hua@cmu-cs-edu1.ARPA (Ernest Hua) (05/08/85)
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Hey Paul ...
Yeah ... cute little satire. Actually, you said that it contains a good
definition of evolution in it somewhere, if you take the time to strip
away all of the satire.
Okay ... I give up ... where is it?
Perhaps, if I try really hard, I can come up with something ... okay ...
here it goes now ...
Oh! Do you mean evolution has a too ambiguous/unclear/uncertain meaning
that it is practically meaningless. Yeah, Henry Morris, Duane Gish (re-
member him?), and what's-his-name that brought up that great suit against
the Board of Ed of California about the supposed dogmatic teaching of
evolution, all talk about the "meaninglessness" of evolution. As Morris
called it, evolution has become "so plastic" that it is senseless to even
discuss it any more. Well, ain't it the truth. A concept that covers,
yes, it's true ... EVERYTHING. Oh, God forbid! NO! This is unethical!
This is unChristian! We should not allow such a thing! blab ... blab ...
blab ... blab ...
Yes! Believe it or not ... evolution is a concept that covers EVERYTHING
in some general sense. (It is not meant to figure out specifically whether
you will be hungry on Tuesday, May 4, 2007, at 4:22pm in the afternoon.)
Evolution for all practical purposes is the natural flow of things. In
simple terms, this means that at any point in time, there is a set of con-
ditions that will determine the next set of conditions. The movement to-
ward the next set of conditions is governed by natural laws. It is a duty
of science to find as many of these laws as possible.
Sooo, in short, a reasonable (yes, reasonable. what do you expect for
something that's free.) definition of evolution is: the natural flow
of things.
All complains, gripes, threats, etc... welcome.
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Live long and prosper, but don't evolve;
you might get some people very upset!
Keebler { hua@cmu-cs-gandalf.arpa }padraig@utastro.UUCP (Padraig Houlahan) (05/08/85)
> Yes! Believe it or not ... evolution is a concept that covers EVERYTHING > in some general sense. (It is not meant to figure out specifically whether > you will be hungry on Tuesday, May 4, 2007, at 4:22pm in the afternoon.) > Evolution for all practical purposes is the natural flow of things. In > simple terms, this means that at any point in time, there is a set of con- > ditions that will determine the next set of conditions. The movement to- > ward the next set of conditions is governed by natural laws. It is a duty > of science to find as many of these laws as possible. > > Sooo, in short, a reasonable (yes, reasonable. what do you expect for > something that's free.) definition of evolution is: the natural flow > of things. > > All complains, gripes, threats, etc... welcome. > ___________________________________________________________________________ > > Live long and prosper, but don't evolve; > you might get some people very upset! > > Keebler { hua@cmu-cs-gandalf.arpa } I strongly disagree with this definition of evolution. The problem with it is that there are many different concepts associated with the word 'evolution' and your definition fails to emphasize the biological concept which this news group is primarily concerned with. The "natural flow of things" is not accurate for this discussion. Padraig Houlahan.