A joke

PUBLISHER:

redshirt

Shaun Johnston:
In modern times we've made two revolutionary discoveries. One is, how changes in physical matter can be accounted for in terms of physical laws that can predict precisely what will happen next. Having given rise to science (how this can be studied) and industry (how it can be applied) this revolution is well under way.

The second revolution is, how emergence of species of living creatures can be accounted for in terms of them evolving from one another. This revolution, despite its promise of how much it could tell us about ourselves, remains stillborn through the mistaken application to it of principles coming out of the first revolution--reductive physicalism.

For this second revolution to advance it should be taken from under the wing of science and studied on its own terms. Tip: one recent product of evolution is creatures with minds. Minds are better studied through methods of the humanities than through those of science. Tell me, does this interest you?

Details: Written by Shaun Johnston Shaun Johnston; Published: September 19, 2013 September 19, 2013; Hits: 85705 85705

Therapist to new patient: What brings you here?

Patient: It’s my job. I teach schoolkids about evolution. It’s your genes that make you who you are and tell you what to do, I tell them. Evolution happens when new genes enter the gene pool--new genes come from old genes getting damaged then natural selection determines whose genes get passed on.

Therapist: That seems OK to me. So what’s the problem?

Patient: The problem is, it makes my own life seems so meaningless. I’m determined by my genes. All that seems to matter is our own species continuing to evolve. But what can I contribute to that? Getting my genes damaged through radiation, that’s all I can think of. It’s so depressing.

Therapist: Then why not get another job?

Patient: What! And give up science!