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Author: SolomonWSolomonW Date: Jul 19, 2008 20:18
It is indeed a mystery why our species, which spent most of its
existence hunting game and gathering fruit and nuts, was pre-adapted for
higher mathematics, fine art, and modern physics. Evolutionary theory
has no explanation for this. Of course, it could be simply a fortuitous
exaption (that is, adaptation for one purpose deployed for a different
purpose), but many will find this to be too convenient a non-
explanation.
Herbert Gintis
Santa Fe Institute
Northampton, Massachusetts
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Author: ZerkonXZerkonX Date: Jul 20, 2008 05:36
On Sun, 20 Jul 2008 13:18:43 +1000, SolomonW wrote:
> was pre-adapted for
Explain this term 'pre-adapted', please. Is this the same as 'having a
capacity for...? If so would this then be the same as 'what one can grow
into'?
The 'mystery' you speak of is certainly mind numbing or at least a
wonder. However, 'what we know now' is the given here. From what I
gather, it might very well be a myth that what we know now is the product
of all that was ever known. That, in fact, great and profoundly important
pools of human knowledge, science, have been lost for now or for always
maybe.
It is too easy or, worse, much less interesting to assign this mystery to
some deus ex machina.
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Author: Daniel T.Daniel T. Date: Jul 20, 2008 06:04
SolomonW Nothing.com> wrote:
> It is indeed a mystery why our species, which spent most of its
> existence hunting game and gathering fruit and nuts, was pre-adapted for
> higher mathematics, fine art, and modern physics. Evolutionary theory
> has no explanation for this.
Your assertion is false so no theory need explain it.
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Author: SolomonWSolomonW Date: Jul 21, 2008 03:16
> SolomonW Nothing.com> wrote:
> >> It is indeed a mystery why our species, which spent most of its
>> existence hunting game and gathering fruit and nuts, was pre-adapted for
>> higher mathematics, fine art, and modern physics. Evolutionary theory
>> has no explanation for this.
>
> Your assertion is false so no theory need explain it.
>
Please explain what makes it false.
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Author: SolomonWSolomonW Date: Jul 21, 2008 03:18
In article X.net>, Z@X.net says...>> was pre-adapted for
>
> Explain this term 'pre-adapted', please. Is this the same as 'having a
> capacity for...? If so would this then be the same as 'what one can grow
> into'?
>
Is there any evidence that one can grow into it?
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Author: Daniel T.Daniel T. Date: Jul 21, 2008 04:55
SolomonW Nothing.com> wrote:>> SolomonW Nothing.com> wrote:
>> >>> It is indeed a mystery why our species, which spent most of its
>>> existence hunting game and gathering fruit and nuts, was pre-adapted for
>>> higher mathematics, fine art, and modern physics. Evolutionary theory
>>> has no explanation for this.
>>
>> Your assertion is false so no theory need explain it.
>
> Please explain what makes it false.
I don't accept that humans were "pre-adapted" for anything. If you can
prove they were...
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Author: ZerkonXZerkonX Date: Jul 21, 2008 06:20
On Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:18:03 +1000, SolomonW wrote:
> Is there any evidence that one can grow into it?
I think so. However, since I am going use human history as evidence and
since I am guessing we know or have a general sense of the same history
our interpretations differ.
I will start then without going into great detail as to why with one
example: the computer as a direct descendant of the loom.
Also.. "higher mathematics, fine art, and modern physics" are not final
or absolute points of arrival if human thought is going to extend beyond
this moment. The "higher math" of today might be tomorrow's abacus.
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Author: SolomonWSolomonW Date: Jul 21, 2008 06:23
> SolomonW Nothing.com> wrote:>>> SolomonW Nothing.com> wrote:
>>> >>>> It is indeed a mystery why our species, which spent most of its
>>>> existence hunting game and gathering fruit and nuts, was pre-adapted for
>>>> higher mathematics, fine art, and modern physics. Evolutionary theory
>>>> has no explanation for this.
>>>
>>> Your assertion is false so no theory need explain it.
>>
>> Please explain what makes it false.
>
> I don't accept that humans were "pre-adapted" for anything. If you can
> prove they were...
>
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Author: Daniel T.Daniel T. Date: Jul 21, 2008 07:32
SolomonW Nothing.com> wrote:>> SolomonW Nothing.com> wrote:>>>> SolomonW Nothing.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>> It is indeed a mystery why our species, which spent most of its
>>>>> existence hunting game and gathering fruit and nuts, was pre-
>>>>> adapted for higher mathematics, fine art, and modern physics.
>>>>> Evolutionary theory has no explanation for this.
>>>>
>>>> Your assertion is false so no theory need explain it.
>>>
>>> Please explain what makes it false.
>>
>> I don't accept that humans were "pre-adapted" for anything. If you can
>> prove they were...
>
> Human communities that are far apart seem to form societies in many ways
> quite similar eg priests, kings, hairdressers etc.- Hide quoted text - ...
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Author: SolomonWSolomonW Date: Jul 22, 2008 02:11
> SolomonW Nothing.com> wrote:>>> SolomonW Nothing.com> wrote:>>>>> SolomonW Nothing.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>> It is indeed a mystery why our species, which spent most of its
>>>>>> existence hunting game and gathering fruit and nuts, was pre-
>>>>>> adapted for higher mathematics, fine art, and modern physics.
>>>>>> Evolutionary theory has no explanation for this.
>>>>>
>>>>> Your assertion is false so no theory need explain it.
>>>>
>>>> Please explain what makes it false.
>>>
>>> I don't accept that humans were "pre-adapted" for anything. If you can
>>> prove they were... ...
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