Different in degree or kind: Egnor's take (Introduction)

by David Turell , Sunday, October 02, 2016, 21:34 (2761 days ago) @ dhw


> dhw: Originally you wrote: “the anatomic changes…were present 200,000 years in H. sapiens before language is thought to have appeared 50,000 years ago. The evidence is strong that anatomy preceded language suggesting pre-planning in evolution by God.” I pointed out the illogicality of such thinking and you then changed your tune: “Of course it was used 200,000 years ago and gradually organized language and its rules developed.”-You are harping on the fact that I mistakenly left out the word 'modern' in the sentence re' 50,00 years ago. I just wasn't clear.-> 
> dhw: So what? How does that prove that their efforts to talk did not change the vocal tracts, just as fishy efforts to walk changed fins to legs?-If constant effort makes progress, where are the itty bitty changes that they should cause. These are giant gaps in anatomy formations, which need exact planning.
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> DAVID: The big brain arrived as a tabula rasa and then was developed to its current state by humans learning to use it. Speech is the same. Anatomy first!
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> > DAVID: Did you forget brain plasticity. Just like having to tune a radio to a station, humans had to develop the ability in their new-sized brain to receive consciousness. Both habilis and erectus did part of the job. And vocal tract changes developed along with the larger brain changes.
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> dhw: Yes indeed, if your dualism is correct: The new-sized brain did not give rise to consciousness or to consciousness's need to express itself. Consciousness gave rise to the new brain and the new tracts. The need changes the anatomy; the changed anatomy does not create the need.-What a twisted view: the series of Homo fossils had to start at the animal level of having conscious behaviour. At some point in the brain enlargement of the frontal lobe, self-aware consciousness had to appear as the brain received consciousness. That is my theory. Brain size first, plasticity second produces advanced function and a better use of the advantage of consciousness.