But once a trait arises as an expression of genes, it's recurrence is not contingent, but determined. There is no need for positing God/Goddess for this.
The notion that a trait arises within an organism and is passed on to the next generation as result of the needs of the parent organism is LaMarckian , not Darwinian.
I don't see how Darwinian analyses make any teleological error, as you describe it. It is just not a common problem for Darwinists.
Charles
>>> Carrol Cox <cbcox at ilstu.edu> 10/06/99 11:03AM >>>
"Mr P.A. Van Heusden" wrote:
> None of this means that the existence of a trait means that that trait
> is a 'response' to natural selection.
This is the essential point to keep in mind to avoid teleology -- the equation of natural selection with some Nature God/Goddess. The appearance of a trait is purely contingent; its *preservation* a matter of selection and/or piggy-back riding on other traits.
Carrol