The recent philosophy club discussion dwelled some time on how evolution by natural selection might track truth. Paul Griffiths makes the case that evolution has manipulated cognitive processes in such a way that they tend to track truth and also responds to Plantinga’s EAAN (which I have not found persuasive, though I am inclined to think that one can have warranted religious beliefs even with an evolutionary explanation for those cognitive processes influencing them).
Tim,
Thank you for the video.
Plantinga’s EAAN is perhaps the worst argument of the last 25 years in analytic philosophy. As quality goes, it ranks right up there with presuppositional apologetics and the Kalam Cosmological Argument.
Tim,
I am contemplating writing a paper on fuzzy logic and the definition of biological classifications such as species. Do you know of any resources I might want to investigate in order to prepare?
Sherlock Holmes?
I’ve always thought you’re logic was fuzzy.
Post it when you’re done.
Aaron,
That sounds like it would be an interesting paper. If I understand correctly, you are going to address the gray areas concerning the classification of species, etc.? It would be a great response to the idea of ‘missing links’.
That said,
I think I would begin by asking whether you find gradualism or something more like punctuated equilibrium persuasive? I think this is essential when talking of species, as the former is a form of species selection.
I’d especially read what Michael Ruse , Kim Sterelny, David Hull, and Peter Godfrey-smith say. Also, biologists such as Mayr, Ridley, Dawkins, Gould, Ayala, etc. say a lot about species. Here is a book edited by Ruse and specifically addresses the problem of classification beginning on page 136.
http://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Biology-Michael-Ruse/dp/1573921858
Also, Alex Rosenberg has great intro to the philosophy of biology book. Lastly, here’s Godfrey-smith’s website with numerous articles on biology:
http://www.petergodfreysmith.com/Philosophy%20of%20Biology.html
He focuses mainly though on natural selection and populations.
Hope that helps!
Please find an essay which gives a unique understanding of how the process of human evolution really works..
http://www.aboutadidam.org/readings/divine-physics_of_evolution/index.html
Plus related references on how conventional spirit denying exoteric religionists know nothing about this Process and have shut down this process too.
http://www.adidam.org/teaching/gnosticon/universal-scientism.aspx
http://www.beezone.com/up/criticismcuresheart.html
Plus this essay too.
http://www.adidaupclose.org/Art_and_Photography/rebirth_of_sacred_art.html
[...] HOW EVOLUTION TRACKS TRUTH by Paul Griffith The Florida Student Philosophy Blog has done us the favor of posting Griffith’s talk about arguments like Plantinga’s EAAN. Feel free to find it there or, if it is more convenient, watch it below: [...]
[...] HOW EVOLUTION TRACKS TRUTH by Paul Griffith The Florida Student Philosophy Blog has done us the favor of posting Griffith’s talk about arguments like Plantinga’s EAAN. Feel free to find it there or, if it is more convenient, watch it below: [...]