Re: evolution everywhere?
Bryant (mycol1@unm.edu)
9 Sep 1996 21:11:40 -0600
In article <3234ADC8.3240@byu.edu>,
Shannon Adams <shannon_adams@byu.edu> wrote:
>> Gerold wrote:
>> 1. Evolutionary perspectives provide greater explanatory and
>> predictive power in understanding human culture than pure narrative
>> modes,
>I really got a good laugh when I read Gerold's first sentence of number one.
> I really don't think anyone has been able to *predict* how a culture will
>change.
The comparative method allows predictions about the distributions of
traits (be they biological adaptations or elements of culture). This is
clearly the sort of prediction Gerold refers to.
It seems to be normal human behavior to laughingly dismiss novel ideas.
Just out of high school, I found the notion that the epidemeology of
some diseases could be reconstructed from 400 year old bones laughable.
>This also could be an incredibly naive
>question but What about free choice? I think that element of human
>motivation cannot be ignored.
Proximal motivations (for example, emotions) should not be ignored, I agree.
They are themselves phenomena deserving study. How do you perceive
biologists ignoring decisional processes?
>Shannon
Bryant
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