Evolution: a different view (Introduction)

by Balance_Maintained , U.S.A., Sunday, May 10, 2015, 09:45 (3485 days ago) @ David Turell

Tony: 
> > C) This claim ONLY works if we assume that we are descended from chimps despite the gross number of morphological differences, even in the relatively simple aparatus that comprises our vocal tract. 
> > 
> > Sorry, this is a story told to justify another story, all without evidence. Great for science fiction, crap for science.
> 
> As you understand I agree with you about A and B, but not C, and I would comment that all the anatomic changes between us and apes is not simple: a more arched palate, different tongue muscles, a different uvula, a different epiglottis in position and shape, different vocal cords and a speech area in the brain to handle the development of our complex language, with then differing areas for reading/writing and also speech. 
> 
> In my McCrone book reference he discusses how H. habilis and H. erectus probably had a rudimentary form of speech. That is an obvious point to be covered, but the type of clipped bursts of air required for our style of speech arrived with H. sapiens under current theory. With the lack of fossil larynxes it is not known how well Neanderthals spoke but undoubtedly closer to our ability.-I am assuming here (correct me if I am wrong) that you disagree with the phrase "relatively simple aparatus that comprises our vocal tract". If so, the key word here is "relatively". Compared to the many other morphological differences between us and Chimps, the vocal tract IS simple. For example, the larger human brain or the larger human head (overall, not just the cranium) requires many more changes, and changes of greater complexity, than the vocal tract. And the head region is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. I am not claiming that the changes to the vocal tract are simple or trivial. Far from it! The thrust of the claim was the first part of the statement: "This claim ONLY works if we assume that we are descended from chimps"-http://genome.cshlp.org/content/15/12/1746.full

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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.