|
|
Evolving Evolutionary Thoughts
Giacobbe John (Catalinus@AOL.COM)
Mon, 11 Sep 1995 01:45:33 -0400
Forgive the reposts, mea culpa!
Evolving Evolutionary Thoughts
}Mr Carson, Mr Spear, Mr Ottevanger, and Mr Roberts have noted
several points that must be wrestled with for an evolutionary
perspective to become more than a theoretical endeavor. Mr
Carson mentions that biology and culture are two different
things, but I would take slight exception to that. There are
clearly behaviors that are coded genetically, like reproductive
and subsistence patterns, and there are behaviors that are also
clearly learned, like technological creations. However, all
behaviors exist within the same environment, and are therefore
subject to tests of fitness.
}That is, if one form of reproductive behavior is less fit than
another, its frequency will go down because of the more fit
behaviors success. With technological behaviors, the group that
produces a tool better adapted to a given environment will be
more fit, and tend to increase in frequency over a group with a
less fit tool. A very simplified analogy may be seen with the
transition from horticulturalism to intensified agriculturalism
in the American Southwest. For a host of environment specific
reasons, groups which adopted the more calorie productive mode of
subsistence offered by intensive agriculturalism increased in
frequency over time, while those retaining the less productive
horticulturalism declined in frequency. This is evolution.
}Mr Spear mentions the inherent value judgements that tend to
creep into evolutionary arguments. I feel they need not apply
and should be relegated to the semantic debates of the past. No
value judgements as to which behavioral pattern is more
"advanced" or more "primitive" need apply, the better adapted
form for the given environmental conditions was more successful
and therefore increased in frequency. This is the same situation
as if one group of raptorial birds developed a mutation which
gave them a faster flying speed, and their numbers increased
because of this biological modification. While one group is
clearly more successful with regard to efficiency of adaptation,
they are not superior or inferior in any other manner, and the
adaptive environment could change at any moment and give the
advantage to the other form. While the method of origination and
transmission of new trait may differ in biological and cultural
evolution, the application of Darwinian rules still apply to
their fullest in both scenarios.
Not to go on a rant, but that's just my opinion.
John A. Giacobbe
|