question for evolutionists

quote:

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Originally posted by the cat:
Just had another thought........yeah i do go on!

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questions really:-

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1) Can one believe in evolution without believing the selfish gene theory? ie without believing that ultimately all living things are selfish?

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As I understand it the whole 'selfish gene' thing is just saying
that individuals act to maximise the chance of their offspring's
eventual survival.Evolution doesn't require that at all ... it's a behavioural
metaphor.

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Originally posted by the cat:

2) How would the above theory explain our love of beauty, not of people (i expect i know how it would explain that!) but of other things like flowers, etc - and of our love of music - and of the insights and feelings gained from music, as well as insights gained from quiet contemplation? If passing on our genes was our sole purpose - why would any of this be necessary? or is it that when we become fully concious, we really do transcend our biology?

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Anything that would maximise the chance of producing offspring
could be considered compatible with the 'selfish gene' idea.
That would include intellectual capacity, sensitivity, etc.
which could be considered (culturally) attractive to a potential
mate.

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Originally posted by the cat:

3) also how does it explain our use of contraceptives? if we really are automatons here to perpetuate our genes, why do we use contraception? Why do we choose not to have children?

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The 'Selfish gene' idea is about basic, instinctual activity,
it's not suggesting that we are robotic ... only that our
instincts prompt us to pass on our genes.[Added by edit]
The need for contraception actually leans in favour of
'selfish genes' since it indicates that there is an aspect
of human behaviour relted to reproduction that we feel a need
for, but have an intellectual over-ride for offspring
production.In evolutionary terms, our intellect has had to develop to overcome
the short-comings of our physical bodies ... and we end up with
a lot of strange intellectual by-products.

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Originally posted by the cat:

4) why do we ask questions beginning with 'why?' - if science can only explain the 'how'?

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Scientists don't ask why, only philosophers do.However, since science started out as 'Natural Philosophy'
I guess there is some intellectual baggage there [This message has been edited by Peter, 01-08-2003]