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=====Explanatory Filter Step 3 – Identifying purpose – Finding a Specification=====

=====Explanatory Filter Step 3 – Identifying purpose – Finding a Specification=====

The third element of Dembski’s filter is to look for an apparent “specification” or purpose.  According to Dembski, the required “specification” is present if it reflects a meaning, structure or function recognizable by a mind that is independent of the significance of the various elements that make up the pattern.  For example the following are two different combinations of six letters of the alphabet:  NEDGIS and DESIGN.  The first, consisting of NEDGIS, reflects a random ordering of the six letters.  It does not reflect any meaning recognizable by a mind that is independent of the significance of each of the symbols that make up the pattern.  However, the second sequence that was ordered for a purpose, “DESIGN,” has a meaning that is independent of the six letters in the sequence.  The “D” in both sequences has the same significance separately, but in one sequence the relative position of the D enables that sequence to “mean,” as a verb “to intend for a definite purpose.”

The third element of Dembski’s filter is to look for an apparent “specification” or purpose.  According to Dembski, the required “specification” is present if it reflects a meaning, structure or function recognizable by a mind that is independent of the significance of the various elements that make up the pattern.  For example, the following are two different combinations of six letters of the alphabet:  NEDGIS and DESIGN.  The first, consisting of NEDGIS, reflects a random ordering of the six letters.  It does not reflect any meaning recognizable by a mind that is independent of the significance of each of the symbols that make up the pattern.  However, the second sequence that was ordered for a purpose, “DESIGN,” has a meaning that is independent of the six letters in the sequence.  The “D” in both sequences has the same significance separately, but in one sequence the relative position of the D enables that sequence to “mean,” as a verb “to intend for a definite purpose.”

In the book by Carl Sagan, '''Contact''', a sequence of prime numbers received by a radio telescope from outer space was deemed to be a possible design or message.  In the first step of the filter, the peculiar pattern of beeps and pauses could not be explained by any physical or chemical necessity.  Further, its length of over 1000 symbols ruled out chance in the second part of the analysis. The investigation then turned to a search for a “specification,” a meaning or significance for the sequence of prime numbers that was independent of the symbols them selves.  They were looking for something that would tie the over 1000 stopping points to an integrated whole.  They asked, what meaning lies in a series of prime numbers?  Jody Foster, remarked, “Maybe it is an attention getter!”  Sure enough the message alerted the SETI researchers to a subsequent message containing the blue prints for building an extraordinary machine that ultimately transported Ms Foster into another world.  

In the book by Carl Sagan, '''Contact''', a sequence of prime numbers received by a radio telescope from outer space was deemed to be a possible design or message.  In the first step of the filter, the peculiar pattern of beeps and pauses could not be explained by any physical or chemical necessity.  Further, its length of over 1000 symbols ruled out chance in the second part of the analysis. The investigation then turned to a search for a “specification,” a meaning or significance for the sequence of prime numbers that was independent of the symbols them selves.  They were looking for something that would tie the over 1000 stopping points to an integrated whole.  They asked, what meaning lies in a series of prime numbers?  Jody Foster, remarked, “Maybe it is an attention getter!”  Sure enough the message alerted the SETI researchers to a subsequent message containing the blue prints for building an extraordinary machine that ultimately transported Ms Foster into another world.