From: bivalve (bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com)
Date: Tue Dec 10 2002 - 14:28:18 EST
evolutionary biology
Sender: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu
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>according to the first theory that integrates the fields of
>evolutionary biology and economic growth.<
Darwin was influenced by Malthius's economic ideas. Soon afterwards,
Marx tried to integrate evolutionary biology and economics. Marx's
ideas on evolution are incorrect by modern standards, and his
economic system has consistently failed in practice, but the attempt
is not nearly as novel as the press release claims. In fact, the
claim that hunter-gatherer societies were extremely egalitarian
sounds like they may be drawing on Marx to some extent. Likewise,
the tradeoff between number of offspring versus the care for each one
is a long-recognized issue of cost and benefit in evolutionary
biology, and costs and benefits are rather significant in economics.
Some parts of the "new theory" seem to take an extreme genetic
determinism viewpoint, which is certainly incorrect with regard to
intelligence. A poor environment will have significant negative
effects on intelligence, regardless of the genes; likewise, a
positive environment will help.
Dr. David Campbell
Old Seashells
University of Alabama
Biodiversity & Systematics
Dept. Biological Sciences
Box 870345
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 USA
bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com
That is Uncle Joe, taken in the masonic regalia of a Grand Exalted
Periwinkle of the Mystic Order of Whelks-P.G. Wodehouse, Romance at
Droitgate Spa
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