Re: Morgan Tears 3.
jamesb@hgu.mrc.ac.uk
5 Nov 1995 16:05:48 GMT
Alex Duncan <aduncan@mail.utexas.edu> wrote:
>4) Since elephants have the features noted above, they must have aquatic
>ancestors.
>
>5) Since humans share these features with elephants, we must have
>aquatic ancestors.
>
>Can you say "tautology"?
You are missing out the fact that many example of aquatic animals that
are hairless, have subcutaneous fat etc. exist. If we only had elephants
and humans to look at the argument would be tautological. I'm not saying
the argument constitutes proof either, but I think postulating an aquatic
phase in the ancestry for both elephants and humans explains these
features. Have you got better explanation?
James Borrett.
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