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design

Posted by: bill on September 28, 1999 at 12:30:48:

In Reply to: Darwin posted by Scott Wilson on September 27, 1999 at 01:37:24:

: Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection argues that the world is a place in which there is a scarcity of resources, there is competition between varied forms of species, and that the most fit forms successfully survive. What might the consequences of this theory be if you consider it within a social context in which a few people are equal in terms of economic wealth, and success in the business world often determine one’s relative social standing? Do the elements of Darwinian evolution make a “good” theory? Why?
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Not particularly. Natural selection has to do with conditions under which a species may successfully reproduce. These environmental conditions will support or hinder the relative success of genetic attributes (long narrow beaks vs short powerful beaks in the case of Gallapagos birds).

Now it is true that humans could design a society which favored a particular class to such an extent that those not so favored would be less likely to be able to reproduce. It would probably be a self-limiting (let alone morally repugnant) experiment.



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