>> Dawkins allegedly argued that religion is not itself a direct evolutionary adaptation but rather is a by-product of cognitive faculties that are not any more subject to much in the way of selective pressure. Steven Pinker spoke about this at some length in his commentary.<<
In conversation at the Geological Society of America meeting, Eugenie Scott pointed out that, if religion is to be treated as a gene-like entity, subject to selction, then its overwhelming abundance across cultures suggests that it is highly adaptive. Dawkins is not especially consistent.
Dr. David Campbell
Old Seashells
University of Alabama
Biodiversity & Systematics
Dept. Biological Sciences
Box 870345
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0345 USA
bivalve@mail.davidson.alumlink.com
That is Uncle Joe, taken in the masonic regalia of a Grand Exalted Periwinkle of the Mystic Order of Whelks-P.G. Wodehouse, Romance at Droitgate Spa
Received on Mon Dec 1 13:24:52 2003
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.8 : Mon Dec 01 2003 - 13:24:52 EST