Nicholas Thompson wrote circa 10-05-09 03:35 PM: > The metaphor I want to examine is that between the manner in which the > different strains of pigeons in Darwin's coop came to be the way they were > and the manner in which different species of plants and animals came to be > the way they are.
OK. I'm happy to work with that. However, I have to say up front that I STRONGLY doubt that you can make that metaphor precise in any sense. Earlier, you listed: pigeon varieties : pigeon species :: species of animals : all animals 1) So, the metaphor is between the effects (E_s - "s" for synthetic) of the behaviors of an intentional human breeder and the effects (E_n - "n" for natural) of some hypothetical natural process we call "natural selection". Is that right? Is the metaphor between E_s and E_n? 2) Or, is the metaphor between the _methods_ or behaviors as opposed to the effects/results of those methods? I.e. M_s is the methods of the man and M_n is the methods of nature and the metaphor is M_s -> M_n? 3) Or, rather, is the metaphor between the _agent_, one a man and the other nature? I.e. A_s is the man, himself, and A_n is nature, herself? 4) Or, perhaps the metaphor is between the _purposes_ of the two processes/systems? I.e. P_s is the intent of the man and P_n is the "intent" of nature? Which of these more precisely captures the metaphor you want to explore? -- glen e. p. ropella, 971-222-9095, http://agent-based-modeling.com ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
