By FRANS de WAAL: refuted (Introduction)

by David Turell , Sunday, May 29, 2016, 15:58 (3099 days ago) @ dhw

This article disagrees with de Waal, just as I do: - http://swami.wustl.edu/more-than-apes - "Scientifically speaking, humans appear to be genetically-modified apes, with genomes that are more than 98% similar to chimpanzees in coding regions, and about 95% similar overall.2 We are 10 times closer to apes than mice are to rats. As I have previously explained, this is evidence for the common descent of man. Even if common descent is ultimately false (as some religious leaders might reasonably believe), somehow this evidence exists. Now, starting from this striking genetic similarity, some argue that humans are just animals, unexceptional in every way. - "This brings us to our question: we are formed from the dust of the earth, but are we just dust? Humans are intelligent, genetically-modified apes, but are we just apes? - "Commonly, scientists say “we are just intelligent animals.” A charming article in the New York Times by the scientist Frans de Waal is emblematic. - *** - "This last April, I had the privilege of presenting with Varki at UC San Diego in front of a crowd of hundreds of some of the smartest students on earth. A brilliant scientist, Varki is a leading thinker on human evolution. He runs CARTA, an interdisciplinary center for studying human evolution at UC San Diego, and wrote Denial, a book explaining his understanding of the “singularity” in the rise of the human race. - *** - "As Varki puts it, “humans are very very unusual.” He gives several examples, but I will explain just three. - First (at 6:10), humans are the only known species that has out compete all other sibling species (e.g. Neanderthals and Denisovans) to spread into every habitat across the globe. As far as we know, this has never happened before in the history of the planet.6 - "Second, the human mind is unique, and nothing like it has been encountered in all our planet's history. Varki explains “Wallace's Conundrum.” Alfred Russel Wallace was the equal co-discoverer of evolution with Charles Darwin, but grew in doubt ofevolution because of the exceptional nature of the human mind. As Varki puts it (at 8:30), “Humans are very very unusual in our abilities and these abilities were already present 70,000 to 100,000 years ago in Africa.” - *** - "People left Africa 70,000 years ago spread across the planet, acquiring new genetic variation as they went, but still have the same remarkable abilities. “That means that all the mental abilities to do calculus, astrophysics, symphonic music, and philosophy, and theology, and Veritas Forums, was already there.” This is not a normal example of exaptation (reuse of a structure for a new purpose). How can evolution do that? - *** - "Varki is not arguing against evolution. He endorses evolution as unquestioned “fact.” Instead, he expresses a genuine astonishment and awe in the remarkable and singular details of human origins. A proper understanding of evolution only makes human exceptionalism more fresh and vivid. - "Third, the “dictionary experiment” demonstrates the difference between humans and chimpanzees (at 39:20). Here, he explains a simple experiment of his own invention, making use of his daughter and a dictionary. This experiment also demonstrates the wide gulf between humans and chimpanzees. Sure, there are similarities, but the differences? They cannot be counted. The similarities themselves are notable only because the differences are so numerous, obvious, and defining. - "Varki is not arguing that evolution is false. Instead, he emphasizes that an honest look at human evolution, even from a strictly scientific perspective, reveals that humans truly are exceptional. - *** - "Varki remarked over dinner, “it is not unreasonable when some wonder if God had a role in our origins.” I would agree.7 - "Moreover, when scientists deny the obvious evidence for human exceptionalism, they make evolution much harder for many to understand. It is true, scientifically speaking, we are genetically-modified apes, but we are more than just apes. We are less than 2%8 different than chimpanzees, but in this few percent is an epic leap that never before has evolution achieved, and never before the earth has seen." - Comment: Adler is right, different in kind. The wbole article is worth a look.