Monthly Archives: November 2009
Darwinian evolution for culture
Following on from my piece about songs and scientists, underverse (Chris Schoen) has taken me to task: … it becomes easy to see one of the flaws in memetic thinking. Changes in “culture” differ from changes in biology in that … Continue reading
Filed under Epistemology, Evolution, General Science, Genetics, Philosophy, Science, Social evolution
More non-avian feathered Chinese dinosaurs
“The integumentary appendages seen in non-avian dinosaurs document a series of transitional forms from typical archosaurian scales to typical avian feathers.” From here. Fig. 4 Known feather morphotypes of non-avian dinosaurs A. morphotype 1, single filament; B. morphotype 2, multiple … Continue reading
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Filed under Evolution
Illiger’s Prodromus
Does anyone have a scan of Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger’s Prodromus systematis et mammalium avium (1811), or at least the introductory section? It appears that Illiger is the one who introduced the rank of family to the Linnean system, and … Continue reading
Filed under Biology, History, Natural Classification, Systematics
Mill on philosophical errors
A fundamental error is seldom expelled from philosophy by a single victory. It retreats slowly, defends every inch of ground, and often, after it has been driven from the open country, retains a footing in some remote fastness. The essences … Continue reading
Filed under Philosophy, Quotes
Tom Waits on Entomology
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Filed under Biology, Ecology and Biodiversity, Species and systematics
Odds and ends
There’s a useful summary essay on the recent work on cognitive accounts of religion in Science by Elizabeth Culotta: Culotta, Elizabeth. 2009. On the Origin of Religion. Science 326 (5954):784-787. [Needs subscription] Leiter links to a set of useful philosophy … Continue reading
Filed under Administrative, Creationism and Intelligent Design, Evolution, Humor, Philosophy
But ID is not based on religion, no, not at all, fer shure
From here – Leading intelligent design advocate speaks at BCF Tuesday, 03 November 2009 08:55 Students were on the edge of their seats recently as leading Intelligent Design advocate William Dembski spoke in the R. G. Lee Chapel at the … Continue reading
Filed under Creationism and Intelligent Design, Evolution, Philosophy, Religion
