Comments | dherblay: Fish with feet

dherblay

Fish with feet

Oct 27, 2003 17:24

My mother, who last week was installed as the new pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Nowheresville, Michigan, just sent me this email:As I listen to Diane Rheme talk about the Florida case, I would like to tell you my wishes. I do not want to be kep alive if I am in a persistent vegatative state is. After I reach 80 or so, I would like to ( Read more... )

humor, materialism, evolution, stephen jay gould, crank theories

Comments 35

Loved your fish! anonymous October 27 2003, 20:14:03 UTC

Have you seen the ones at
http://www.meangene.com/darwin/taxonomy.html

RAS

Thank you! dherblay October 27 2003, 21:34:01 UTC

I had not seen that page, though I have seen several of the fish variations before. But I had forgotten the Far Side one!

Why I will never have one of those Darwin fish on my car masqthephlsphr October 27 2003, 20:43:28 UTC

While at first glance it's a funny way to snub your nose at creationism by substituting a religious symbol (the fish) for a scientific symbol (the fish evolved into a land animal), at second glance it seems to imply (especially to a religious person who'd have a fish on their car) that you worship science.

Which isn't the case, in my case, anyway. I believe it's rational to accept most of the well-confirmed theories of science, like, say, the theory of evolution, but science is an evolving thing itself, modifying itself over time in response to new evidence, to human foilbles, to cultural changes. It's a human endeavor, a powerful one, but ultimately human.

And evolution is a case in point. Darwin is less the father of evolution than he is the father of the theory of Natural Selection, which is so heavily constrained by other factors, and is itself an almost unfalsifiable any time to you try to unpack the notion of what is "more fit".

Re: Why I will never have one of those Darwin fish on my car masqthephlsphr October 27 2003, 20:46:01 UTC

By the way, I love those pictures. They just make my point (and yours, too, I imagine) about the variety of competing scientific models as we fallible humans try to hammer out the mysteries of the universe.

Re: Why I will never have one of those Darwin fish on my car dherblay October 27 2003, 22:14:34 UTC

Thank you! I appreciate it, especially now that I know I had such a high-minded purpose! I was afraid my point had been merely "I have Photoshop."

Luckily you have philosopher friends masqthephlsphr October 28 2003, 09:08:53 UTC

to tell you what your purpose is. ; )

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oyceter October 27 2003, 22:59:09 UTC

*giggles*

Love the fish! Especially the last one.

Thank you! dherblay October 27 2003, 23:06:59 UTC

I liked that one too, as should now be apparent.

Now make one combining them all :-) bhadrasvapna October 28 2003, 07:31:26 UTC

Around here a Darwin "fish" is an invitation for someone to vandalize your car.

I want a holographic one, that changes depending on the angle you look at it. That way the fundie nut jobs can have their comfy views and the rest of us can search for the truth ;-)

The "truth" is probably a combination of all of them. How would you show that?

Jeanie

Thank you! dherblay October 28 2003, 14:51:24 UTC

Well, I'm not too big on "truth" myself. "Seek better questions" is more my style. Or would be if "seek" were my style. "Lie back in the comfort of one's own conceptions and let better questions perhaps drop by with some tea" might be a better description.

I can be a bit of a nut job too, probably more so than most Christians I know.

Which somehow makes me think fresne October 28 2003, 07:38:29 UTC

of the Touched by a Miracle show. Or as my friends and I call it, the The Anti-Darwin Show. Heartwarming stories of people who did not receive a Darwin award, despite strong efforts.

Re: Which somehow makes me think dherblay October 28 2003, 15:07:19 UTC

I'm not familiar with that show -- this will come as no shock to anyone.

My central evil nature makes me wonder if they'll do a follow-up show years from now called Regression To The Mean.

Re: Which somehow makes me think fresne October 28 2003, 19:44:32 UTC

Your "central evil nature" makes you a probable Calvinist. On the other hand I know that were you to actually be a Christian, you would be the last Calvinist Presbyterian. (Yes, I can split infinitives since I don't write in Latin.) I'm not sure what to make of the evolution/darwin fish discussion particularly in view of the fact that I spawned if not the discussion, then you. I reiterate my prior message to you that you have a phonemonal take on life and a wry sense of humor.

Hey mom! dherblay October 28 2003, 21:32:00 UTC

I welcome the splitting of infinitives, though speaking of linguistics, I'm still wondering how phonemes come into the whole thing.

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