Does Evolution have a point?

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Omnivorous:
I think the philosohpical ground shifted with our order of intelligence, and positively quaked with genetic manipulation.

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nwr:
For the first meaning, where we are concerned with purposes people might have for their actions, it shifted a little. But those biological drives are still pretty strong, and they often overwhelm reasoned consideration. For the second meaning, where the purpose is ascribed to evolution, I don't think there is any shift at all.

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I'm not convinced that genetic manipulation is particularly significant here. It's effect is mostly pretty small, in comparison to natural genetic change.

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Thank you, nwr, for engaging the topic. There is much to what you say and much with which I agree.Certainly, if the changes accomplished by genetic manipulation to date are measured against the life produced and altered by evolution, "the effect is mostly pretty small."Yet it seems to me that the change could not be more dramatic.Once only random mutation and natural selection brought biological novelty into the world, with no need or evidence for the operation of mind; now our minds, via technology, directly alter genes to produce chimeras and clones; the ability and the inclination to alter our own DNA seem inevitable.Evolution is certainly mindless; but, for all our limitations and for all the power of our biological drives, we are not. For the first time, after billions of years, for good or for ill, evolution is not the only game in town. Now "non-random" mutation and "non-natural selection" are afoot.

Let me expand a little on that. Most of our genetic manipulation has been adapted to very specialized environments, such as those of agriculture. In most cases, the effects would not persist in the wild.The damage we do due to habitat destruction is, in my opinion, of considerably greater consequence. I expect you are right about that. If this is small scale, to deal with genetic disease, then I don't see this as much of a problem. If we try large scale manipulation of our genes, I expect we will come to regret it.

nwr:

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Most of our genetic manipulation has been adapted to very specialized environments, such as those of agriculture. In most cases, the effects would not persist in the wild.

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Yes.

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The damage we do due to habitat destruction is, in my opinion, of considerably greater consequence.

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I agree--vehemently: habitat conservation is my sole area of political and financial activism.

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If we try large scale manipulation of our genes, I expect we will come to regret it.

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Almost certainly both will prove true.