Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id TAA13625 (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 19:24:52 +0100 Message-ID: <006501c115ff$f6dff240$7986b2d1@teddace> From: "Dace" <edace@earthlink.net> To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> References: <20010726005926.AAA17991@camailp.harvard.edu@[205.240.180.108]> Subject: Re: Logic Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2001 11:22:34 -0700 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4133.2400 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4133.2400 Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Hi Wade
> >The point
> >of evolution is that the species are not molded externally. Their forms
> >arise from within, over time.
>
> Sorry, but no. The point of Darwin is that nothing remains the same,
> regardless of internal similarity, because the environment is a shifting
> sand that organisms either adapt to, or perish.
Darwin is only one take on evolution. That we weren't molded by a Creator
opens up the possibility of self-creation. This opening has been squandered
in our effort to naturalize the process of deterministic creation.
> Evolution is not logical from a design viewpoint. It does not separate
> the wheat from the chaff.
Certainly an intelligent designer could have created a much more rational
plan for the human body. But instead of dropping the idea of blueprints
altogether, we insist that the blueprints have evolved blindly through a
process of natural selection and genetic mutation. Call it a "blueprints"
meme, if you will. We still haven't really given up on the notion of
design. This is why creationism retains its power. We're perpetuating
creationist thinking unconsciously even as we try to stamp it out
consciously.
My basic point is that it's not logical to retain a mechanistic approach in
the light of evolution. Mechanism makes far more sense when there's a
mechanic. Blueprints make a lot more sense when there's a designer.
Ted Dace
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