Re: Extropianism & Theology

ASpidle@aol.com
Mon, 1 Mar 1999 14:46:50 EST

In a message dated 99-03-01 12:34:54 EST, Anders writes:

<<
> It seems to me that biology researchers (like my son) have extrapolated the
> most gruesome meme (we are junk that luckily survived) from their seriously
> flawed (scientifically, not theologically) theory that natural selection is
> accidental.

I wonder over this view, Kauffman seems to share it with you. It is so different from my view: we are unique, contingent! If the universe was re-run again, nothing like us would ever appear. We have been selected, not randomly but with the help of randomness. There is nothing gruesome with that. >>

Thanks Anders, I totally agree with you. It's the sense that we are lucky junk (a direct quotation) that I think is gruesome. I love your expression that we are unique and contingent.

While my son (PhD in molecular biology) introduced me to Kaufmann and seems to think his work is very important, he is still stuck in the "lucky junk" paradigm. It's the characterization, not the science that I have trouble with. The emotional vehemence and intollerence of other interpretations that he shares with so many others on this list (not you Anders) upsets me.

Adrian