Re: Social Evolution

In a message dated 1/25/2006 10:13:30 AM Eastern Standard Time,
tdavis@messiah.edu writes:
It is Francisco Ayala's position that our brains (not our thoughts per se)
are products of natural selection, but that many (most?) of the higher level
things that we do are not subject to natural selection. That is, culture,
morality, religion, philosophy, mathematics, dare I say evolutionary biology
or creationism for that matter, are not subject to selection pressures.
They are by products of the brain, which was produced by selection.
Ayala is right. However, you must be precise about your choice of
definitions. Natural selection becomes directed selection when humans breed themselves or
their flocks for specific desired traits. If that breeding is codified in
religious texts, as in the Hebrew Bible, you are then directing the selection of
entire groups. There is nothing natural or random about directed selection
once it is undertaken by the human mind. You are creating what you wish to
create. Note that Jacob can breed strong flocks and weak flocks in Genesis.

Snips from True Religion:

[snip 1]
In Chapter 1 of The Origin of Species, titled Variation under Domestication
under the heading Principles of Selection Anciently Followed and Their Effects,
Charles Darwin makes the following remark:
 
“From passages in Genesis, it is clear that the colour of domestic animals
was at that early period attended to.”4

[snip 2]
Jacob works the seven extra years for Rachel but he is incensed by Laban’s
continuing treachery and decides to wreak his vengeance on Laban. It is here
that we find Darwin’s reference to the color of domesticated animals.
 
“As for the rams, Jacob divided them, and let the ewes run only with such of
the rams in Laban’s flock as were striped and black, and thus he bred separate
flocks for himself.”7
 
Some of the methods Jacob employs to effect birth differences are magical but
his intent is obvious. Genesis concludes by saying:
 
 “Thus the weaker came to be Laban’s and the stronger Jacob’s.”

I agree with Ayala that mathematics is not subject to selection pressures,
although culture, religion and philosophy certainly can be and are modified and
constructed of facts impacted by differential reproductive rates, an assertion
confirmed by even a casual reading of the Torah.

rich faussette
Received on Wed Jan 25 11:58:01 2006