[ExI] The difference between Discovery and Design.

[spike]

-----Original Message-----
From: extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org
[mailto:extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org] On Behalf Of Damien
Broderick

>...What Aristotle didn't have was 300 years of closely observed and
theorized empirical science behind him, itself informed (horrors!) by a
monotheistic paradigm...

Ja there is that, but the astonishing brilliance of Darwin is in how skilled
an observer of nature was he.  I am floored by all he saw.  Do read any part
of Origin of Species, or if busy just the astounding chapter 8 the ant
chapter, my favorite in my favorite book:

http://www.online-literature.com/darwin/originofspecies/9/

and if you want to see how a brilliant mind thinks, check out chapter 7:

http://www.online-literature.com/darwin/originofspecies/8/

or if you are still more busy, browse the last few paragraphs of that
chapter, do it, do it, DAVAI DAVAI DAVIA!

Darwin is god.

>... because of the "amazing" coincidence that both Darwin and Wallace came
up with the same discovery at the same time--two instantaneous bursts of
astonishing genius beyond the capacity...Damien Broderick

NO!  I do not wish to take anything from the brilliant insights of Wallace,
who contributed some concepts independently, but Darwin anticipated Wallace
by a generation.  He was pressured into publishing by the imminent
publication of Wallace's findings, but Darwin was there first, and I would
argue, best.  Wallace is good, Darwin is better.  Better writer too.

spike