have life on them, and have life on them as
> >> complicated and intelligent as modern man.
> >> No problem.  Not improbably at all based upon all observations to date.
> >> Sure.....
>
> >  We haven't directly observed any other earthlike planets to date
> > because they'd be too small to see with out current equipment. What we
> > have observed are larger planets forming systems in which earthlike
> > planets might exist. There isn't enough data to do more than extrapolate
> > - using the scientific method of course.
>
> It's the Gary B Uncertainty Principle-- it doesn't exist until we directly
> observe it.  When we *do* find Earth-like planets with life on them, rest
> assured that they will have just sprung into being simultaneously with the
> observation.
>
> --
> Steve 
> http://www.qmss.com/~sewing

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