New Carnival of Evolution 2 Nov 2010 Click on the button to go read lots of evolving goodness. Evolution Evolution
Creationism and Intelligent Design Teacher, there’s a god in my evolutionary soup… 12 Dec 200818 Sep 2017 … shh, not so loud or everyone will want one. Here’s a piece by Darksyde at Daily Kos in which he reports the outgoing EPA chair (who has overseen all manner of bad science and decisions, although that may not be his own fault) as saying “It’s not a clean-cut… Read More
Evolution Two almost bear patterns from a partial Symocyon of a sesamoid “thumb” 14 Apr 2010 I’m really sorry for that pun. I’ve been waiting for years… Anyway, Laelaps (Brian Switek) has a lovely report on the panda’s “thumb” (actually, the sesamoid wrist bone being independently used by a bear lineage and a lineage closer to racoons than to bears, result in the giant panda and… Read More
Biology Why is Darwin’s theory so controversial? 24 Nov 2012 So asks this essay and gets the whole thing wrong. Darwin’s theories (plural) are not controversial because they imply that species are mutable. This was a widely held view by preachers, moralists, Aristotelians, naturalists, breeders, formalists, folk biology, and even biblical translators. Darwin was not controversial because he implied racist… Read More
Yes, I have reviewed Jody’s book; in my book, and in an unpublished (due to the editor losing the manuscript) review. Jody’s argument is basically that species are conventions and productions of the mind. While I disagree with him, he makes a solid case. Unfortunately he is merely reprising Locke’s argument, and like Locke is confusing real kinds for nominal kinds.
No, I agree. But it makes the carnival of evolution and sciences involvment in the study of belief less and less appealing. A subject with a very strong internal identity which is increasingly assertive. Appealing if you are on the inside. I hope it is just me who is increasingly turned off from the subject, as it has much to offer. Time to disappear in a jaded puff of smoke in the direction of the arts.
Ive clearly been drinking to much bongwater and analysing folksongs. http://sbej.wordpress.com/2010/11/03/folksong-by-bongwater/
“due to the editor losing the manuscript.” Is that even possible these days? Did he leave the entire internet behind in a taxi?