SJ: Johnson on a recent tape predicted that Darwinism will collapse in a
few years, just like communism did when those who ran the system lost
their faith.
Well, Johnson appears to be wrong on at least one count. Communism has
hardly collapsed. Perhaps you mean to say the Soviet Empire collapsed ?
But the prediction that Darwinism will collapse in a few years means that
Johnson in a few years will have to address the accuracy of his prediction.
SJ: A highly significant thing is starting to happen - leading Darwinist
are starting to air their dirty linen in public. Darwinist
high-priests Dawkins and Dennett have been criticising Gould in
public for being a non-adaptationist `heretic', but has recently
started to fight back.
So there is disagreement among scientists. To consider this dirty linen
indicates that you do not understand that scientific disagreement is the
life of a scientist and the life of science. Without people doubting
science, science will cease to exist.
SJ: Gould sounds almost like a creationist in admitting "an astonishing
`conservation'" of basic pathways of development among phyla:
Of course to suggest that Ghould 'sounds like a creationist' is far from
the reality of the matter now isn't it Steve ? Your error appears to lie
in the assumption that classical darwinism and creationism are the only
choices. But of course this is incorrect. The gradualism versus punk eek
hardly mean death to Darwinism. Also Ghould has marveled at the many good
examples of transitional fossils. So perhaps your suggestion that Ghould
almost sounds like a creationist is wishful thinking ?
SJ: Gould acknowledges that if Darwinists fight each other they will
lose the main battle against the creationists:
SJ: "...We will not win this most important of all battles if we descend
to the same tactics of backbiting and anathematization that
characterize our true opponents."
I guess Ghould does look like a creationist after all then <g> ?
I am impressed that Steve derives so much strength in pointing out
disagreements among scientists rather than in his personal faith. Perhaps
the end of Darwinism but certainly not the end of evolution and certainly
not the victory of creationism.