[MD] Dawkins quotes RMP on religion.

[ian glendinning]

OK Arlo,

Logic says it MUST be there - was all I was saying. ie the existence
will be no surprise, though clearly the consequences of "contact"
could be mind-blowing.
And
Try "finely balanced" (rather than perfect or tuned) - I'm OK with
that. I didn't intend to imply any sentient teleology, as I felt sure
you would already know.

Sorry to jump on you over the Fermi Paradox and sophisticated AP's,
but you seemed to be "dismissing" them, without even any
acknowledgement. I was just expressing interest in understanding them,
and keeping open mind on acceptance or denial.

More substantially - apart from your subjective impression - why do
you see the physical evidence as "untuned". The "rarity" is just our
matter of perspective from our small and short tenure on our corner of
the observable universe - it's very big and old. This is where I see
you denying strong scientific evidence of the apparent "fine balance"
- whatever the explanation or reasoning ?

The tuning, sorry balance, says life is to be expected in this
universe. Our lack of contact so far is an entirely separate issue,
surely ?

Ian