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Author Topic:   Any practical use for Universal Common Ancestor?
Dredge
Member (Idle past 94 days)
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 212 of 1385 (849806)
03-22-2019 12:47 AM
Reply to: Message 197 by Tanypteryx
03-20-2019 1:14 PM


Tanypteryx writes:
And there we have it, the only reason for your pathetic attempt here is because you clearly believe it really does rule out the existence of your god.
Can anyone explain how he came to this curious conclusion?
Edited by Dredge, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 197 by Tanypteryx, posted 03-20-2019 1:14 PM Tanypteryx has not replied

  
Dredge
Member (Idle past 94 days)
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 213 of 1385 (849808)
03-22-2019 1:34 AM
Reply to: Message 206 by Tangle
03-21-2019 4:50 AM


The problem is, there are different definitions of the "theory of evolution" and some of them don't include anything about macroevolution or UCA; they merely mention principles of biology that no one disputes.
For example, livescience.com offers this defintion:"The theory of evolution by natural selection, first formulated in Darwin's book "On the Origin of Species" in 1859, is the process by which organisms change over time as a result of changes in heritable physical or behavioral traits.". In this sense, "the theory of evolution" and "evolution" and "principles of evolution" (and "microevolution") all refer to the same thing.
So on second thoughts, I'm probably barking up the wrong tree and should go back to my original "UCA" argument expressed in the OP.
As far as I know, googling "practical uses for the theory of evolution" comes up with nothing. But googling "practical uses for evolution/priciples of evolution" produces many such uses. I find that interesting.
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This message is a reply to:
 Message 206 by Tangle, posted 03-21-2019 4:50 AM Tangle has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 214 by Tangle, posted 03-22-2019 3:23 AM Dredge has replied
 Message 215 by AZPaul3, posted 03-22-2019 10:36 AM Dredge has replied

  
Dredge
Member (Idle past 94 days)
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 219 of 1385 (849833)
03-23-2019 1:34 AM
Reply to: Message 211 by Dogmafood
03-21-2019 9:02 PM


Re: Name one.
Sorry, but my fragile, egg-shell mind has no idea what you're talking about.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 211 by Dogmafood, posted 03-21-2019 9:02 PM Dogmafood has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 228 by Dogmafood, posted 03-23-2019 6:32 AM Dredge has replied

  
Dredge
Member (Idle past 94 days)
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 220 of 1385 (849834)
03-23-2019 1:49 AM
Reply to: Message 207 by edge
03-21-2019 10:49 AM


edge writes:
So, let me get this straight. You don't think that the theory of evolution was useful in developing various 'principles of evolution', which ARE useful. Is that correct?
The "principles of evolution" are the (useful) mechanisms of evolution - mutations and natural selection, for example. Mutations and natural selection are observable, demonstrable facts - ie, they exist regardless of any scientific theory based on them, such as ToE. The (useful) facts came first, then the (useless) theory.
Human beings have been making practical use of the "principles of evolution" in animal and plant breeding for thousands of years. They didn't need any "theory of evolution" to do so.
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This message is a reply to:
 Message 207 by edge, posted 03-21-2019 10:49 AM edge has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 232 by edge, posted 03-23-2019 11:15 AM Dredge has not replied

  
Dredge
Member (Idle past 94 days)
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 221 of 1385 (849835)
03-23-2019 1:58 AM
Reply to: Message 191 by NosyNed
03-20-2019 12:22 PM


Re: Pills
Every pamphlet with antibiotics warns you to finish the whole series. That is evolutionary theory in action.
Which "evolutionary theory" might that be? I thought antibiotics worked according to facts, not a theory.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 191 by NosyNed, posted 03-20-2019 12:22 PM NosyNed has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 234 by edge, posted 03-23-2019 12:02 PM Dredge has replied

  
Dredge
Member (Idle past 94 days)
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 222 of 1385 (849836)
03-23-2019 2:02 AM
Reply to: Message 189 by dwise1
03-20-2019 11:27 AM


dwise1 writes:
Does this mean that you have broken ranks with your fellow creationists? That you have realized the basic fact that there is no conflict between evolution and divine creation?
Science implies that the (pre-Adamic) Genesis creation account is not literal.
Edited by Dredge, : No reason given.
Edited by Dredge, : No reason given.

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Dredge
Member (Idle past 94 days)
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 223 of 1385 (849837)
03-23-2019 2:12 AM
Reply to: Message 193 by ringo
03-20-2019 12:33 PM


ringo writes:
But evolutionary theory doesn't necessarily imply UCA
Yes it does. That's basically what ToE is - all life on earth evolved from a common ancestor via a process of natural selection.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 193 by ringo, posted 03-20-2019 12:33 PM ringo has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 235 by ringo, posted 03-23-2019 12:08 PM Dredge has replied

  
Dredge
Member (Idle past 94 days)
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 224 of 1385 (849838)
03-23-2019 2:17 AM
Reply to: Message 194 by ringo
03-20-2019 12:42 PM


ringo writes:
Climate change is a specific example
In other words, you can't back up your claim (that the evolutionary history of the world has proven practically useful in tackling climate change) with any facts.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 194 by ringo, posted 03-20-2019 12:42 PM ringo has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 236 by ringo, posted 03-23-2019 12:11 PM Dredge has replied

  
Dredge
Member (Idle past 94 days)
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 225 of 1385 (849839)
03-23-2019 3:12 AM
Reply to: Message 195 by ringo
03-20-2019 12:48 PM


Re: Don't creationists have a universal common ancestor too?
ringo writes:
Don't be silly. I can think of a practical use for potato chips. That doesn't mean I depend on them
"none of the progress made in biology DEPENDS even slightly on a theory"
Louis Bouroune ( Professor of Biology, University of Strasbourg), Determinism and Finality, 1957, p. 79. (emphasis mine)
Edited by Dredge, : No reason given.
Edited by Dredge, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 195 by ringo, posted 03-20-2019 12:48 PM ringo has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 237 by ringo, posted 03-23-2019 12:15 PM Dredge has not replied

  
Dredge
Member (Idle past 94 days)
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 226 of 1385 (849840)
03-23-2019 3:15 AM
Reply to: Message 200 by edge
03-20-2019 7:57 PM


Re: Name one.
So, I have nothing to offer regarding your pointless question. Sue me.
Can you live with the fact that there are no practical uses for the theory of evolution?
Edited by Dredge, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 200 by edge, posted 03-20-2019 7:57 PM edge has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 233 by edge, posted 03-23-2019 11:16 AM Dredge has not replied

  
Dredge
Member (Idle past 94 days)
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 227 of 1385 (849841)
03-23-2019 3:19 AM
Reply to: Message 202 by AZPaul3
03-20-2019 9:19 PM


Re: Name one.
AZPaul3 writes:
The best use of the Theory of Evolution is seeing how pissed off you get.
Your arguments in this thread are as devastating as they are deep.
But seriously, I'm not "pissed off" at all - I'm quite enjoying the discussions.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 202 by AZPaul3, posted 03-20-2019 9:19 PM AZPaul3 has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 229 by AZPaul3, posted 03-23-2019 9:08 AM Dredge has not replied

  
Dredge
Member (Idle past 94 days)
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 241 of 1385 (849869)
03-24-2019 2:30 AM
Reply to: Message 192 by Tanypteryx
03-20-2019 12:30 PM


Tanypteryx writes:
You may not like it and you may not believe it but we are working out the evolutionary history and relatedness of many groups of insects. We are figuring out recent common ancestors and working our way back. We talk about evolution continuously and it allows us to start making predictions about different possible management strategies. Knowing what evolutionary processes and mechanisms have been important in a species history gives us valuable clues to possible parisitoid controls we could employ ...
Gosh, your reading comprehension needs a boost.
Sorry, I'm still not sure what your point is here. Are you trying to say, because you make use of "the evolutionary history ... recent common ancestors ... species history" of these insects and because you use "evolutionary processes and mechanisms", this means the theory of evolution has proven useful in your work? If so, you sure suffering a delusion.
"none of the progress made in biology depends even slightly on a theory" - Louis Bouroune (Professor of Biology, University of Strasbourg), Determinism and Finality, p. 79.
Wow indeed. I realize you didn't know this, but a scientific theory is based on the facts we know, not speculations, wishes, or beliefs.
As a result of my post (#182), I notice you changed your tune. You've gone from
(post 165)"The observable facts and principles of biology are the Theory of Evolution" (which is incorrect - ToE says all life on earth evolved from a common ancestor via a process of natural selection. To make matters worse, you are implying that a mere collection of facts adds up to a scientific theory, which is nonsense)
to
"a scientific theory is based on the facts we know" (which is correct).
I'm glad I could teach you something.
Dredge writes:
Did you know that there exist professors of biology who are YECs? So much for the importance of evolutionary theory in biology!
Tanypteryx writes:
Can you name any? And where do they teach?
Carl B. Fliermans, Professor of Biology,
Lane P. Lester, Professor of Biology.
I don't know where they teach.
I feel sorry for their students if they try to work in any biological fields.
Why? The fact that YECs can become professors of biology proves that the theory of evolution is irrelevant and useless to biology. What is the point of teaching students useless information?
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This message is a reply to:
 Message 192 by Tanypteryx, posted 03-20-2019 12:30 PM Tanypteryx has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 256 by Tanypteryx, posted 03-24-2019 3:02 PM Dredge has replied

  
Dredge
Member (Idle past 94 days)
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 242 of 1385 (849870)
03-24-2019 2:50 AM
Reply to: Message 204 by Tangle
03-21-2019 3:50 AM


Tangle writes:
A scientific theory is not an idea, a hunch and an hoc explanation, it's a expanation of all known facts. As such, it's status is higher than pure facts. The ToE has stood for 150 years.
Hang on, let me get this straight ... you believe that a scientific theory - which could be wrong or could be changed at any time - has a higher status than pure facts, which are accepted as universal, demonstrable constants and truths and are often practically useful? And your proffer the completely useless ToE as a prime example of this "higher status"?
Please excuse me while I laugh - a lot! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!
Oh boy, only an evolutionist could come up with something that funny! Thank you!
he ToE has stood for 150 years. Not only is it the best explanation of the facts, it's the only naturalistic explanation of them.
I agree that it is the best SCIENTIFIC explanation of the facts ... for what it's worth ... which is nothing ... mainly because ToE is a very poor explanation of the fossil record.
Edited by Dredge, : No reason given.
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This message is a reply to:
 Message 204 by Tangle, posted 03-21-2019 3:50 AM Tangle has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 250 by Tangle, posted 03-24-2019 4:42 AM Dredge has replied

  
Dredge
Member (Idle past 94 days)
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 243 of 1385 (849871)
03-24-2019 3:01 AM
Reply to: Message 208 by edge
03-21-2019 11:05 AM


edge writes:
You doubt the ToE?
Yes - ToE cannot account for the fossil record.
You got this straight from your favorite YEC websites, yes?
No, I got it from the opinions of experts. For example,
"The sudden appearance of most species in the geological record and the lack of evidence of substantial gradual change in most species - from their initial appearance until their extinction - has long been noted, including by Charles Darwin, who appealed to the imperfection of the record as the favoured explanation. When presenting his ideas against the prevailing influences of catastrophism and progressive creationism, which envisaged species being supernaturally created at intervals, Darwin needed to forcefully stress the gradual nature of evolution in accordance with the gradualism promoted by his friend Charles Lyell. He privately expressed concern, noting in the margin of this 1844 Essay, "Better begin with this: If species really, after catastrophes, created in showers world over, my theory false." - Wikipedia, "Punctuated Equilibrium"
"Eldredge and Gould proposed that the degree of gradualism commonly attributed to Charles Darwin is virtually non-existent in the fossil record, and that stasis dominates the history of most fossil species" - Wikipedia, "Punctuated equilibrium".
"Darwins argument (of a very incomplete fossil record) still persists as the favoured escape of most paleontologists from the embarrassment of a record that seems to show so little of evolution directly ... I wish only to point out that (gradualism) was never 'seen' in the rocks."
"In the Cambrian explosion, we find segmented worms, velvet worms, starfish ... molluscs (bivalves, snails, squid and their relatives), sponges,brachiopods and other shelled animals appearing all at once, with their basic organisation, organ systems and sensory mechanisms already operational".
"The history of most fossil species includes two features particularly inconsistent with gradualism:
1. Stasis. Most species exhibit no directional change during their tenure on earth. They appear in the fossil record looking much the same as when they disapppear; morphological change is usually limited and directionless.
2. Sudden appearance. In any local area, a species does not arise gradually by the steady transformation of its ancestors; it appears all at once and "fully formed."" - The Panda's Thumb.
Dawkins says, "Eldredge and Gould certainly would agree that some very important gaps really are due to imperfections in the fossil record. Very big gaps, too. For example the Cambrian strata of rocks, vintage about 600 million years, are the oldest ones in which we find most of the major invertebrate groups. And we find many of them already in an advanced state of evolution, the very first time they appear. It's as though they were just planted there, without any evolutionary history" - The Blind Watchmaker, 1987, p.229
Edited by Dredge, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 208 by edge, posted 03-21-2019 11:05 AM edge has replied

Replies to this message:
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 Message 254 by edge, posted 03-24-2019 11:34 AM Dredge has replied

  
Dredge
Member (Idle past 94 days)
Posts: 2850
From: Australia
Joined: 09-06-2016


Message 244 of 1385 (849872)
03-24-2019 3:05 AM
Reply to: Message 210 by Taq
03-21-2019 5:28 PM


Re: Name one.
Taq writes:
The practical use for the theory of evolution is in explaining how species changed over time.
An explanation for how species changed over time is in itself not a practical use. An explanation is just someone talking.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 210 by Taq, posted 03-21-2019 5:28 PM Taq has not replied

  
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