Evolution through mutation can explain changes that cannot be explained through variation such as the transition from a 3 chambered heart to a 4 chambered heart. The 4 chambered heart evolved independently in both birds and mammals. This is called parallel evolution.
As I indicated, Darwin did not hesitate to apply his ideas to the descent of man. The human species had already been placed in the primate family 50 years before Darwin was even born. Darwin, along with other naturalists, concluded from the anatomical evidence that the apes and man had had a common ancestry. Naturally this created problems for those people who wanted to believe in the biblical account of creation. And even today there are people, known as creationists, who oppose the whole idea of evolution. These people have a problem with the steady progression of life from the simplest life-form to man. For instance, you can draw a line like this:
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At the left end of this line you have the simplest form of life which is little more than a complicated molecule. Then there is a steady progression in complexity along this evolutionary line until you come to the more advanced forms of life at the right end, and to man who regards himself as the highest form of life and who has assigned to himself an immortal soul.
So then, the theological question arises as to just what point on this line of gradual change does this soul appear. Of course, you can pick some point and say this is it; but that raises the question why that point and not some other.
And so, evolution has dethroned man from the high pedestal on which he had placed himself.
Unfortunately, the creationists have been quite successful at times in imposing their ignorance on our children. For instance, in Alabama textbooks are pasted with warnings saying that evolution is a controversial theory, not a fact. The creationists have a psychological problem, resulting from a conflict between belief and actuality.
Unfortunately few people in this world understand the psychology of belief. And it is something that is very important to understand. Most of the human race have beliefs: religious beliefs, political beliefs, superstitious beliefs, etc. And because of belief millions of people all over the world have been killed, and are still being killed today.
People believe, but no one asks the question: why do I believe? You see, that involves self-knowledge, the knowledge that no one wants. Belief has been going on for thousands of years, probably millions, and in every part of the world. Something like that doesn't just happen, there is a reason for belief. There are powerful psychological forces which cause belief.
Now is it necessary to have any belief about anything ? And what is the relationship between belief and truth ? If I believe the earth is flat it's not likely I will find out the true shape of the earth.
Because I already know the shape: the earth is flat -- Finis ! So belief fosters ignorance. And yet in many circles the man of faith is revered.
Man is a unique species in 3 significant ways:
1) Man is the only species in the homo genus.
2) Man is the only species that engages in premeditated warfare.
3) Man possesses a brain much larger than is needed for survival.
I suspect these three facts are not unrelated. Warfare has been going on for a long time and is still going on. It has played an important part in the evolution of homo sapiens. Obviously defeated peoples are not going to pass on their genes to future generations, as the victors do. And it's not the more peaceful tribes who come out on top. The more ruthless and violent side is often the winning side. Mental cunning is going to render and advantage in any war, both for strategy and
for the invention of superior weapons.
So you can see that natural selection is going to favour the tribes with superior intelligence.
Or maybe you would call it unnatural selection. And this has been going on for probably at least
a million years.
There is only one species now in the human genus. It wasn't always that way. In the past there were other species such as Homo Neanderthalensis. What happened to the other species ?
The most likely answer is that they were done in by our murderous ancestors. Louis Leakey was struck by the number of early Hominid skulls he found that had holes in them. He attributes the holes to homicide and warfare.
As I indicated, Darwin did not hesitate to apply his ideas to the descent of man. The human species had already been placed in the primate family 50 years before Darwin was even born. Darwin, along with other naturalists, concluded from the anatomical evidence that the apes and man had had a common ancestry. Naturally this created problems for those people who wanted to believe in the biblical account of creation. And even today there are people, known as creationists, who oppose the whole idea of evolution. These people have a problem with the steady progression of life from the simplest life-form to man. For instance, you can draw a line like this:
______________________________
At the left end of this line you have the simplest form of life which is little more than a complicated molecule. Then there is a steady progression in complexity along this evolutionary line until you come to the more advanced forms of life at the right end, and to man who regards himself as the highest form of life and who has assigned to himself an immortal soul.
And so, evolution has dethroned man from the high pedestal on which he had placed himself.
Unfortunately, the creationists have been quite successful at times in imposing their ignorance on our children. For instance, in Alabama textbooks are pasted with warnings saying that evolution is a controversial theory, not a fact. The creationists have a psychological problem, resulting from a conflict between belief and actuality.
Unfortunately few people in this world understand the psychology of belief. And it is something that is very important to understand. Most of the human race have beliefs: religious beliefs, political beliefs, superstitious beliefs, etc. And because of belief millions of people all over the world have been killed, and are still being killed today.
People believe, but no one asks the question: why do I believe? You see, that involves self-knowledge, the knowledge that no one wants. Belief has been going on for thousands of years, probably millions, and in every part of the world. Something like that doesn't just happen, there is a reason for belief. There are powerful psychological forces which cause belief.
Now is it necessary to have any belief about anything ? And what is the relationship between belief and truth ? If I believe the earth is flat it's not likely I will find out the true shape of the earth.
Because I already know the shape: the earth is flat -- Finis ! So belief fosters ignorance. And yet in many circles the man of faith is revered.
Man is a unique species in 3 significant ways:
1) Man is the only species in the homo genus.
2) Man is the only species that engages in premeditated warfare.
3) Man possesses a brain much larger than is needed for survival.
I suspect these three facts are not unrelated. Warfare has been going on for a long time and is still going on. It has played an important part in the evolution of homo sapiens. Obviously defeated peoples are not going to pass on their genes to future generations, as the victors do. And it's not the more peaceful tribes who come out on top. The more ruthless and violent side is often the winning side. Mental cunning is going to render and advantage in any war, both for strategy and
for the invention of superior weapons.
So you can see that natural selection is going to favour the tribes with superior intelligence.
Or maybe you would call it unnatural selection. And this has been going on for probably at least
a million years.
There is only one species now in the human genus. It wasn't always that way. In the past there were other species such as Homo Neanderthalensis. What happened to the other species ?
The most likely answer is that they were done in by our murderous ancestors. Louis Leakey was struck by the number of early Hominid skulls he found that had holes in them. He attributes the holes to homicide and warfare.
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