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This is the first of parts I'll post. Together, they present a rather complete statement of "where I'm at" with evolution and neoDarwinian theory.
Edward O. Wilson’s The Meaning of Human Existence “ is not a new exploration . . . . but rather a summing-up of his ideas in compact and readable form.”
Thus states Dan Cryer in a recent Boston Globe brief review of the book.
[In my following discussion, Wilson’s own words will appear “italicized” and within quotation marks. Exact words from the article will be “standard text” within quotes].
Dismissing any form of “creationism”, Wilson asserts, “We were created not by a super-natural intelligence . . . but by chance and necessity as one species out of millions of species in Earth’s biosphere.”
Already one’s scrutiny should be caught by the “unscientific-ness” of terms that are employed, the presumption (chance) asserted by evolutionary theory with no actual evidence, nor even definition of term. Assumed to be science, evolution seems to be the only branch in which there is linguistic, rather than mathematical computations and “calculations” – and wherein the very theoretical dynamic assumed cannot be subjected to experimental methods, thus possible disproof.
Dismissing any form of “creationism” . . he then states “we were created . . .. “
What would be his definition of “created”? Do we wonder at this linguistic revelation of not only contradiction but almost concept-cancellation? Should he perhaps use a far different term that specifies what he must mean – that his view, (mainstream science’s), is that a process of sequential and synergic componential compoundings and co-minglings and copulations took place (from subatomics on into organisms). But also, how can one who accepts the “big bang” origin of the universe “dismiss any [which, here, implies every] form of creationism”?
This may seem like nit-picking. But we’re dealing with supposedly scientific statements by one of the most revered senior statesmen of science, E. O. Wilson.
“We were created not by a super-natural intelligence”. Just what, pray (or not if you’re not religious) tell does this mean? Are we to assume that E. O. is dismissing “ . .any form of supernatural . . . “ whatever? At any point of space-matter-time is not that beyond into change a matter of “super-natural” relative to that which existed before? Or we could say “post-natural” or some such?
“Super-natural” as the term is used and abused is super-inapplicable in a scientific context and discussion. For one thing, “super- to what dimensions or constraints or contexts . . . of natural?” And just what are the constraints within which “natural” must be contained to be natural and not stray into “supernatural”? Of course we realize that Wilson (et al) are using “super-natural” as synonymous with “imaginary or delusional or religious or superstitious” or some such designations of cognitive constructs projected and displaced as causal actualities (paranoid processes). But to confine “super-natural” as a perspective of existence (and even evolution) – to guy-in-the-sky mental images assumed to be causalities of substantives is somewhat a scope of ignorance revealed not only be Creationists, but by evolutionists who can’t seem to “get the God out” in order to let the truly comprehensive recognition of evolutionary existence in.
But there’s an even finer point to perceive for its dullness. What is an “intelligence”? Is it the neuronal activity of a brain? Is it the interface, through communication and even synchronicity, of brains (plural – as collaboration, as synergies)? Rather than what Wilson and Dawkins and others are saying, shouldn’t a scientist specify for example: “our sequential evolutionary diversity and complexity was not the result of any volition or decision by an anthropomorphic (or animistic) agency or complex apart; rather exists as what is inherent in the systemic and substantive essence of that which evolved even from, yet still inclusive of the sub-atomic level even unto the homo sapiens.
I marvel that no one seems to get it that there can be a supernatural intelligence represented by and in an organized system (such as evolutionary) – without there being a supernatural intelligent guy (or any other species) in the sky (or elsewhere). That which is “supernatural” is inherent and systemic in the “natural” as the emergence or combinance and even the “random” evolution of existence. Is it that man, especially those of ev-sci, are so insecure (or would it be self-glorified) that they don’t realize that intelligent design is evident throughout existence. It is that design that the genius and “polymath” pinnacles of scientists and philosophers have realized, recognized, synthesized into ciphers of mathematics and linguistics, first by inference (“hmmm, seems to me that . . . . “) and then theorization (formulae, diagrams, etc.) and finally the “proofs” of experimentation and demonstration.
What should we call those high-level extrapolations from existence, the expressions and expositions of such KNOWLEDGE AS DUAL DIMENSION OF ESSENCE . . . INTELLIGENCE!! How about . . . THE INTELLIGENT DESIGN OF THE INTELLIGENCE OF THE INTELLIGENT DESIGN IN THE UNIVERSE !!