[MD] Distinguishing Levels (Individual level)

[Case]

[Platt]
I credit evolution with the same drive that Pirsig does, the drive towards
betterness. After the dinosaurs got wiped by an errant meteor, it was better
to develop brains so if it happened again, life could escape. 

Just a theory. But no worse than Al Gore's. :-)

[Case]
If you are willing to say the "betterness" simply means arriving at a new
balance with the environment, well maybe you don't misunderstand this a
deeply as I fear. But are you then going to be cheerful about the fact that
after our next little bout of punctuated equilibrium it could be "better" to
be a shellfish?

I am not. I think "better" means moving OUR species ahead. I think
"betterness" involves being good stewards of our little garden and striving
to make it a place where our offspring can thrive. I think it means taking
this precious commodity we call life and planting seeds elsewhere in our
solar system and beyond. 

But the theory of evolution is about how life adapts and achieves balance
with the resource available in the environment. "Betterness" as our species
might define it has nothing whatever to do with that.

But just for you use the phrase "just a theory" must require some sustained
effort on your part to avoid learning what the word theory means.

But as for Al Gore, the picture he paints is so bleak, I am awed by his
optimism that anything can be done to reverse the damage. His commitment and
sustained efforts in this respect are something of an antidote for my own
cynicism. I never voted "for" Bill Clinton. He was merely the enemy of my
enemy. I was proud to vote for Al Gore and I look forward to having the
privilege of doing so again. In this culture and at this time I would say he
is a truly Principled Person.