Re: Mathematics: art or science?

T.H. Ray wrote:

One has to be careful of what one is talking about
here. Evolution is a fact in evidence, observable
and observed. The explanation for evolution is Darwin's
theory of common ancestry.

What we actually _observe_ is kind of common "design".

Darwin's theory has been
much researched and refined in the last 150 years.

It has received so much criticism as well. Look, I can understand that
science should not allow God into its theories. But IF we are forced to
distort a theory, for the sole reason that kind of an intelligence would
be needed to proceed, are we still doing honest science then? (Mind the
"if" clause in the above)

One of the more striking models of evolution in recent
history is the Gould-Eldredge model of Punctuated
Equilibrium. This is yet one more case where a
mathematically complete theory adds to our knowledge in
large leaps (pun intended).

I vaguely remember some contributions from statisticians. But don't know
how much they are worth. Personally, I don't trust reasonings like "give
me another million years to make the improbable to happen". Knowing what
a combinatorial explosion is and knowing that such explosions can happen
within very simple configurations .. I mean, folding a _protein_ is much
much much .. more complicated than this:

http://groups.google.nl/group/sci.math/msg/2ae54ca6c2614027

Han de Bruijn

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Anyone got the energy to take this guy to task?
    ... beliefs (not knowing what "theory" means, ... or science because they might discover some validity that weakens ... atheists *deserve* to be tortured forever. ... no problem with evolution, "macro" and all, are the real threat. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Whats the big deal about evolution, anyway
    ... so it has some use in medicine. ... Evolution is the foundation of biology. ... Imagine studying chemistry without the periodic table of the elements. ... Hertzsprung-Russell diagram without knowing anything about stellar ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Quote Mine: "The emperor has no clothes"--Hsu
    ... PENICILLIN AND BEYOND, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, ... much enthusiasm for any theory, knowing that theories are ephemeral ... There is no doubt that he did not like the theory of evolution by ...
    (sci.anthropology.paleo)
  • Re: Question regarding mutation under sexual reproduction
    ... knowing a lot about evolution comes here to learn more; ... be trying to challenge rather than innocently question. ... Checking the original post I don't find that to be strongly supported by the post. ... The question does display a warped understanding of evolution, but there is assorted evidence that that is not uncommon among Americans - whether the ladder fallacy, or a belief that it involves saltation, or other misunderstandings that escape my attention. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: History of "Evolution Science"
    ... something which is beyond our knowing. ... know that they should cease and desist all scientific inquiries ... even if the fact of evolution ...
    (talk.origins)