Re: AIG notes

On Tue, 16 Mar 2004 07:20:09 -0500, George Murphy wrote:

>> Maybe if 'evolution' were to be replaced, for example with the phrase
>> 'descent with modification' (as used by Darwin himself) most or all of
>> this surplus baggage could be shed.
>
> There is something to be said for this. In the _Origin_, the 1st use of an
>evolve-related word is the _last_ word in the book: "... from so simple a beginning
>endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved."
>(This is from the 5th ed. Someone more expert on Darwin may know if there are
>differences in earlier editions.)
>
> But eventually the E word will have to be faced, & probably sooner rather than
>later. As soon as the meaning of "descent with modification" has been made clear, some
>bright student is likely to ask the teacher, "Are you talking about evolution?" & at
>that point any attempt to avoid the word would be dishonest.
>

Yes. I don't think students are thick, they will realize that this is evolution. But I was
not thinking so much of evasion tactics but rather to focus the attention on the biological
process and draw it away from the philosophical overtones. If the question came up - and
I'm sure it would - then the teacher could draw attention to this distinction. Perhaps it
would be a good thing if not just the textbooks but the biological community itself were to
change the word (though I can't see this happening).

/Gary
Received on Tue Mar 16 07:54:13 2004