September 16, 2005

Scientifc Dark Ages

I am not going to go into a debate with the likes of Ogre on the merits of Darwin's Theory of Evolution. You cannot argue with Creationists as their beliefs are anchored in the ecclesiastical and not in the realms of science and arguing points of faith is a most unsatisfying pastime.

We all know the basics of the Theory of Evolution. The one that most people refer to is the Survival of the Fittest, where a creature that has adapted to its environment more effectively than its competitors therefore resulting in dominance. There are other aspects that Darwin touched on (such as the ability of a creature to adapt to a specific niche and therefore bypass its competitors and that necessity dictates the evolutionary path of a creature - yes Ogre, the sponge did not develop certain characteristics because it never needed to develop them) have been shown to have a basis in truth because observations, fossil evidence and genetic study have shown it to be so.

Theories exist to be proven or disproved. They are a proposition of possibility based on factual evidence available and hypothesis. Much of physics, for example, is a similar thing and as the advancements of people like Hawkins in this area continue theories can continue to be proven, disproved, expanded upon or altered as necessary. Considering the level of sophistication we have achieved now, and then compare that to Darwin's resources available to him at the time of proposing his theories.

As I touched on in Harvey's comments there is a real danger that the US is entering a scientific dark age. Funding has been cut, America is no longer attracting the people to expand on their knowledge and then to share with with the wider world. It is almost as though there is a real fear of science and discovery. I remember not too long ago seeing on the BBC website pictures coming from the various space probles that have gone to Mars, Jupiter and Saturn and reading with awe and interest the discoveries that these have made. Has America lost its sense of wonder?

The name of Darwin will forever be written in the history books. I wonder how many Creationists will be remembered in a similar light.

Posted by AlexC at September 16, 2005 02:57 PM
Comments

I was the kid who asked why was the giraffe's neck so long, why do we have fish that can walk out of water and more...

Posted by: vw bug at September 17, 2005 12:26 PM

Bush wants to go back to the moon, is that adventurous enough? :-)


Posted by: Harvey at September 17, 2005 04:08 PM

George Bush is from the moon? He must find it difficult being President, but at least this explains your foreign policy :-P

(Sally posting for Alex)

Posted by: Sally at September 18, 2005 10:58 AM

Actually, he's not a moon NATIVE, otherwise he'd be more for invading & conquering the entire planet :-)

Posted by: Harvey at September 20, 2005 01:38 AM

Nah, we're just tired of doing all the work, paying all the expense and having he rest of the world bitch that we don't do enough, even when we share the data. j/k:)

At this time with the socio-political problems we are having there are other things that need the financing then space exploration right now.

Posted by: Contagion at September 20, 2005 01:45 PM

Actually, we've decided to dump all scientific funding into our military and take everyone else's inventions by force.

God help you across the pond if you come up with a superior baldness cure.

God help you all.

Posted by: Graumagus at September 23, 2005 02:56 AM

Speaking of Dark Ages, it's kinda quiet around here :-)

Posted by: Harvey at September 29, 2005 05:11 PM

STILL dark, aged, and quiet.

Not to mention your blog is naked :-)

Posted by: Harvey at October 15, 2005 06:53 PM
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