More Denton: Another review of Denton's new book (Introduction)

by David Turell , Saturday, May 28, 2016, 21:56 (2891 days ago) @ dhw


> dhw: It is you who keep quoting authors who flog the dead horse of gradualism. I agree with you entirely on the subject of “magical” saltations, but how often do we have to repeat that nobody can explain them?-Belief in God does. Remember I'm on his side.
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> dhw: Of course it's saltation, but in this particular instance, Margulis's theory did not involve plotting. She suggests that the symbiosis originally took place by chance. The intelligence comes in with the recognition of mutual benefit, which then leads to further exploration of the potential benefits of symbiosis and cooperation. -Since when is natural selection a recognition of 'mutual benefit'? Bacteria don't think. The Margolis theory cannot tell us whether it was chance engulfment, or God's saltation. That the newly combined organism had a better reproductive and survival fitness is all that was needed to establish a new form.