04.26.10
Re: The Improbablity Pump
Subject: Re: The Improbability Pump
SCIENCE-FOR-THE-PEOPLE@list.uvm.edu
(S. Newman)
Dawkins and Coyne are the most intellectually sclerotic of all the
evolutionists. Neither of them have any appreciation of new developments in
evolutionary developmental biology, including recognition of the role of
epigenetic and extragenetic mechanisms of organismal change, plasticity and
saltation, preferred directions on evolutionary change (orthogenesis) via self-
organization and other inherent organismal properties, and niche construction.
They either deny that mechanisms other than natural selection are of any
significance, or incorrectly claim that everything is already part of Darwin’s
theory.
Evidence of organisms having evolved, which Coyne uses to support Dawkins
and argue against Fodor and Piattelli-Palmarini (who, by the way, have no
doubts about evolution), are just that, it is not equivalent to evidence for
natural selection, which is just one of several mechanisms of evolutionary
change.
It’s not unexpected that scientists who have pinned their entire careers on an
increasingly marginal notion will continue to adhere to it. It’s particularly sad,
however, that The Nation consistently seeks out the most conventional
perspectives when dealing with biology and biotechnology.