What do Intelligent Designers say about toenails ?

[free2011]

From an evolution standpoint toenails make complete sense. They are a leftover from when feet were used more like hands, serving a similar function to fingernails, helping to open vital food objects, strip bark to build structures, protection, etc. This seems to be yet another dagger to the ID stance. Thoughts?

[Peterkin]

? God has fingernails and toenails for aesthetic symmetry, not because he needs to open seed-pods or hook into tree-bark while climbing. Probably real nice mani- and pedicure as well, what with all those sainted xtians who have zero musical talent.

[NotSoVacuous]

With arguments like this:





It is stupid to waste time saying things like "Oh ya? Toenails, you can't explain that!"

I mean come on. It is too easy to rationalize as a theist, you would be wasting your time.

[Gawdzilla]

(09-10-2011 08:48 AM)free2011 Wrote:  From an evolution standpoint toenails make complete sense. They are a leftover from when feet were used more like hands, serving a similar function to fingernails, helping to open vital food objects, strip bark to build structures, protection, etc. This seems to be yet another dagger to the ID stance. Thoughts?

One thing you have to keep in mind. There is no such thing as a "fatal flaw" in creationism. You can point out the ship has no bottom and they will still launch it.

[theophilus]

Why shouldn't God make us with toenails? I don't see how this has any bearing at all on the subject.

[Gawdzilla]

(09-10-2011 03:02 PM)theophilus Wrote:  Why shouldn't God make us with toenails? I don't see how this has any bearing at all on the subject.

Why? Why all the atavisms? Why male nipples, why the appendix, why hair on our bodies? We look like we are descended from "lesser creatures", because we are.

[Peterkin]

See, there are two major classes of physical adaptation in the world of nature:
A - the obviously good and useful
B - other (inconvenient, frivolous, hard to explain, anachronistic, vestigial, counter-intuitive)

Class A proves intelligent design
Class B is irrelevant

[free2011]

(09-10-2011 03:02 PM)theophilus Wrote:  Why shouldn't God make us with toenails? I don't see how this has any bearing at all on the subject.

The question isn't why shouldn't he the question is why should he. Remember it's called Intelligent Design. Would an intellligent engineer put a useless part on an automobile?

[Gawdzilla]

(09-10-2011 05:11 PM)free2011 Wrote:  

(09-10-2011 03:02 PM)theophilus Wrote:  Why shouldn't God make us with toenails? I don't see how this has any bearing at all on the subject.

The question isn't why shouldn't he the question is why should he. Remember it's called Intelligent Design. Would an intellligent engineer put a useless part on an automobile?

They often come back with "How can you know what 'intelligent design' means to God?" Well, I can't design an 787 airliner, but I can tell you that one with both wings on one side isn't a very intelligent design.

[cufflink]

This article from Smithsonian.com lists some interesting design flaws in the human body.

"From hiccups to wisdom teeth, the evolution of homo sapiens has left behind some glaring, yet innately human, imperfections."