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Jackson6612 Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

But all the systems are complex in the extreme...

I couldn't understand the red text in the following paragraph, so please help me.

We live in a time when this process is newly understood. Still it is complex in the extreme. But all the systems are complex in the extreme. That we are able to understand them as well as we do does not detract from the miracle. Indeed, understanding it reveals it to be even more of a miracle.
  

Top answer

The fact that we can understand these systems to the degree that we do understand them does not mean that the process is less like a miracle. In fact, understanding (this process) shows that the process is more like a miracle. _________ The idea is that greater knowledge about the process does not lead us to think that the process is less miraculous than we originally thought; it leads us to think that the process is more miraculous.

— CalifJim

  • The fact that we can understand these systems to the degree that we do understand them does not mean that the process is less like a miracle.
  • In fact, understanding (this process) shows that the process is more like a miracle.
  • _________ The idea is that greater knowledge about the process does not lead us to think that the process is less miraculous than we originally thought; it leads us to think that the process is more miraculous.
  • CJ
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11 Answers
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The fact that we can understand these systems to the degree that we do understand them

does not mean that the process is less like a miracle.

In fact, understanding (this process) shows that the process is more like a miracle.
_________

The idea is that greater knowledge about the process does not lead us to think that the process is less miracul
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We live in a time when this process is newly understood. Still it is complex in the extreme. But all the systems are complex in the extreme. That we are able to understand them as well as we do does not detract from the miracle. Indeed, understanding it reveals it to be even more of a miracle.
Hi CJ
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Before you explained the above text, I was reading it as:
That we are able to understand them - as well as we do does not detract from the miracle.
Ah! I see. I did not realize it was that part of the structure that you were having trouble with.
As you have now seen, this is not the correct reading.
I beli
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That we are able to understand them as well as we do does not detract from the miracle.

Would it be wrong if the above sentence is written as:
That we are able to understand them as well as we do does not detract them from being the miracle?
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Would it be wrong if the above sentence is written as:
That we are able to understand them as well as we do does not detract them from being the miracle?
Yes. That would be wrong. The grammar of the verb detract does not allow that combination. (Also, you need a miracle, n
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Hi CJ

Original version: That we are able to understand them as well as we do does not detract from the miracle.

Your version: That we are able to understand them as well as we do does not detract from their being a miracle.

Your version makes good sense to me. Is the original v
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Hi Jim

I'm waiting for your reply.

With very best wishes
Jackson
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Original version: That we are able to understand them as well as we do does not detract from the miracle.

Your version: That we are able to understand them as well as we do does not detract from their being a miracle.

.......

Is the original version correct?
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Original version: That we are able to understand them as well as we do does not detract from the miracle.

Your version: That we are able to understand them as well as we do does not detract from their being a miracle.
If their being a is taken out of your version, the original
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I don't know why the original version doesn't seem natural to me. Can you help me?
I don't think I can be much help at this point. I don't know, either, why the original version doesn't seem natural to you.

The best I can do is paraphrase the original once again, with a little more detail at the end, where you seem to be having the most difficulty.
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