Review, Ronald Fisher's 'Genetical Theory of Natural Selection' | Blogitem

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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?

Review, Ronald Fisher's "Genetical Theory of Natural Selection"

Details: Written by Shaun Johnston Shaun Johnston; Published: February 8, 2015 February 8, 2015; Hits: 2595 2595

Why is this book important? Because it is still referred to as the basis for the population statistics on which rests the reigning scientific theory of evolution. As recently as 2010 Fisher was Richard Dawkins’ choice for the greatest biologist since Darwin: "He therefore could be said to have provided researchers in biology and medicine with their most important research tools, as well as with the modern version of biology’s central theorem.” But is the statistics within it sound. I conclude, no. More...