Hello Platt, you pose some important questions - which i will ponder overnight and attempt to reply to tomorrow - but for the time being i only say that i never heard of Darwin claiming that chance has a creative role in evolution. I wholeheartedly recommend the book as a fascinating read.
-KO 2009/3/23 Platt Holden <[email protected]> > > Hi Platt, > > > > i read this book and was very impressed - i am surprised that you mention > > it > > - have you read it? - Matt Ridley is right down Darwin alley and i > > thought > > your take on all that stuff was a discrediting 'oops'! > > > > -KO > > Hi KO, > > No, I haven't read it, but I have questions about Darwinian evolution, not > a dismissal of "all that stuff.". For instance, there's Pirsig's question, > "Why survive?" Also, how and why did evolution get started in the first > place? Also, what is the true nature of "chance" that Darwin claims has a > creative role in evolution other than the limits of our understanding? > Also, how does Darwin explain the survival advantage of the human response > to beauty? Etc. If Ridley's book answers these and other questions, please > let me know. I'll get a copy. In the meantime, the interview I recommend > is based on a book Ridley is currently working on about the rise and fall > of civilizations. Given that Western civilization is on a downward spiral, > Ridley may have some ideas on how to slow our slouching to Gomorrah. > > Thanks for the question. > Platt > > > > 2009/3/23 Platt Holden <[email protected]> > > > > > Hi All, > > > > > > Fascinating interview with Matt Ridley, author of several books > > including > > > "The Origins of Virtue: Human Instincts and the Evolution of > > Cooperation." > > > In the interview he describes the social conditions that promote > > progress > > > (DQ) that also latch the gains (SQ). (Of course he doesn't use MOQ > > terms, > > > but the connection is obvious.) He is currently working on a book to > > > further explain his conclusions, based on his study of the history of > > > civilizations going back to the Bronze Age. You can read the interview > > at: > > > > > > http://www.reason.com/news/show/130848.html > > > > > > Regards, > > > Platt > > Moq_Discuss mailing list > Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. > http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org > Archives: > http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ > http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/ > Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
