Quote:
Originally Posted by MS Fowler
Bot,
Slightly, maybe completely off topic, but you raised a point I have wanted to explore.
As you state, current science has debunked the idea that acquired traits are passed on genetically. Yet, I seem to recall that in many discussion here that evolutionists have made that very argument. A specific illustration fails me at this time, but is there some convenient "borrowing" of that idea into modern evolutionary thought?
|
It is a common mistake that promoters of evolution make so I wouldn't be surprised that you find it here. The Lamarckian argument says that giraffes have long necks because over many generations of neck-straining to eat canopy leaves, giraffes developed longer necks. I wrote a term paper on Lamarckism & Lysenko when I was an undergrad. One of the things I did was a lit review searching for instances of Lamarckism in the popular literature. It is rare, but I don't recall having a great deal of problem finding examples.
Another mistake that sometimes comes-up in evolution is a teleological -- that function follows a design. For example: Giraffes have long necks SO that they could more effectively graze in treetops.
When evolutionists use either of those forms of argument, usually they are trying to take a short-cut to what they believe is a more important point about evolution.
I have often self-described as a superstitious agnostic. I am too awed by the magnificence of the universe to NOT entertain the belief in God. For this reason I am especially susceptible to the teleological argument. I'm okay with it, but it's a biological heresy nonetheless.
B