Hi KO, > 2009/3/23 Platt Holden <[email protected]> > > No, I haven't read it, but I have questions about Darwinian evolution, > not > > a dismissal of "all that stuff.".
[KO] > It would be nice to know which of Darwin's ideas you accept if any. [P] I accept that finches change beaks to adopt to changing conditions. But I reserve judgment on "oops," an entirely new species. [P] > > For instance, there's Pirsig's question, > > "Why survive?" [K] > This is a great question. I have often thought that everyone takes it as > a > given that people should be kind to each other etc. and that we all > should > go 'onward and upward' even 'forward and up' as they direct in the > Alexander > Technique. One answer is that its more painful to do otherwise. If we > dont > go to get something to eat then we suffer hunger - that is just the way > things are, like the physical world out there - those objects will hurt > you > if you walk into them! The continual mass hypnosis from the social > machine > to improve the quality of life in our great nation etc., to improve > welfare > and grow as a nation. Why? We are a blip on the cosmic clock. We talk > about > the sanctity of life but we only really mean human life - the other > animals > are as pets or zoo curiosities in the great parks. This parallel > universe > ends when i die, in the meantime i try to enjoy all i can and help those > close to me because that gives meaning to my life. [P] Good answer. But, I still wonder why life is opposed to physical forces, as Pirsig asks. His answer: DQ pulling/pushing towards betterness. [P] > > Also, how and why did evolution get started in the first > > place? [K] > Whether you are an ID creationist or an evolutionist, the fact is life > DID > get started. It would be great to know how, but personally i see no > evidence > for a conscious creator, on the other hand i do see evidence of > evolution > all around - from crufts dog show to pigeon fanciers, from nematodes to > Neanderthals. [P] If evolution simply means change, yes, things change. No argument there. The question is, "Why?" [P] > Also, what is the true nature of "chance" that Darwin claims has a > > creative role in evolution other than the limits of our understanding? [K] > As i replied earlier i dont know that Darwin attributed evolution to > chance > but anyway: you dont question that there is hazard in life? Perfection > exists only in imagination. When DNA replicates it does so with high > fidelity but not without slight errors. These variations mean that the > vehicle that arises with that DNA may have, for example, a longer neck > than > its relative and so may have an advantage over others - it will then pass > on > those variations to its young - but you know all this! Evolution is not > based on chance. Poker is a game is chance but some people can still win > consistently through their selective approach. [P] Are not chance mutations fundamental to the creation of changes Darwinian theory attempts to explain? That's what I meant by "creative role." [P] > Also, how does Darwin explain the survival advantage of the human > response > > to beauty? [K] > Again, i dont know that Darwin tried to explain that, but that beauty has > a > role in evolution is obvious when i see an attractive woman! [P] No doubt. What about a sunset? A flower? An elegant theory? [P] > > 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. [K] > I'll have a read of that article now. [P] I'd like to know what you think of it. Thanks, 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/
