[MD] Dawkins quotes RMP on religion.

[ian glendinning]

DM, Krim,

Not following the point at issue between the two of you, but I have to
say David, that when you say this ....

> Science is very dependent on concepts and
> metaphors from other areas. Robert Young the historian
> unlocks all of Darwin's & Herbert Spencer's concepts and
> shows how they came out of Victorian capitalism for example.
> That origin does not of course undermine their use but Darwinism
> could not have easily appeared in the same way in a different period.
> It would have used a different language.

I say you are spot on. Thanks for pointing that Robert Young stuff out
- someone I've always liked, but not seen those specifics before.

Any intellectual pattern is a product of its cultural environment.
And, all the same conceptual problems of freedom and competition in
primitive "capitalism" as in primitive "Darwinism" too. Mechanisms of
collaboration and co-creation / co-evolution of value too easily
overlooked.
Excellent.
Regards,
Ian