Actually, in evolutionary terms one can prove Hitler wrong. Evolutionary
terms would include things like adaptiveness, fitness, natural selection,
etc. Adaptiveness is almost impossible to quantify in an a priori fashion
for the following reasons: 1) we cannot reasonalby take into account all
inherited traits, the sum of which would provide a fitness quotient, since
we do not know all there is to know about biology; 2) similarly, it is
difficult to fully consider all environmental pressures that would come to
bear upon this fitness quotient. This is simply a point of logic since no
one can know what environmental pressures he will face tomorrow, let alone
the pressures that a whole society will face. 3) More importantly, fitness
is a relative, not an absolute term, that depends upon selection pressure.
A simple example is the gene for sickle cell anemia. Those who carry it
seem to have a fitness advantage in areas where malaria is endemic, but are
at a disadvantage in areas where malaria is not a problem.
Thus, it seems that it is illogical for Hitler, or anyone else, to conclude
that one group of people is "more fit" than another. This is what I mean
when I say that Hitler abused science by invoking evolution to justify his
evil agenda. Basically, his agenda could not be supported by evolution
science because he could not logically prove that Aryans are more fit than Jews.
Cheers,
Steve
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Steven S. Clark, Ph.D . Phone: 608/263-9137
Associate Professor FAX: 608/263-4226
Dept. of Human Oncology and Email: ssclark@facstaff.wisc.edu
UW Comprehensive Cancer Center
CSC K4-432
600 Highland Ave.
Madison, WI 53792
"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings to
search out a matter." Proverbs
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