If you click on the above picture, you should be able to access the following primer to a discussion on a forum which sadly has lost considerable membership since ‘Apologetics.com’ broke the forum loose.
‘Now I better understand why creationists want no ape in their family tree.’ said celestial teapot. ( refer: Major Breakthrough )
I come from a background of having an absolute fear of Evolution, Darwin because I was warned over and over again by those who I respected as leaders in the Church that it was either one or the other.
After engaging in a series of discussions with those who are Church members who find that Evolution and Darwin important to our understanding of ourselves, I began to gradually open up. (refer my own evolution: ‘faith unravels’ – Blog: Blue Django )I’m not drawing an invisible line in the sand and declaring a flame war with ‘celestial teapot’ but I think that this discussion: Does Evolution Explain Human Nature? refer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cz8ZwaJe24 which includes three very studious and intelligent thinkers ( Prof. Kenneth Miller ( http://www.millerandlevine.com/km/index.html ), Prof. Laurie Santos ( http://bigthink.com/lauriesantos ) and Prof. David Sloan Wilson ( http://scienceblogs.com/evolution/ ) and might stimulate some interesting exchanges between those of us who have remained regular posters to this forum.
The short answers by the panel: DOES EVOLUTION EXPLAIN HUMAN NATURE?
1. ‘Evolution ‘Yes’ explains human nature, but it doesn’t explain all of it.’ Prof. Kenneth Miller.
2. ‘Yes’ and possibly all of it but not yet.’ Prof. Laurie Sloan Wilson.
3. ‘Only when you appreciate that there’s more to Evolution than Genetic Evolution. And when you do, and when you appreciate that individuals are evolutionary outcomes and that cultures are evolutionary outcomes. Then it’s also the case that as unique products of evolution: individuals have natures and cultures have natures that are different from each other. And so the idea of a universal human nature is only true for a subset of traits, those parts that are really part of our innate genetic repertoire. So what’s so interesting of thinking about other evolutionary processes is that it enables us to say that as entire species we do not have a single human nature but the very reason that cultures and individuals are outcomes of there own evolutionary processes.’ Prof. David Sloan Wilson(the discussion continues as each articulates and elaborates on the above quick answers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cz8ZwaJe24 )
Please listen to the panel discussion and then if you have a view or publication of your own discussing this or one which you’ve read/studied and can link us up, I’d be very interested to read/hear them.
Peace,
windchimes.
After a quick look around, I thought this might be useful in covering the topic.
Edit. Add: Once you’re done, or even prior to that, I think the following link, which has a massive archive of reading about the subject might be useful for those who are emerging (evolving is such a cliche, these days) for whatever reason.
A Templeton Conversation: Does Evolution Explain HUMAN NATURE? – http://www.templeton.org/evolution/
Enjoy.
Viva!
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The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party
1. Dr. David Lahti : The Evolution of Morality (a video)
2. Jung and the Philosophy of Totality: Individualism or Individuation? by Dr. Friesen
