Re: Clergy Letter Project exceeds 11,000 signatures

James Goetz <james.goetz@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Sep 26, 9:13 am, j.wilki...@xxxxxxxxx (John Wilkins) wrote:
James Goetz <james.go...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Sep 26, 2:00 am, j.wilki...@xxxxxxxxx (John Wilkins) wrote:
James Goetz <james.go...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Sep 25, 8:36 am, j.wilki...@xxxxxxxxx (John Wilkins) wrote:
....
By the way, John, have you studied evolution in technical detail?
For example, can you defend the common ancestry of all primates?
Can you do it without assuming the legitimacy of random
distributions?

I was defending you guys, not attacking, Jim. But what do you mean
"the legitimacy of random distributions"? Do I need to defend
statistics before I can defend anything else? I don't get your
point.

I have studied some evolution in technical detail, but only as much as I
need to do philosophy. But I did read a fair bit on the phylogeny of
pinnipeds to ensure that I had a handle on some issues (and they are
monophyletic, so there). So I can give a reasonable account of the
phylogeny of primates in terms of their synapomorphies.

I know that you were defending, thank you. And I recall you writing a
mean post describing various scenarios of speciation. And I like your
FAQ on macroevolution.

I was implying that we need to use statistics to defend evolution. But
that is a bit harsh because I do not recall Darwin using statistics in
his defense of evolution.

Well as statistics was developed in part to deal with evolution, it
seems a little circular. But Darwin *did* understand about variaiton in
populations, as this was a hot topic amongst systematists in the period,
and Quetelet had developed his "statics" well before the publication of
the Origin.



However, the development of the synthetic theory depended upon
statistics. And I could not resist bringing up an earlier unfinished
debate.

I'm afraid my episodic memory is shot. I forget that debate.

I might be melding debates because I discussed determinism with more
than you in TO. But I once mentioned that strict determinism such as
compatibilism nullifies most statistical studies such as the synthetic
theory. And if that were the case, then I might not be convinced of
universal common descent.

I think you are confusing the notions of "knowing" that evolution occurs
(through variation) through the use of statistical thinking versus the
physical causes underlying it. Suppose (pace QM) that every process
underlying evolution is causally determinate, and that the result is a
normal distribution in a population, or selection towards one. How do we
deal with normal distribtuions? By statistics, but only (in this case)
because the data are intractable in an individual deterministic model.
The *fact* of evolution in no way relies upon indeterminacy in this
case, even if our knowledge of it does.
--
John S. Wilkins, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Philosophy
University of Queensland - Blog: scienceblogs.com/evolvingthoughts
"He used... sarcasm. He knew all the tricks, dramatic irony, metaphor,
bathos, puns, parody, litotes and... satire. He was vicious."

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Clergy Letter Project exceeds 11,000 signatures
    ... mean "the legitimacy of random distributions"? ... statistics in his defense of evolution. ... But I once mentioned that strict determinism such as ... I think you are confusing the notions of "knowing" that evolution occurs ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Clergy Letter Project exceeds 11,000 signatures
    ... can you defend the common ancestry of all ... mean "the legitimacy of random distributions"? ... statistics in his defense of evolution. ... But I once mentioned that strict determinism such as ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Clergy Letter Project exceeds 11,000 signatures
    ... "the legitimacy of random distributions"? ... statistics before I can defend anything else? ... his defense of evolution. ... But I once mentioned that strict determinism such as ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Clergy Letter Project exceeds 11,000 signatures
    ... "the legitimacy of random distributions"? ... statistics before I can defend anything else? ... But I once mentioned that strict determinism such as ... I think you are confusing the notions of "knowing" that evolution occurs ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Clergy Letter Project exceeds 11,000 signatures
    ... are signing on are basing their agreement on trusting science ... Biochemists never, of course, when they speak on evolution. ... Do I need to defend statistics ... I was implying that we need to use statistics to defend evolution. ...
    (talk.origins)