"Punctual Equilibrium", or "evolutionary stuff"

[MD575151@xxxxxxx]

 This just in.....

      I just thought that I would share this article with all of you.  I read
this in the Jan. 12 issue of the Seattle Times.

     This article is about the evolutionary theories of Stephen Gould, a
Harvard peleontologist.

     His thesis: "In 1972 Gould and collegue Miles Ildridge started a
paleontological revolution by arguing evolution occurs not gradually, but in
spurts in response to environmental change, a theory called 'punctual
equilibrium.'"

     This does not have much to do with it, but it is interesting.  "In his
book 'The Mismeasure of Man,' he showed how 19th-century racial predjudices
led to the misinterpretation of skull evidence of racial intelligence,
anticipating today's debate over 'The Bell Curve.'"

     O.K.  Here is is evolutionary contribution.  "The first is that earth is
indeeed history, not destiny: a story ruled by chance...that, if run over
again, would probably result in some other species dominating the planet."
 Stephen argues that evolution is just "dumb luck", not "survival of the
fittest, implying that humans are the "fittest".

     "The second is that evolution does not risult in progress--that it did
not march from primitive bacreria to complex, triumphant us."  He also says
that humans are not the dominant speceis, bacteria has been here for longer
than any other living organism, and because the only "purpose of life" is to
survive, bacteria best fit this purpose--survival of the fittest.  On a
personal note, my dad told me when I was young (younger) that animals have
claws, teeth, fur etc., but humans have brains, brains and conscienceness are
our "gift".  Whatever.  It seems to me that an organism lacking
conscienceness is far better suited for survival than anything that is
capable of imagining "morals".  Then again, it also seems that an organism
lacking life, like a rock, is far, far, far, better suited for "survival"
than anything capable of "reproducing".

     "Gould argues that our own breif tenure on earth is the result of dumb
luck, not fitness, worth, or Divine Plan."  That's pretty strait forward.

     This also has nothing to do with paleontology, but because this is a
Marxism list...."Press him on the religious and political implications of
that or his own beleifes -- is he a Marxist, or an atheist? -- and he tends
to skate away, argueing that such falls outside of the province of science."
 The Times reports that Mr. Goulds father was a Marxist, how taboo.

     If any of you have anything to add, please do so.  This is the first
time that I have ever read of Gould's work, so if anyone has anything to add,
please do so.  I have always excepted Darwinism and the idea of "survival of
the fittest" with blind faith, I never had any reason to question it.

Hope you enjoyed my report,
                                     Mike Dean
                                     Hs066@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

P.S. This is totaly of the subject, but does the Communist Party, USA, elect
their chairpeople, or are they "chosen".  I am not trying to discredit the
party, I would like to somehow help the cause, but want to find out about the
CP before I commit myself.


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