Darwin's Birthday

[Marvolo]

February 12, 2009 was Darwin's birthday. Discuss your thoughts on him.

 

[Manic]

One of the best new additions to the X-Men in years.



...wait...

 

[michephantom]

I wnet and saw an exhibit on him at the Science and Industry museum in Chicago a little while ago. Pretty cool. It talked about his early life and his trips to the different islands. He spent several years living on a ship that was the length of maybe 3 buses? not quite sure, but very small. If he didn't come out with his theory when he did, someone else would have (I think that indeed, someone published a similar book before or a little after Darwin did).

The christian science moniter reported that like 63% of americans don't believe in evolution. After all this time? I would like to know where the survey was taken (Texas versus California).

 

[Arcturus]

Happy belated birthday, Mr. Darwin!

 

[Manic]

The christian science moniter reported that like 63% of americans don't believe in evolution. After all this time? I would like to know where the survey was taken (Texas versus California).

*spits out drink*

Are you sure they didn't take this survey in Alabama?

 

[Carcharodon]

*spits out drink*

Are you sure they didn't take this survey in Alabama?

Oh, I've stopped caring. The fact that virtually all biologists believe in evolution tells me that the people who actually know what the hell they're talking about support the idea, and they're the ones who will ultimately make the scientific decisions and create the applications.

I no longer care that some hick in East Jesus, Alabama doesn't believe in evolution. That is, until they start *****ing that creationism should be taught as science. Then they need a good old scientific smack-down.

As for the thread topic, Darwin was....interesting. He got a lot wrong, though the basic principles of Darwinian evolution hold up under today's scientific scrutiny. I also can't blame him for getting so much wrong, because there was a lot that nobody knew back then. Nobody knew about DNA as a mode of inheritance. In fact, for a long time (long after Darwin, in the early 1900's) scientists thought proteins were the primary method for the passing of inherited traits.

As other people have stated, if he didn't put the pieces together, somebody else probably would have. It was only a matter of time.

So, basically...I don't really know what I think about Darwin. Very smart guy, and I have a healthy respect for him and his models, but the semi-worship of Darwin makes me feel a bit awkward because, well...he wasn't quite that awesome.

 

[Immortalfire]

He was that dolphin on SeaQuest...good show.

 

[Carcharodon]

He was that dolphin on SeaQuest...good show.

Is that the one with Roy Scheider?

 

[Immortalfire]

Yup...kind of like Star Trek, only on a submarine.

 

[The Chairman]

He was easily the best thing about The Wild Thornberries.

 

[Manic]

It's DARRIN!

 

[EXT.23]

"virtually all" yeah that's blowing it a little out of proportion.

any of you guys uh..actually read darwin? like "descent of man" maybe? believed in eugenics..kind of dark ****. but i think it's pretty cool to be considered THE catholic church's number one enemy...i'd like to put that on a resume

 

[EXT.23]

but yeah i agree on that i respect the boldness of the man and what he's done for science but there seemingly is this own kind religion that is darwinism. believing in what the guy was going for is all well and good but some people just completely take it for a whole belief in living life almost..pretty creepy

 

[Abstract]

Darwin aye?

Nice Town, folks used to live there.

 

[Carcharodon]

"virtually all" yeah that's blowing it a little out of proportion.

You're basing that on....what, exactly? Keep in mind that I AM a biologist, so I'd say I'm at least a little bit qualified to comment on the general climate in the community.

Of course there are some biologists that don't believe in evolution, but trust me, they're in the minority...a tiny minority. Even a huge number of highly religious biologists believe in evolution. It'd kind of hard to deny when (again) you're presented with (and understand) the evidence.

I'd also propose that a higher proportion of religious biologists believe in evolution than religious people not involved in the field. I'd love to see a study done on that.

 

[Carcharodon]

but yeah i agree on that i respect the boldness of the man and what he's done for science but there seemingly is this own kind religion that is darwinism. believing in what the guy was going for is all well and good but some people just completely take it for a whole belief in living life almost..pretty creepy

Isn't it ironic that the political right subscribes pretty strongly to social Darwinism, yet are characterized as being religious and more prone to disregard the actual Darwinian theory?

I've always been fascinated by that.

 

[Shemtov]

He never lived. He was just a consparacy by the Communists to pull people from the faith and take gods favor from them.
:Crazy 80's Fundamentalist: