tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542449.post1124039517088916650..comments2024-03-04T05:55:35.225-05:00Comments on Vital Remnants: Who is that Masked Philosopher? Is neoDarwinism nihilistic--Part IIMartin Cothranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16452612266051351726noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542449.post-91291763809496938242008-02-27T16:36:00.000-05:002008-02-27T16:36:00.000-05:00Hi Adam,Perhaps you could explain to me the meanin...Hi Adam,<BR/><BR/>Perhaps you could explain to me the meaning of "neodarwinist" then? And what "Composed entirely of English speaking ..." adds to the discussion? If he wants to refer to a specific handful-sized subset of scientists, why use the seemingly more general term "neodarwinist"? Is the point to confuse people or enlighten them? What is "neodarwinist scholarship"? Why is the term hard toAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542449.post-85739321245479893612008-02-27T09:54:00.000-05:002008-02-27T09:54:00.000-05:00It's hard to get past this oddball statement.Hard,...<I>It's hard to get past this oddball statement.</I><BR/><BR/>Hard, perhaps, if you're not into Neodarwinist scholarship. Again, he's referring to a very specific bunch, which includes Pinker, Dawkins, and Dennett, who all became prominent around the same time and, as it happens, are British.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16132674237614327721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542449.post-57712018341259299132008-02-27T02:47:00.000-05:002008-02-27T02:47:00.000-05:00I assume "neodarwinists" refers to most modern evo...I assume "neodarwinists" refers to most modern evolutionary scientists. Is there some other definition in effect here? The idea that only English speaking (and writing) scientists are neodarwinists is nonsense. [Of course neodarwinism is a term more frequently used by nonscientists than scientists.] While this phrase does not affect the validity of the subsequent arguments, it does suggest that Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542449.post-51407963710376893442008-02-27T01:34:00.000-05:002008-02-27T01:34:00.000-05:00Maybe Jah could explain what is oddball about that...Maybe Jah could explain what is oddball about that statement.Martin Cothranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16452612266051351726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542449.post-70524771063420324992008-02-26T22:46:00.000-05:002008-02-26T22:46:00.000-05:00scientifically sound -- principle is that any orga...<I> scientifically sound -- principle is that any organic or behavioral feature that has endured must have benefited its owner's ancestors in some way.</I><BR/><BR/>I would say that any such feature couldn't be a serious disadvantage, which is quite a different claim.<BR/><BR/><I>Composed entirely of English speakers (and writers), the neodarwinists</I><BR/><BR/>It's hard to get past this oddballAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542449.post-81732607906594142732008-02-26T14:33:00.000-05:002008-02-26T14:33:00.000-05:00Since I read of the post here, I will discuss it h...Since I read of the post here, I will discuss it here, with all due respects to Vulgar Morality.<BR/><BR/><I>Proving the compatibility of evolution and morality, the authors observe, proves nothing. "Darwinism must do more than merely reconcile morality and natural selection," they write. "Darwinism must underwrite morality and work to justify its claims." An appreciation of human nature, One Browhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11938816242512563561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11542449.post-68814948416632073112008-02-26T06:14:00.000-05:002008-02-26T06:14:00.000-05:00Hey, thanks for the plug!That's a very interesting...Hey, thanks for the plug!<BR/><BR/>That's a very interesting debate; I'm surprised to see Russell made his case in just that way. I myself am more inclined to agree with the <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/Theory-Moral-Sentiments-Adam-Smith/dp/1599865939/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204024329&sr=8-1" REL="nofollow">Moral Sentiments</A> theories of Hume, Smith, and the other figures of theAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16132674237614327721noreply@blogger.com