the value of evolution.

[whois]

apart from a historical aspect, what value is there in evolution?
i've heard in mentioned that evolution is some kind of "cornerstone" and "nothing makes sense" without it.
exactly how would current genetic research change if a "god" created everything?

keep ion mind that finding cures for diseases has nothing whatsoever to do with man coming from a microbe, or from a rat for that matter.

 

[lesliedellow]

I am not a biologist, but having incorrect presuppositions about anything can, and probably will, result in incorrectly interpreted facts and wrong conclusions.

 

[Hoghead1]

If you are interested in studying how we got here, what is the basic structure of the universe, then yes, it is important to study about evolution. If you are going to make major breakthroughs in fighting disease, etc., you need to stand on a firm understanding of what the basic structure of reality is. Also, evolution touches an the question of values and beauty. Basically, evolution is an affirmation that reality is dynamic, not static. Hence, evolution brings us to realize there is a continual creativity at work, that the universe is more like a painting than a machine. This is a major, watershed shift in our basic intuition of the world; it challenges the traditional metaphysic that nothing changes, that everything is a separate static being, changeless and wholly unaffected by the rest. And this is only the beginning of it's value. The universe now appears less like a repetitive machine and more like an organism. And that has importance for the question of God. If the universe is an organism, then it must have a brain, as does every complex organism; and if you directly interacted with the brain of the universe, you would be so impressed by how far its knowledge above yours that you would probably fall down and worship and say yes, there is a God.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

apart from a historical aspect, what value is there in evolution?
i've heard in mentioned that evolution is some kind of "cornerstone" and "nothing makes sense" without it.

It's a simple and elegant explanation of the patterns of diversity and relatedness of life in paleontology, anthropology, zoology, botany, anatomy, physiology, epidemiology, neuroscience, genetics, etc. It's the only theory that provides a common foundation and background for our observations in all these fields, and that has made testable predictions that have been borne out by empirical evidence. It has value in guiding us as to how best to manage environments and ecologies to maintain genetic diversity and preserve wildlife, to provide a grounding for: selective and cross-breeding of crops and livestock, natural pest control, genetic engineering, control and treatment of infectious and inherited diseases, and so-on.

exactly how would current genetic research change if a "god" created everything?

All depends exactly what you mean by 'created everything'. If God had created the Earth and the universe it's in, and everything up to the first protocellular replicator, then left it to get on with its proto-life; or if, at some point (last Thursday?), God had created everything to look just as if life had evolved by natural selection; then current genetic research wouldn't be any different.

keep ion mind that finding cures for diseases has nothing whatsoever to do with man coming from a microbe, or from a rat for that matter.

Man and rats are both mammals, but man didn't evolve from a rat. Finding cures for diseases has plenty to do with understanding evolution by natural selection, as mentioned above.

 

[Hoghead1]

About the rats: I'm not sure exactly where they fall into the evolutionary process. However, I can proof positive guarantee that we do possess a brain almost identical in many respects, since we have a limbic system, sometimes called the old brain or the reptile brain. In fact, when I was an undergrad., I did my senior research on how the limbic system affects hoarding behavior in rats. So I know the limbic system and it is obvious it was inherited from our mammalian and even reptilian predecessors. So coming from earlier creatures does have our definite bearing on our understanding of addictions and also our emotional behavior and how the brain may be involved in mental illness.
The issue of how God is related to evolution is a difficult one. My take on the subject is that God is in a continual state of evolution. Creation was God's own evolution from unconsciousness into self-consciousness, a point shared by some historically Christians mystics, by the way. I think evolution has worked the way it is, because God is continually self-evolving and introducing novelty into the universe. Certain possibilities, however, cannot be realized until others have or are already in place. I think of the universe of creatures as co-creators along with God. Since everything has a min and a free will, God alone cannot control or dictate the whole process. Hence, evil and serious problems can occur, due to a failure of creators to actualize the creative aims God lures them along with. I can go into more detail here on God as growing and ever-changing, if anyone is interested. I don't mean to push my credentials here, but I think should say that I did my dissertation on God as ever-changing and am published by two university presses

 

[Strathos]

Way to try to exclude certain parts of the ToE to try to make your question make sense even though they are inextricably linked.

 

[joshua 1 9]

what value is there in evolution?

Evolution is a way to collect and organize information about the natural world. It does not matter if you agree or not, High School Student are tested and if they do not learn the information they do not graduate. Or if they get a low score on the college entrance exams then it will make it difficult for them to get into a good college. Also there is a lot of competition for scholarship money. Then when they graduate from school there is a lot of competition to get the best paying jobs with the best companys. So as a parent I want my son to have the best education that he can get.

If you have something better then by all means show us.

exactly how would current genetic research change if a "god" created everything?

It would not change at all. The current leading expert on DNA: Frances Collins wrote a book that says DNA is the "Language of God". The Hebrews believe that Ancient Hebrew is the language that God used to create the universe. Now Dr Collins tells us that DNA is the language that God uses to create life here on planet earth. Science and religion seems to be compatible for many people. They do not see any conflict.

 

[SkyWriting]

apart from a historical aspect, what value is there in evolution?
i've heard in mentioned that evolution is some kind of "cornerstone" and "nothing makes sense" without it.
exactly how would current genetic research change if a "god" created everything?

keep ion mind that finding cures for diseases has nothing whatsoever to do with man coming from a microbe, or from a rat for that matter.

It does form a framework for life, but non-living matter does not form a framework for life.
It is mostly hostile to it.

 

[Hoghead1]

It does form a framework for life, but non-living matter does not form a framework for life.
It is mostly hostile to it.

 

[Hoghead1]

True about lifeless matter. However, I hold there is no passive, inert, dead matter. All matter is alive, has a subjective side, a mind. One reason is evolution itself. We have been so busy extending mechanical principles up the scale, to explain things, that we forget it's only fair t extend psychological ones down the scale. In sort, what is the case at the top of the scale is also the case at the lower, though to a significant lesser degree.

 

[SkyWriting]

Exactly!

 

[SkyWriting]

True about lifeless matter. However, I hold there is no passive, inert, dead matter. All matter is alive, has a subjective side, a mind. One reason is evolution itself. We have been so busy extending mechanical principles up the scale, to explain things, that we forget it's only fair t extend psychological ones down the scale. In sort, what is the case at the top of the scale is also the case at the lower, though to a significant lesser degree.

Not usually. Evolution itself is nothing but change and degradation leading to death.
Heat death of the universe - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[SkyWriting]

However, I hold there is no passive, inert, dead matter.

It has properties, but there is no evidence of any chemical or physical
leanings toward life. If there were, we'd have found some.

The rest of the cosmos shows no signs of self awareness or intended motion.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

True about lifeless matter. However, I hold there is no passive, inert, dead matter. All matter is alive, has a subjective side, a mind.

In what sense do you think an electron has a mind?

 

[whois]

good answers all around.

If you are going to make major breakthroughs in fighting disease, etc., you need to stand on a firm understanding of what the basic structure of reality is.

a significant number of inventions were discovered by accident.
a very good example of an accidental breakthrough would be the discovery of the bipolar junction transistor.
scientists were actually looking for a replacement for the vacuum tube, a FET (field effect transistor).
the FET wasn't invented until some years after the BJT

 

[durangodawood]

good answers all around.

a significant number of inventions were discovered by accident.
a very good example of an accidental breakthrough would be the discovery of the bipolar junction transistor.
scientists were actually looking for a replacement for the vacuum tube, a FET (field effect transistor).
the FET wasn't invented until some years after the BJT

I doubt that would have occurred without some fundamental background science exploring electricity.

 

[davedajobauk]

Sentient Electrons ?

 

[whois]

I doubt that would have occurred without some fundamental background science exploring electricity.

the fact still remains that the discovery of the BJT was an accident.
the only similarity to the vacuum tube was amplification.
this tiny device, in some cases no larger than a grain of sand, revolutionized electronics.

you are correct though, some knowledge about the subject was most certainly needed.

 

[juvenissun]

apart from a historical aspect, what value is there in evolution?
i've heard in mentioned that evolution is some kind of "cornerstone" and "nothing makes sense" without it.
exactly how would current genetic research change if a "god" created everything?

keep ion mind that finding cures for diseases has nothing whatsoever to do with man coming from a microbe, or from a rat for that matter.

Facts described by evolution is really wonderful. It tells me how wonderful God's creation is. Just like we are surprised by EVERY moons and planets we have observed in the solar system. They are all beyond our imagination.

For example, God creates monkey. Is it a simple idea? Absolutely not. See how many different monkeys are there. Each one is different from the others. Evolution does an excellent job in classifying them (Adam did that in the Garden). However, it makes a mistake by saying that one changed into another.

I don't know genetics. But I believe genetics, like biology, should only be a work of discovery. It should not be used to create.

 

[Hoghead1]

Sentient electrons? Yes. I believe that mind and matter are one, not two separate, conflicting orders. I There is no passive, inert, dead matter. All matter has a subjective side, though not necessarily consciousness. I believe evolution calls for this, because what is at the top of the scale is also the case at the bottom, though to a significantly lesser extent.