Re: [asa] Improbability of Homo Sapiens?

Another difficulty with questions 1 & 2 is, is evolution from Cambrian
chordates to humans, relatively speaking, that much less probable than
evolution from Cambrian chordates to giraffes, bats, raven, anacondas, or
hammerhead sharks? It's not inherently obvious to me that a brain capable of
conceptualizing God and science is less probable than an echolocation system
or the capacity to detect blood through great distances of ocean water?
Intelligence, animal or human, is not the only complex thing out there.

For that matter, how probable was the evolution of single celled organisms
to the Cambrian chordates? or to, dare I say it, flagellated bacteria?

As for question 3, I'll worry about that once I figure out how a God who
knows what all my future actions are has given me the free will to choose
those actions for myself.
 
__
Louise M. Freeman, PhD
Psychology Dept
Mary Baldwin College
Staunton, VA 24401
540-887-7326
FAX 540-887-7121

-----Original Message-----
From: Johan Jammart <j_jammart@yahoo.fr>
To: asa@calvin.edu
Date: Fri, 09 Feb 2007 11:40:37 +0100
Subject: [asa] Improbability of Homo Sapiens?

Quote

In 1986 the consensus among such biologists that the evolutionary path from
primitive Cambrian chordates, e.g. Pikaia, to homo sapiens was a highly
improbable event. For example, the large brains of humans have marked
adaptive disadvantages, requiring as they do an expensive metabolism, a long
gestation period, and a childhood lasting more than 25% of the average total
life span. Other improbable features of humans include:

    * Being the only extant bipedal land vertebrate. Combined with an
unusual eye-hand coordination, this permits dextrous manipulations of the
physical environment with the hands;
    * A vocal apparatus far more expressive than that of any other mammal,
enabling speech. Speech makes it possible for humans to interact
cooperatively, to share knowledge, and to acquire a culture;
    * The capability of formulating abstractions to a degree permitting the
invention of mathematics, and the discovery of science and technology. Keep
in mind how recently humans acquired anything like their current scientific
and technological sophistication.

Few questions here that are important for my theological reflection (as it
is my domain of interest) as it seem that the evolution to homo sapiens
seems improbable.

What if homo sapiens did not arise from evolution?

1) Is other form of intelligent life (like human intelligence) improbable
with the evolution?

2) Is the evolution of humanoids improbable?

3) How could God knew that evolution would bring creature that will be able
to have relationship with Him? Of course He is omniscient but in His
omniscience He had to choose a process that would bring intelligent life.

Blessings,

Johan

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Received on Fri Feb 9 11:59:51 2007