Gary 7

I think you may also be trying to revive the c. 1900 evolutionary theory of mutationism (Hugo de Vries and others), where random mutation drives evolution, rather than natural selection operating on random mutation.

Spencer was a product of his time, playing to a fine human conceit, that some humans were superior in some way to all others. In the final analyses, it is those who have the most (viable)offspring who win the evolutionary race.
If intelligence contributes to that viability, then it will be propagated. All we really know about the development of human intellect is that there are a few rapidly mutating genes responsible for the increase in size/complexity of the human brain. Why those genes are changing so rapidly we really don’t know but it probably has little to do with the competition for food. Analyses of low-tech tribes, such as the Kalahari, show they spend only 10 to 12 hours a week obtaining the necessities of life. It would therefore seem somewhat redundant to further increase brain size, yet those genes seem dedicated to that end. Further research is required,,,

Gary 7

Basically, the tenants of the haunted room together with the psychic extorted the government to pay for this, since it was cheaper than having the tenants evicted.

Technically, the tenants wouldn’t have been evicted, but would have chosen to leave the premises and gone to public housing, which would have been the expense to the government. In this case, either way the gov would have to pay for these superstitious people not wanting to live with a ghost. This way was cheaper.

Anyways, those are interesting news.

Yes, we do need more skepticism… against Phil’s summaries! Zing!

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_19556.aspx

John
(a very relieved Torontonian)

I really do wonder at the intelligence of someone who would make than excuse and the people who allow it.

I can see how someone might mis-read that story and it definately should have been cleaned up by the editor.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080212/od_nm/ghost_dc_1

Your view of evolution sounds a lot like the discredited Spencerian concept of natural selection, which romanticized a value-laden concept of survivorship and competition. Before you pick at the woo-splinter in your brother’s eye, make sure to remove the woo-beam from your own eye.

Communism is consistent with a marked woo-woo attitude toward the human condition. Obviously, we are descendants of survivors. Whatever it took to survive and procreate, be it murder, rape, or adherence to a social structure, we are the recipients, their descendants. Now, as Captain Kirk said,” Yes, I am a killer but today, I CHOOSE to kill no one,,,”. Having a quick reaction to a perceived threat is a survival trait, likely deeply ingrained in our genes. Thus, a “safe” society must ultimately prove boring and so, we seek a dangerous thrill, every now and then. Perhaps someday, we’ll have a cultural appreciation of what it really takes to be long term survivors. When that happens, all these discussions about whether it’s “good” or “bad” to allow people access to horror flicks, porn or doomsday scenarios will be seen as “whistling in the wind”.

GAry 7

Sree