[lbo-talk] Re: Evolutionary Theory [was...]

[Simon Archer]

If it ever did, I don't know that evolution 'happens to us' as a species. In
the past we may have evolved in the Darwinian sense, and the mechanics of
that was sorted out in the mid-20th century, but whatever the chance
elements involved in genetic mutation that create the new traits in the
phenotype, which may help, hinder or neither in any given environment [which
is my super-basic understanding of Darwin updated by genetics] can we say
that this is any longer valid given the broad degree of control exerted over
the "natural world" or the "environment"? I don't know if it's a sensible
proposition any longer to say we "evolve" in any sense that is not beyond
our control. I guess the exemplary case is toying with genes of fertilized
eggs, but even Darwin saw this by introducing his whole work with a
description of breeding animals. Pigeons and dogs, I think he used.
-- 
simon.archer at gmail.com
647.406.2724
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