DILEMMAS: A Response to DHW (Evolution)

by David Turell , Sunday, November 16, 2014, 22:11 (3658 days ago) @ dhw


> dhw: Perhaps you didn't notice that according to this article, the theory has been largely discredited, especially among ecologists.-You didn't parse the comment well. Note:-"The theory that nature is permanently in balance has been largely discredited, as it has been found that chaotic changes in population levels are common, but nevertheless the idea continues to be popular.[1] During the later half of the twentieth century the theory was superseded by catastrophe theory and chaos theory".- I am not maintaining that balance is constant. It does go out of whack, but it always returns to balance because it is a necessary arrangement for life. I know you are aware of many out of balance examples. Elephants don't rampage in villages because they want to. It is loss of habitat.
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> dhw: There have always been periods of what you might call imbalance followed by what you might call balance followed by “imbalance” followed by “balance”,.... The concept tells us nothing except that life and/or Planet Earth will continue until life and/or Planet Earth ends.-I find your comment completely off the mark. I'm simply pointing out that life requires balance and the bush supplies a large part of it.-> 
> dhw: You said earlier that you were “bothered” by both the preprogramming theory and the dabbling theory, but any alternative clearly bothers you even more because it would cast doubts on your anthropocentrism.-No it wouldn't.I'm leaving dabbling behind. I think a pre-planned IM with guidelines is the best approach.-> dhw: Your dilemma, however, lies in the detail. Mine is on a far broader scale!-You tend to reject anything that smells of a directed process.-
> dhw: The discussions between us have always been very helpful and (for me) very instructive, but they will always culminate in dilemmas that can only be resolved by faith, no matter how hard you try to kid yourself that you have all the answers!-Of course one has to accept the final decision on faith. I can do that and I'm not kidding myself. I am satisfied, and you have helped me a great deal as I defend myself.