From: Alexanian, Moorad (alexanian@uncw.edu)
Date: Mon Mar 17 2003 - 08:55:35 EST
I just cited crystals as an example of discrete groups. That is all.
Moorad
-----Original Message-----
From: RFaussette@aol.com [mailto:RFaussette@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2003 8:03 AM
To: asa@calvin.edu
Subject: the nature of evolutionary change in human groups
In a message dated 3/17/03 6:49:43 AM Eastern Standard Time,
oleary@sympatico.ca writes:
"In group theory, there are discrete and continuous
groups. Discrete
groups are those studied in crystallography and
solid-state physics and
the elements of the group cannot be obtained by means of
infinitesimal
changes. However, the continuous groups are such that
finite
transformation can indeed be made up by infinitesimal
transformations.
Of course, it seems to me that mutations would always
involve finite
changes rather than truly continuous changes."
This is an important point. You have captured exactly
the problem that
many of us have about Darwin's slow series of steps. No
one doubts that
gradual warming causes the river ice to break, or that
it can suddenly
start to crack up on a given day, having been warmed for
some time.
However, some group happenings are, as you say,
"discrete."
I am trying to understand your arguments and find a relevant
analogy - I do not understand how the behavior of crystals can tell you
anyhting about human gorup behavior, but I can suggest a book, Paul
Colinvaux's Fates Of Nations, A biological theory of history (cambridge
u press, 1980). He provides excellent examples of how advances in
technology change the nature of human competing groups - sudden advances
in technology force the response and refocus of the discipline of a
human group as it embraces the new technology gaining an edge over its
competitors. Strict Darwinism only works at the level of the individual
- group behavior is governed by ecology and niche theory - as
individuals specialize in a group they become group dependent and
leaving the group and their niche specialization would cause a
catastrophic drop in their fitness relative to other individuals who are
in a specialized group - its talked about in wilson's book - but
colinvaux provides examples of niche theory at work throughout history
rich
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