[ExI] Morality Meme vs.Rationality

[Stefan Pernar]

On Dec 16, 2007 9:33 PM, ben <benboc at lineone.net> wrote:

> "Stefan Pernar" <stefan.pernar at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> > > You aren't going to get people to take your ideas seriously while you
> make
> > > howlers like: "Evolution is the gradual accumulation of complexity".
> > >
> > > Seeing that right at the beginning greatly discouraged me from
> bothering
> > > to read the rest.
> >
>
> Stefan:
> No argument about the gradual nature of Evolution (and no, i'm not a
> creationist  :-D ). What i was objecting to was the concept (which i think
> is a common misconception) that evolution is about the building up of
> complexity. Just think of parasitic worms, to take one example. Evolution
> has simplified them, not complexified them.
>
> The reason i called the statement "Evolution is the gradual accumulation
> of complexity" a howler, is that it seems to betray a misunderstanding of
> evolution. It's not _about_ 'building up complexity'. That does happen, but
> it doesn't have to. Different environments lead to different evolved
> characteristics. I doubt that you can explain viruses with a conception of
> evolution that only increases complexity and never reduces it.
>

Good points and I agree fully. Let me think about how to reword that part.
In my context I am of course more interested in the higher complexity
organisms particularly in the area of cognition :-)

-- 
Stefan Pernar
3-E-101 Silver Maple Garden
#6 Cai Hong Road, Da Shan Zi
Chao Yang District
100015 Beijing
P.R. CHINA
Mobil: +86 1391 009 1931
Skype: Stefan.Pernar
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