We are surrounded by the absurd excess of the universe. By meaningless bulk, vastness without size, power without consequence. The stubborn iteration that is present without being felt. Nothing the spirit can marry. Merely phenomenon and its physics. An endless, endless of going on. No habitat where the brain can recognize itself. No pertinence for the heart. Helpless duplication.

~ Jack Gilbert

Jack Gilbert Duplication Evolutionary Biology Evolutionary Process Evolutionary Psychology Human Condition Physics Random Random Mutation Random Phenomena Universe

To understand Darwin's work, you have to distinguish between his theory of descent and his theory of natural selection. THe full name of the first is the theory of descent with modification. Some call it the fact of evolution, and some call it the doctrine of evolution.

~ Lee Spetner

Lee Spetner Darwin Evolution Intelligent Design Neo Darwinism Random Mutation Select Mutation

Verbal arguments should always be suspect.

~ Lee Spetner

Lee Spetner Biological Variability Chance Mutation Evolution Neo Darwinism Random Mutation

Dawkins mentioned two mechanisms: the theory of the ‘primeval soup’ and the Cairns-Smith theory. He discussed the latter in some detail. Since no one has computed, for either theory, the chances of the events occurring, Dawkins could not tell us what those chances are. The mechanisms of both theories, however, have every appearance of being very improbably – even to the point of being impossible.

~ Lee Spetner

Lee Spetner Biogenesis Cairns Smith Theory Dawkins Evolution Primeval Soup Random Mutation