Contingent evolution: what pushes it? (Introduction)

by Balance_Maintained , U.S.A., Wednesday, November 05, 2014, 20:43 (3671 days ago) @ dhw

Gradualism vs. Punctuated Equilibrium-Punctuated equilibrium is based on the idea that we cannot see changes in a species, so there must (this is typical language that means the evidence does not fit the theory)be very long periods of no changes of species. That is the equilibrium part of punctuated equilibrium. However, we do know that species do change (but not the extent, and no evidence of cross-species changes), so there has to be a period of time where those changes occur. Punctuated equilibrium asserts these changes over a relatively short amount of time "punctuating" the long periods of equilibrium.-http://www.changinglivesonline.org/evolution.html-
"I had motives for not wanting the world to have meaning; consequently assumed it had none, and was able without any difficulty to find satisfying reasons for this assumption . . The philosopher who finds no meaning in the world is not concerned exclusively with a problem in pure metaphysics; he is also concerned to prove there is no valid reason why he personally should not do as he wants to do . . For myself, as no doubt for most of my contemporaries, the philosophy of meaninglessness was essentially an instrument of liberation. The liberation we desired was simultaneously liberation from a certain political and economic system and liberation from a certain system of morality. We objected to the morality because it interfered with our sexual freedom. "— *Aldous Huxley, "Confessions of a Professed Atheist," Report: Perspective on the News, Vol. 3, June, 1966, p. 19. (Grandson of evolutionist Thomas Huxley and brother of evolutionist Julian Huxley, Aldous Huxley was one of the most influential writers and philosophers of the 20th century.]-
I think that's enough. Believe, choose not to believe, or choose not to choose whatever you like.

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What is the purpose of living? How about, 'to reduce needless suffering. It seems to me to be a worthy purpose.