Hardly Random: Part 3

An ongoing series in which I discuss my thoughts on first reading Darwin's Origin of Species

Finished Chapter 3 some time ago and just haven't posted yet. In this chapter Darwin begins to write about Survival of the Fittest, Natural Selection, and the grand struggle for survival that all species undergo. He makes the point that humans tend to remember those things that are beautiful and forget those that are hideous. Many creationist use things like rainbows, spring flowers and a baby's laughter to make the case for god. However they seem to forget floods, poison ivy, and childhood cancer. Or maybe they want us to forget.

Hardly Random: Part 2

On ongoing series wherein I discuss my first reading of Darwin's Origin of Species.

Last night I finished Chapter 2. Darwin writes about telling apart a species and its varieties and how difficult this can be. He makes two points in particular though that I want to quote.

... if we look at each species as a special act of creation there is no apparent reason why more varieties should occur in a group having many species, than in one having few.

In other words if g-d did all this why does it look evolved?

... when many species of a genus have been formed on an average many are still forming; and this certainly holds good.

Meaning evolution is still ongoing.

Just look at all these varieties of Oak Trees for example.

Hardly Random: Part 1

This will be an ongoing series in which I post my impressions of The Origin Of Species: 150th Anniversary Edition Sadly I am just reading this classic work for the first time, and because I have been out of school for so long find it a bit rough going.

Chapter 1: A lot about pigeons, dogs and sheep. It is obvious that Darwin is struggling with explaining his theory without knowing the exact mechanism (genetics) which makes it all work.

Chapter 2: A pet theory of creationist is to compare the chances of spontaneous evolution to a tornado ripping through a salvage yard and creating a 747 airplane. Obviously they have never read this book. On pages 59 and 60 of my copy Darwin states, "Almost every part of every organic being is so beautifully related to its complex conditions of life that it seems as improbable that any part should have been suddenly produced perfect, as that a complex machine should have been invented by man in a perfect state." In other words the forms of life we see today have become what they are only through change just as the 747 airplane of today barely resembles the airplane the Wright Brothers created just over 100 years ago.

Wright Brothers glider.


Modern 747.