Re: Co-optation Today

Inez wrote:
On Jan 5, 9:26pm, Treus <treusd...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
John Harshman wrote:
This is silly. We have no basis for deciding what the characteristic
products of pixie dust are.

Pixie dust has whatever characteristics you want it to have, because
it shares a property with all other ad hoc explanations, i.e.
arbitrariness.

Exactly. And phylogeny doesn't have whatever characteristics you want.

However, its tree does have causal characteristics attributed to it
without sufficient empirical justification.

I think many of us have been waiting for you to detail exactly what
characteristics the tree has attributed to it without sufficient
empircal justification.

The characteristic of causality, plain and simple. I'm having a hard
time understanding why you're all having such a hard time
understanding this. The network of associations is indisputable,
granted. However, put up something indicating a propagation of
causality up the tree.

Those of us who are unusually optimistic hope
that you will include some thoughts on what empirical justification
might be sufficient.

How about two properties of the tree such that one could not exist
without the other preceding it under phylogenesis?

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Co-optation Today
    ... without sufficient empirical justification. ... The characteristic of causality, plain and simple. ... causality up the tree. ... My DNA came from my mother and father. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: OT:Thanksgiving
    ... causality is the fundamental principle on which science is based. ... That completely destroys the whole basis of science. ... don't hear the tree fall then you have no evidence worthwhile that the ... tree fell or made/did not make any sound. ...
    (comp.lang.cobol)
  • Re: Co-optation Today
    ... it shares a property with all other ad hoc explanations, ... arbitrariness. ... its tree does have causal characteristics attributed to it ... without sufficient empirical justification. ...
    (talk.origins)