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Evolution.

From the commentary:
Yet evolution created mind because it is a powerful way to analyze threats, co-ordinate groups of individually weak creatures into strong societies, and map the world around us to reflect and control danger and opportunity.

Sigh.
Amazing how conclusions follow premises, isn't it?!
First people walked. This freed the hands. A more powerful brain was needed to control what could be done with free hands.
Or not.
The point is that theories about what evolution was operating on tend to argue backward from what we can see and want to emphasize. Maybe the process was completely different, based on other needs at the time. Facts are essential.
So the author's argument is useless.

Doesn't keep him from expanding it, though:
It would be trite at this point to say that effective evolution demands an environment where modifications can be freely made to existing systems: you're a smart kid. You draw the analogies.

And here's another bad guess.
Remember the grand synthesis: mutations arise, and if the creature can remain alive with the mutation, then its value is tested by straitened circumstances.
(Yes, I'm slanting the description to make a point. You can still recognize more general formulations in what I'm saying.)

Many mutations fail, and what works is effective because it contributes to survival. Sort of like the market system in software, isn't it. What makes a profit lives and what doesn't dies. Yes, evolution is an argument that Microsoft must be the fittest, because it's the biggest, baddest around.
Or not.
Here again, analogies to evolution are silly, and can make the point you want.

Oddly, this is a fairly long post to say nothing should be said. But comparisons between evolution and anything else really are useless.

Posted by: Anton Philidor   Posted on: 10/19/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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