Evolution
- From: "Altway" <altway@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 19:18:39 -0500
"A.C." wrote:-
Question:-
You say that it is perfectly possible to explain evolution as being
directed by intelligence. But it has been pointed out that many facts do
not make sense in this theory. For instance, there is junk DNA,
pseudo-genes that have no function but are relics of past species. Some
animals that dwell in caves where there is no light have rudimentary eyes
which their surface dwelling ancestors might have needed in day light.
There are similar but separate environments that contain quite different
species. There is what seems like tremendous cruelty when some insects lay
eggs within the bodies of other creatures and these hatch out to eat those
hosts from the inside. There appear to a number imperfections in nature on
which human designers could have improved. All this seems unplanned and
accidental. How is this to be understood?
Answer:-
I do not deny evolution nor do I support the American version of Intelligent
Design that is a naive version of Creationism.
I think that this controversy between them is based on a misunderstand on
both sides.
The point is that evolution is not as mechanical as some people suppose but
that there are purposes and functions to consider. There are drives for
self-preservation, reproduction and self-extension. Organisms and the
systems they belong to have the capacity for adaptation and there is great
variation and versatility. So that given changes in environment that might
be inhospitable for some or most individuals, and disable or kill them off,
there are always some that can survive in it and multiply and fill the space
left by others.
It is not necessary to understand intelligence in an anthropomorphic sense.
There are various degrees of it. Does Intelligence exist? Is human
intelligence supernatural? It is silly to reject the notion of intelligence
in nature while rejecting the supernatural. Either intelligence is
supernatural or it is not. In either case it exists.
The question is: does an organ develop first and its function comes second.
Or is there first a need and this is met by the development of the
appropriate organ. The fact is that both processes continue together. A
vestigial organ develops and it is used for some purpose and if it gives an
advantage then this encourages its further development. Existing organs can
be modified for different uses. This is what allows organisms to adapt to
different environments.
But organisms do not only adapt to environments, they also change
environments and migrate to suitable ones. They are also affected by the
same environment differently. We cannot study organisms in isolation without
getting a distorted picture. Within an ecological system there is much
interdependence and many checks and balances. A species A may live by eating
species B, C and D. B may eat F, G, and C. And G may live on A. If the
number of individuals of A increases and eat too many of B, this may cause
F, G, and C to increase in number. C may then reduce the number of A. It is
not, therefore, a question of survival or reproductive fitness, but of
function within the system to which things belong.
The fact is that the fertilised cell from which the adult develops contains
general sensitivities and a great number of potentialities which are
actualised gradually into the various special organs of sense and action.
But the nervous system is sufficiently flexible for different parts to take
over the function of others.
At the genetic level, genes can be turned on or off at various stages of
development and different environments. It is not the case that all genes
have to have a function at all times or that non-functioning genes are
useless. They may have catalytic, enabling, modifying or repressive,
affects. Or they may merely exist as future potentialities.
As for judgements about whether something is good or evil that is clearly a
human judgement. Nature obviously judges things differently. We too eat
other life forms, animals and plants. There is certainly competition and a
struggle against opposition. It is by overcoming these that evolution takes
place and there is also co-operation and unity. It is not denied that things
are imperfect on earth - perfection is to be had only in heaven. Indeed
there is much evil on earth, mostly committed by human beings. But it is not
at all certain that some of the criticisms made by Biologists and others are
valid. It may well be that further research will show that there is much
greater wisdom in nature than was thought. In fact man learns much from
nature and it may be far more intelligent than the critics. If the universe
and all things in it are evolving then clearly they are moving from
imperfection towards perfection which lies in the future. The process by
which this takes place must be regarded as good. In fact, human beings are
required to be agents through whom this is to be achieved and they too are
required to get more intelligent.
Hamid S Aziz
.
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