darwin was wrong
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jetsetjason
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Psychonaut
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The theory of evolution is not directly equal to Darwinian theory.
There are many theories of evolution, though perhaps they all share some feature which we could use as a skeletal notion of The Theory of Evolution.
The main version of the theory within the scientific community is the Modern Evolutionary Synthesis (it should be noted that the way science works is not such that there is one theory which is universally accepted as true by all scientists, or even that a scientist who disagrees with the consensus is considered in some way irresponsible for acting on and testing alternative theories).
Within recent times there have been numerous challenges to the tenets of the Modern Synthesis, and the science generally accepted by scientists is constantly changing. The notion, for example, that evolution happens gradually was challenged by a study involving fruit flies and a mutagenic compound. The offspring of those fruit flies exposed to the chemical displayed a number of complex mutations within one generation, such as eye stalks, additional wings etc. (as well as a number of complex debilitating mutations). This chemical is one found within nature, and released by some animals into their own body in times of extreme stress, as would be provided by a deeply changing climate.
Species do not just evolve basic order features, they also evolve their faculty to evolve.
It should also be noted that while there are a number of suggested corrolaries of evolutionary theory, especially amongst social darwinists and other such miscreants, we cannot criticise the core idea on the basis of the suggested corrolaries being invalid, unless we also demonstrate that they are necessary corrolaries.
A common ploy amongst creationists is to suggest that evolutionary theory is responsible for the holocaust, because apparently Hitler drew some inspiration from Darwin's theories (I doubt this, but lets assume its true). Hitler's line of reasoning from Darwinian theory>Mass extermination of the Jews was flawed, however, and we can no more criticise Darwinian theory than we can blame Christianity for the Inquisition or its complicity with Fascist rulers throughout history.
There are many theories of evolution, though perhaps they all share some feature which we could use as a skeletal notion of The Theory of Evolution.
The main version of the theory within the scientific community is the Modern Evolutionary Synthesis (it should be noted that the way science works is not such that there is one theory which is universally accepted as true by all scientists, or even that a scientist who disagrees with the consensus is considered in some way irresponsible for acting on and testing alternative theories).
Within recent times there have been numerous challenges to the tenets of the Modern Synthesis, and the science generally accepted by scientists is constantly changing. The notion, for example, that evolution happens gradually was challenged by a study involving fruit flies and a mutagenic compound. The offspring of those fruit flies exposed to the chemical displayed a number of complex mutations within one generation, such as eye stalks, additional wings etc. (as well as a number of complex debilitating mutations). This chemical is one found within nature, and released by some animals into their own body in times of extreme stress, as would be provided by a deeply changing climate.
Species do not just evolve basic order features, they also evolve their faculty to evolve.
It should also be noted that while there are a number of suggested corrolaries of evolutionary theory, especially amongst social darwinists and other such miscreants, we cannot criticise the core idea on the basis of the suggested corrolaries being invalid, unless we also demonstrate that they are necessary corrolaries.
A common ploy amongst creationists is to suggest that evolutionary theory is responsible for the holocaust, because apparently Hitler drew some inspiration from Darwin's theories (I doubt this, but lets assume its true). Hitler's line of reasoning from Darwinian theory>Mass extermination of the Jews was flawed, however, and we can no more criticise Darwinian theory than we can blame Christianity for the Inquisition or its complicity with Fascist rulers throughout history.
At last some sensible thoughts on the topic!The theory of evolution is not directly equal to Darwinian theory.
There are many theories of evolution, though perhaps they all share some feature which we could use as a skeletal notion of The Theory of Evolution.
The main version of the theory within the scientific community is the Modern Evolutionary Synthesis (it should be noted that the way science works is not such that there is one theory which is universally accepted as true by all scientists, or even that a scientist who disagrees with the consensus is considered in some way irresponsible for acting on and testing alternative theories).
Within recent times there have been numerous challenges to the tenets of the Modern Synthesis, and the science generally accepted by scientists is constantly changing. The notion, for example, that evolution happens gradually was challenged by a study involving fruit flies and a mutagenic compound. The offspring of those fruit flies exposed to the chemical displayed a number of complex mutations within one generation, such as eye stalks, additional wings etc. (as well as a number of complex debilitating mutations). This chemical is one found within nature, and released by some animals into their own body in times of extreme stress, as would be provided by a deeply changing climate.
Species do not just evolve basic order features, they also evolve their faculty to evolve.
It should also be noted that while there are a number of suggested corrolaries of evolutionary theory, especially amongst social darwinists and other such miscreants, we cannot criticise the core idea on the basis of the suggested corrolaries being invalid, unless we also demonstrate that they are necessary corrolaries.
A common ploy amongst creationists is to suggest that evolutionary theory is responsible for the holocaust, because apparently Hitler drew some inspiration from Darwin's theories (I doubt this, but lets assume its true). Hitler's line of reasoning from Darwinian theory>Mass extermination of the Jews was flawed, however, and we can no more criticise Darwinian theory than we can blame Christianity for the Inquisition or its complicity with Fascist rulers throughout history.
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Psychonaut
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- Location: Merseyside, UK
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Psychonaut
- Posts: 465
- Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:40 pm
- Location: Merseyside, UK
It did seem strange, but despite it not conveying the meaning you intended, when I first read it I did drag some sense out of it, and thought you were engaging in some form of wordplay.
That is, that you were saying that sensible thoughts inform debate in a manner that is 'ill', which I think may be irony, as it would be using a phrase in a manner opposite to how one would normally expect it to be used.
That is, that you were saying that sensible thoughts inform debate in a manner that is 'ill', which I think may be irony, as it would be using a phrase in a manner opposite to how one would normally expect it to be used.