Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id CAA16502 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-bounces@mmu.ac.uk); Fri, 31 Aug 2001 02:57:25 +0100 X-Originating-IP: [209.240.220.143] From: "Scott Chase" <ecphoric@hotmail.com> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Re: Clincher? Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 21:54:47 -0400 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Message-ID: <F55DERHZWYbyu7r4LYh00003a62@hotmail.com> X-OriginalArrivalTime: 31 Aug 2001 01:54:48.0258 (UTC) FILETIME=[EA4E0220:01C131BF] Sender: fmb-bounces@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>From: "Dace" <edace@earthlink.net>
>Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
>To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
>Subject: Re: Clincher?
>Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 13:05:34 -0700
>
>From: Scott Chase
>
> > > You should
> > > be aware that Darwin considered the capacity of organisms to shape
> > >their evolutionary future as being essential to evolutionary theory.
>As
> > >far as Darwin was concerned, there is no theory of evolution if the
>behavior
> > > of organisms isn't its driving force. He would certainly have been
> > > appalled at what has been put forth in his name in this century.
>
> > I wonder if he would have been appalled by organic selection (the
>"Baldwin
> > effect") whereby, in a sense, behavioral shifts could influence
>subsequent
> > evolutionary changes as modifications in a pliable phenotype are
>eventually
> > supplanted by mutations or recombinations of the genetic *material*
>(w.e.g.-
> > wicked evil grin as the Bostoner's might say).
>
>As long as we assume that genes in some way contain the structure of the
>body, then the passing on of acquired characteristics is impossible.
>
Genes can exert influence on development of structure without containing
some sort of homuncular "blueprint".
>
>Acquired traits can't directly change the genome. But keep in mind that
>Darwin rejected the notion of units of "germ-plasm" coding for units of
>bodily structure.
>
>
I have in mind that Darwin put forth a shaky speculation about particles
from various modified parts of the body (gemmules) somewhow influencing the
gonadal structure and allowing for acquired traits to be passed to
offspring. Was he aware of Weismann's doctrine of the germ-plasm?
IIRC Gregory Bateson considered Lamarck a great biologist who turned a trick
similar to the Copernican revolution in that L. inverted our views of mind
versus biology. Before Lamarck it was Mind first from on high. After Lamarck
the mind emerged from the realm of biology itself. Lamarck was also a
pioneer of comparative psychology, however crude his attempts by our
standards.
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
===============================================================
This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Aug 31 2001 - 03:02:03 BST