[MD] Oneness, Dualism & Intellect

[ARLO J BENSINGER JR]

[Platt]
Since evolution is "impossible to observe" it does seem to be outside science
which, if I'm not mistaken, requires observation to establish the validity of
it's theories.

[Arlo]
Of course, we never "observe" quarks either, but our science posits that they
are real. What we observe is small, micro-evolutionary movement that
demonstrates that pattern adapt and change as they move towards "betterness".
We can take snapshots of different moments in history and propose that changes
between two and attributable to the same natural processes that we are able to
observe.

For example, consider geological evolution. No one was there to "observe" the
entirety of the process that moved our earth from swirling mass of gas and
particles to the inter-glacial world we see around us. We infer (or abduct, if
you will) that there was a process of change, a natural process, that was the
cause of this transition. But, since at any given point in the timeline it
would only ever be possible to view this retrospectively, at each moment,
including our own, it "appears" evolution has stopped. But, as I've said, the
same inference that allows us to rest comfortably knowing the sun will rise
tomorrow guides us to see that this process has not stopped, it just always
appears to be so from any temporal vantage point.

If you think that "science" is without inference, hypothetical induction or
abduction, you take a limited view of science that is largely incorrect. 

[Platt]
Is Conant's description of science wrong? Or do we make an exception for
evolution when we bill it as a 'scientific" theory?

[Arlo]
I'm not familiar with Conant, or what he may or may not have meant by what he
said, but given the way you apply it here, Conant would say that Quantum Theory
lies outside science. A strange this to say.

[Platt]
Well, with all due respect to you and Mr. Pirsig, I consider his MOQ to be a
macro-level evolutionary change in the intellectual level, so much so in fact
that the intellectual level dominated by SOM is barely recognizable from the
MOQ perspective.

[Arlo]
I'm sure the Japanese, who Pirsig informs us don't see the fuss we make, because
they've gotten this all along, are happy to know that _WE_ have brought about
evolutionary change to the intellectual level.