Innovation and Speciation: pre-planning (Evolution)

by David Turell , Saturday, May 31, 2014, 15:21 (3828 days ago) @ dhw


> dhw: I have offered two alternatives that do not question purpose: 1) God experimenting in order to fulfil his purpose; 2) humans were not the ORIGINAL purpose, but he let evolution run its course, and intervened when he had the idea for humans ... which means the human purpose came later. My object in making these proposals was to find a theistic scenario that would explain the higgledy-piggledy bush and what you call its "side inventions" ... a problem which your pre-planning scenario fails to address.-I appreciate your offer to help me. Suggestion (2) defines an indecisive God so it is a nonstarter. Suggestion (1) is less indecisive, but no less a wrong approach, since it makes God dither. I work from the following premises: 1) Humans were the goal from the beginnning. This explains the very unnecessary arrival of our clan. 2) Evolution was the chosen method to achieve the goal. 3) Evolution appears to require a broad variety of life forms, animal and plant to offer choices for selection and provide for a proper balance of nature. thus the bush. 4) Therefore, as always, keepiong purpose in the forefront, guidance and pre-planning have to be strongly considered. 5) Not fully understanding the mothod is OK if one stands with Paul Davies: the arrival of sentient beings starting from an in organic universe is a point of profound significance. Asking 'why' is much more important than wondering 'how'.