Re: [asa] Definition of evolution

From: Jim Armstrong <jarmstro99@q.com>
Date: Fri Oct 30 2009 - 11:18:03 EDT

Stateside, this particular usage of "supposed" has a dismissive or belittling nuance. It says essentially that an assertion you may make with confidence is only a less unsubstantial supposition in my view.  JimA [Friend of ASA]

Alexanian, Moorad wrote:

 We are dealing with a "working assumption."  Aren't we?

Moorad

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Powers [mailto:wjp@swcp.com]
Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 10:01 AM
To: Alexanian, Moorad
Cc: asa@calvin.edu
Subject: RE: [asa] Definition of evolution

Moorad:

It is not clear to me what is intended by adding the word "supposed."
Is this intended to convey that it is not certain that it has occurred,
but suppose that it has?

bill

On
Fri, 30 Oct 2009, Alexanian, Moorad wrote:

  

How about: "Evolution is the supposed process, taking place over millions of year, whereby species may arise in such a way that later species are correlated to earlier species."

Moorad
________________________________________
From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On Behalf Of Bill Powers [wjp@swcp.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 11:42 PM
To: asa@calvin.edu
Subject: [asa] Definition of evolution

Some time ago I requested a definition of evolution, broadly construed.

What I am looking for is a definition that would encompass all brands of
evolution, including neo-darwinist, materialist, TE, ID, and perhaps
others.

Here is one you might try on for size:

Evolution is a temporal process, taking place over millions of years,
whereby species arise in such a way that later species are correlated to
earlier species.

The definition is intended to describe the evidence with the least amount
of theoretical baggage.

What do you think?

Thanks,

bill

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To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@calvin.edu with "unsubscribe asa" (no quotes) as the body of the message. Received on Fri Oct 30 11:18:40 2009