What is evolution's greatest challenge?

Use this forum to discuss the philosophy of science. Philosophy of science deals with the assumptions, foundations, and implications of science.
User avatar
Shadowfax
Posts: 395
Joined: August 6th, 2013, 7:45 am

Re: What is evolution's greatest challenge?

Post by Shadowfax »

Evolutions greatest challenge is not being so efficient as to create a species which has the potential to destroy themselves and others.
Steve3007
Posts: 10339
Joined: June 15th, 2011, 5:53 pm

Re: What is evolution's greatest challenge?

Post by Steve3007 »

I guess Evolution has always done things like that, albeit on a smaller scale, because of the fact that it cannot be forward-looking. Features evolve to cope with the situation now. They can't head off future problems. Hence the so-called "design flaws" like the human birthing process and the recurrent laryngeal nerve.
Pastabake
Posts: 1076
Joined: October 18th, 2012, 5:30 am

Re: What is evolution's greatest challenge?

Post by Pastabake »

Evolution not being a concrete existent 'thing' has no challenges. It makes about as much sense as saying "what's the first law of thermodynamics greatest challenge".

The theory of evolution says nothing about and has nothing to do with biogenesis, it isn't a theory of how life came to be but of what happens once it's here.

Someone mentioned 'intelligence' as a trait that hadn't been copied ... I'd beg to differ and would suggest they take a look at many many other animals that not only clearly show high intelligence but also a greater degree of 'fit' with their place in their ecosystem.

It isn't intelligence that distinguishes humans from other animals ... we have some of the stupidest examples of life forms that would still be able to continue to exist ... 50% of the worlds population is of average or below intelligence, we could kill off everyone above average and we'd still survive.

The point I'm making here is that 'intelligence' is not the problem with humans (if indeed we have a problem).

Throughout the existence of the planet earth organism have arisen who's behaviour has resulted in their extinction ... we should be grateful as we would not be here if it wasn't for such creatures. Furthermore, we shouldn't think of ourselves as being an end point ... we are just one of many creatures. Perhaps our gene pool has enough adaptability to survive coming environmental changes, perhaps it doesn't ... I strongly believe that if our 'attributes' are really any good most of them will resurface eventually. The sun is going to explode in 10 billion years, so that is more than enough time for a more adapted version to evolve.

The dinosaurs extinction is totally explained by evolution, evolution however cannot explain (a) Massive volcanic eruptions nor (b) Meteor strikes as such things are in the realm of geophysics etc.

However, without these we could talk about, the evolution of successful predators, massive over grazing, the evolution of angiosperms, the daily food requirements of such large creatures and so on ... it's not really difficult to understand why there are very few large animals in existence today. We might even say that size is not a successful evolutionary trait.

Something that we'll come to realise when it becomes all too apparent that for successful long term space travel (and ultimately the continuation of the species) the smaller you are the better.
Xris
Posts: 5963
Joined: December 27th, 2010, 11:37 am
Location: Cornwall UK

Re: What is evolution's greatest challenge?

Post by Xris »

I found it hard to understand how one individual was responsible for all blue eyed humans on the planet.
Anthony Edgar
Posts: 150
Joined: July 9th, 2016, 9:16 pm
Favorite Philosopher: Paula Haigh
Location: Forster NSW Australia

Re: What is evolution's greatest challenge?

Post by Anthony Edgar »

How about: Explaining how a non-intelligent process can produce any intelligence at all, let alone human intelligence.

Or what about: DNA is an instruction manual for how to build a very sophisticated, self-replicating machine - a cell. According to evolution, no intelligence at all is required to write such a complex instruction manual. Is such reasoninging even science?
"There are some ideas so absurd that only an intellectual could believe in them." - George Orwell
Mercury
Posts: 377
Joined: December 17th, 2013, 6:36 pm

Re: What is evolution's greatest challenge?

Post by Mercury »

The greatest challenge for evolution is being understood by people who have the egos of Gods and the attention span of goldfish!
So long, and thanks for all the fish!
Palumboism
Posts: 27
Joined: May 25th, 2020, 1:22 pm
Favorite Philosopher: Nietzsche

Re: What is evolution's greatest challenge?

Post by Palumboism »

Philosophy Explorer wrote: September 25th, 2013, 7:39 pm
Maybe another way of looking at it is what's the greatest mystery that evolution holds for you?
The greatest mystery evolution holds for me is at the very beginning. How did the very first single cell organism come to be? Evolution hasn't explained that. It's able to explain how the first single celled organism is able to evolve into a human, but not how that cell was able to evolve from non living atoms of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen.
User avatar
Count Lucanor
Posts: 2318
Joined: May 6th, 2017, 5:08 pm
Favorite Philosopher: Umberto Eco
Location: Panama
Contact:

Re: What is evolution's greatest challenge?

Post by Count Lucanor »

Palumboism wrote: July 20th, 2020, 6:21 pm
Philosophy Explorer wrote: September 25th, 2013, 7:39 pm
Maybe another way of looking at it is what's the greatest mystery that evolution holds for you?
The greatest mystery evolution holds for me is at the very beginning. How did the very first single cell organism come to be? Evolution hasn't explained that. It's able to explain how the first single celled organism is able to evolve into a human, but not how that cell was able to evolve from non living atoms of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen.
You're mixing two different scientific problems here. The theory of evolution explains the development of different life forms from previous life forms. The origin of life refers to abiogenesis, the development of life from non-living forms.
The wise are instructed by reason, average minds by experience, the stupid by necessity and the brute by instinct.
― Marcus Tullius Cicero
popeye1945
Posts: 1110
Joined: October 22nd, 2020, 2:22 am
Favorite Philosopher: Alfred North Whitehead
Location: canada

Re: What is evolution's greatest challenge?

Post by popeye1945 »

There are still areas science yet to deal with all problems to summation, it is after all an ongoing process. There are no real challenges to the concept of evolution any longer, too many fields of practice and investigation have proved it without a doubt over the past 162 years. Ignorance remains the only challenge, not just to science but to reason itself. A frightening majority, at least in the United States seem to have performed a wilful lobotomy upon itself, which should frighten any reasonable person. Their endeavor to unite church and state is having a frightening degree of success. They are not only stupid but self-righteous, and made a mental deficient their president, think Trump. Think about it, in a world in a cosmos of constant change, we have Christianity writtten in stone, unchanging and rotting the body politic. Christianity, sure beats reading a lot of hard books!!
Post Reply

Return to “Philosophy of Science”

2023/2024 Philosophy Books of the Month

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise
by John K Danenbarger
January 2023

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul
by Mitzi Perdue
February 2023

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness
by Chet Shupe
March 2023

The Unfakeable Code®

The Unfakeable Code®
by Tony Jeton Selimi
April 2023

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
by Alan Watts
May 2023

Killing Abel

Killing Abel
by Michael Tieman
June 2023

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead
by E. Alan Fleischauer
July 2023

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough
by Mark Unger
August 2023

Predictably Irrational

Predictably Irrational
by Dan Ariely
September 2023

Artwords

Artwords
by Beatriz M. Robles
November 2023

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope
by Dr. Randy Ross
December 2023

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes
by Ali Master
February 2024

2022 Philosophy Books of the Month

Emotional Intelligence At Work

Emotional Intelligence At Work
by Richard M Contino & Penelope J Holt
January 2022

Free Will, Do You Have It?

Free Will, Do You Have It?
by Albertus Kral
February 2022

My Enemy in Vietnam

My Enemy in Vietnam
by Billy Springer
March 2022

2X2 on the Ark

2X2 on the Ark
by Mary J Giuffra, PhD
April 2022

The Maestro Monologue

The Maestro Monologue
by Rob White
May 2022

What Makes America Great

What Makes America Great
by Bob Dowell
June 2022

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!
by Jerry Durr
July 2022

Living in Color

Living in Color
by Mike Murphy
August 2022 (tentative)

The Not So Great American Novel

The Not So Great American Novel
by James E Doucette
September 2022

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches
by John N. (Jake) Ferris
October 2022

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All
by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
November 2022

The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity

The Smartest Person in the Room
by Christian Espinosa
December 2022

2021 Philosophy Books of the Month

The Biblical Clock: The Untold Secrets Linking the Universe and Humanity with God's Plan

The Biblical Clock
by Daniel Friedmann
March 2021

Wilderness Cry: A Scientific and Philosophical Approach to Understanding God and the Universe

Wilderness Cry
by Dr. Hilary L Hunt M.D.
April 2021

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute: Tools To Spark Your Dream And Ignite Your Follow-Through

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute
by Jeff Meyer
May 2021

Surviving the Business of Healthcare: Knowledge is Power

Surviving the Business of Healthcare
by Barbara Galutia Regis M.S. PA-C
June 2021

Winning the War on Cancer: The Epic Journey Towards a Natural Cure

Winning the War on Cancer
by Sylvie Beljanski
July 2021

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream
by Dr Frank L Douglas
August 2021

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts
by Mark L. Wdowiak
September 2021

The Preppers Medical Handbook

The Preppers Medical Handbook
by Dr. William W Forgey M.D.
October 2021

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress: A Practical Guide

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress
by Dr. Gustavo Kinrys, MD
November 2021

Dream For Peace: An Ambassador Memoir

Dream For Peace
by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah
December 2021