moore@mit-eddie.MIT.EDU (Andrew M. Moore) (05/03/86)
I am posting the following for a friend. If you reply to me (which I'd rather you did not), I can forward the message to the poster of this message, but try to keep things confined to net.bio. --cut here-- The question "What is the purpose of evolution?" is philosophical. I would argue that the question of the purpose of evolution is analogous to the question of the meaning of life. When one thinks of science one should think of the scientific method. Objective answers to "What is the purpose of evolution?" all have basises that are ex nihil, and this leaves the scientist out of the arguement. When we stop conjecturing and start using systematic scientific knowledge, we will learn and progress. on net.bio i think phylogeny not philosophy should be the topic of discussion. Chris Kelly OAF.G.CHRIS%MIT-OZ@MIT-MC.ARPA