[MD] Catching up to Pirsig

[Platt Holden]

> Platt:
> 
> 2009/4/11 Platt Holden <plattholden at gmail.com>
> 
> >
> > Changing finch beak sizes to adjust to changes in the environment is a
> far
> > cry from the birth of a entirely new bird species, like ducks. What is
> > missing from Darwin's view of evolution that relies on small physical
> > changes are intermediary forms in the fossil record that ought to be
> there,
> > leading to entirely new species.
> 
> 
> There are, in fact, many 'transitional' fossils.The only way that the
> claim
> of their absence may be remotely justified, aside from ignoring the
> evidence
> completely or just being plain crass, is to redefine 'transitional' as
> referring to a fossil as a direct ancestor of one organism at the same
> time
> as a direct descendant of another. However, direct lineages are not
> required
> and could never be verified even if found.  A transitional fossil, in
> keeping with the predictions of Darwin's theory, is a fossil that shows
> a
> pattern of features from an older and a more recent organism.
> 
> Of the countless billions of varmints that have ever walked the earth
> man
> has found only a minuscule fraction that became fossils; its therefore
> unreasonable to expect to find finely detailed sequences of fossils over
> the
> periods of time necessary for new species to arrive from old.
> Nevertheless
> fine gradations of fossils between species and even genera have been
> found.
> 
> But there's no point in arguing about it here. The MOQ accepts both
> > accidental and purposeful theories of evolution.
> >
> 
> The MoQ might but you dont Platt - you reject Darwin's theory.
> 
> Platt, you have suggested i read chapter 11 of Lila, i have read it
> twice
> recently and intend to read it again shortly for i have an outstanding
> obligatory reply to Krimel. Might i suggest that you get hold of and
> read
> Darwin's book, little more than a pamphlet really, 'On Natural
> Selection'.

Hi KO,

I've read tons about Darwin's theory. One can hardly escape from it. But it 
wasn't until I read Lila that I learned the theory left some unanswered 
questions. That led me to others who question the theory for various 
reasons. As a result, I try to keep an open mind about the story of life 
just as I don't accept "chance" as a satisfactory explanation. If you're 
convinced Darwin has the answers more power to you. 

Platt