Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id MAA12906 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Thu, 26 Jul 2001 12:49:18 +0100 Message-ID: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D3101745FCD@inchna.stir.ac.uk> From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: Logic Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2001 12:12:26 +0100 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: text/plain X-Filter-Info: UoS MailScan 0.1 [D 1] Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
<Sorry, but no for you too Wade. Evolution might not be
> perfectly logical with respect to a perfect intelligent
> design, but it is logical the some degree nonetheless.
> Also it does `separate wheat from the chaff' if I correctly
> understand your niche. Natural selection means specific
> adaptation. A species adapts or perishes. During the competition
> between species only the fittest survive.>
>
How come there are millions of species then, that cohabit the same
environments? How come there isn't just one species? Survival of the
fittest is a tautology which doesn't adequately describe what goes on in
evolution. (Why? think about what it means to be fit- of course only the
fit survive).
Some species are able to exploit niches in ways which allow then to
survive despite dramatic environmental change going on around them (the
coelacanth, and nautilus spring to mind), others become so tied to their
niches that they are extremely vulnerable to sudden enviromental change
(giant panda I guess is a good example).
<Therefore, natural selection does function as a sieve to separate
wheat from chaff.
> We humans wouldn't be around, being intelligent, on top of
> the food chain and all that, if it weren't for natural selection!
> Of all the macro-species, humans came out as winners in the
> rat-race called biological evolution.>
>
Another basic error is to see evolution as a kind of a ladder, with
species fighting each other to get to the top of it, and with us on top. It
is not like that. If it was, then humans could not be wiped out by bacteria
or viruses because they are so much further "down the ladder".
Vincent
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