|
Posts: 1889
Location: Middle GA
Joined: December 6, 2006
|
When you state that Darwin's theory will be in the garbage in ten years because of discoveries we're making at the cellular level, I have to retort with, "Rubbish." Michael Behe wrote a wonderful book entitled Darwin's Black Box which attempts to refute evolution from a biochemical perspective. Although it is a fascinating book and quite enlightening (the elucidation on blood clotting is enough to make the book recommended reading), it fails to challenge evolution because it takes the theory into a realm it doesn't belong - as an explanation for the origin of life. Evolution (and the term is rather a bad one (literally - unfolding) - stars evolve, phyletics is quirky and unpredictable) is the theory of how organisms change through time. Natural selection is not a theory which explains how life began - just about how living things change. Darwin's theory has been revised and extended. It has not and never will be refuted. It is, in fact, a fact - a formidably proven fact. Perhaps it will interest you to know what a quirky bit of chance led to Darwin's being in the Galapagos in the first place. Many assume, and I suppose the apocryphal tales support the notion, that Darwin was on board the HMS Beagle as its naturalist. Actually, the ship's surgeon (Robert McKormick) was listed as the naturalist. Darwin was nothing more than a supernumerary passenger - Captain Fitzroy's companion (without whom the captain would dine alone (and spend the majority the rest of his time that way)). The Beagle’s previous skipper had shot himself – dead. Fitzroy was worried that he might meet the same fate – after all, his own uncle, the Viscount Castlereagh, slit his own throat eight years before the young captain set sail at the tender age of twenty-six. The five years Darwin spent at the table with Fitzroy, a devout Christian who steadfastly believed in creationism (in its Biblical literalism), most certainly had an impact on Darwin and likely helped shape his theory of natural selection. The good captain also believed in the benevolence of slavery (a rather curious, yet common viewpoint for Christians at the time – what could be more antithetical to the teachings of Jesus?) – a point on which he and Darwin disagreed, and Charles actually had the temerity to openly question Fitzroy’s reasoning. The conflict resulted in Darwin’s dismissal from the captain’s table until Fitzroy backed down and sent a formal request for Darwin to rejoin him. One can only imagine the discussions between the two over the course of the five year journey. So, the contingent quirks of history seated Darwin at the captain’s table on the HMS Beagle. Darwin’s aristocratic position was a key element in Fitzroy’s choosing him as a companion on the journey. That social position also afforded Darwin the ability to hire locals to collect specimens for him – a luxury the ship’s surgeon did not enjoy. Darwin had the captain’s ear more than anyone else on the ship which gave him another advantage. Is it any surprise that Darwin usurped Dr. McKormick’s role as the ship’s naturalist? Finally, the mealtime discussions Darwin had with Fitzroy must have cemented his view for a mechanistic explanation for speciation as much as the finches and tortoises he collected. It just seems fitting that a theory about the contingencies of nature should rest upon so many contingencies. The catalog of proofs which has accrued in its wake is enormous. I doubt there is a more absolutely proven theory in science than natural selection. Even Pope John Paul II embraced the theory of evolution and declared it consistent with Catholicism. I don’t know what cellular discoveries to which you alluded will lead to the disproof of Darwin’s grand theory, and I suspect you are grossly misinformed on this point. ---- BTW what's wrong with marvellous local adaptations to a unique environment? The animals which you seem to regard as weird and backwards are perfectly suited to the environment which shaped them - just a little more evidence that Darwin's theory isn't going to end up in the garbage!
"Jazz is not dead - it just smells funny" FZ
|
It's all about the music...
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2009, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ Go Green ]
[ Take5 ]