Evolution: a different view (Introduction)

by Balance_Maintained , U.S.A., Sunday, May 10, 2015, 09:49 (3485 days ago) @ David Turell

dhw: This fitness path suggests that there has been a specific evolutionary trend toward maximizing the range of possible signals.” [/i](my bold)
> > 
> > Absolutely no hint of a change that lay unused for (hundreds of) thousands of years. And forgive me, but I don't see how the writer's suggestion that the change was a pre-adaptation, and his asking what led to its formation, can constitute evidence of non-use or of divine pre-planning.
> 
>David: My concept of exaptation in this area comes from Tattersall. I keep repeating that.
> 
> I've covered this in my reply to Tony. Of course, earlier forms used the equipment but in no way comparable to us. I assumed that was understood. My first book would have benefitted from your commentaries :
> 
> From my entry today: David to Tony: 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 and describes it. 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.-And my point remains that there is no evidence of any of this.

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