Re: [asa] Jerry Coyne's Confused Attack on Religion

I'm not quite sure why Conway Morris says "...needless to say, show examples of convergence." That bolsters my suspicion that convergence is not a very quantitative concept. Different people seem to have different criteria of how many lineages of how similar a characteristic trait are evidence of convergence. I have no idea how one could say where convergence begins and where it stops.

Randy
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Nucacids
  To: Randy Isaac ; asa@calvin.edu
  Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 11:43 PM
  Subject: Re: [asa] Jerry Coyne's Confused Attack on Religion

  Hi Randy,

  Good points. Since it's late, let me just throw this out there. Going back to Conway Morris (thanks, Steve):

  “There is no simple answer to the question about the stage at which something like ourselves becomes overwhelmingly probable. To provide a focus, however, much of this chapter will concentrate on those elements that we might regard as the hallmarks of the humanoid – large brain, intelligence, tools, and culture – all of which, needless to say, show examples of convergence.” (p. 234)

  If these hallmarks are "inevitable," then a front-loading proponent might very well note that the biosphere is poised to evolve a humanoid. Thus, the convergence argument may not get us to humanoid - it may get us to the needed precursor state. From there, the deck is stacked. Convergence stops just short so only one species is likely to make the next step.

  Mike

  PS: I do not advocate the front-loading of humans, as my focus has always been much more modest. But that doesn't stop my brain from contemplating tantalizing thoughts.

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Received on Thu Jan 29 06:56:35 2009