Good little article.
http://io9.com/10-scientific-ideas-that ... 1591309822
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10 scientific ideas you should stop misusing
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- ant
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Re: 10 scientific ideas you should stop misusing
This is perhaps the most unremarkable idea of the theory of evolution:
(emphasis mine)
Fittest does not mean strongest, or smartest. It simply means an organism that fits best into its environment, which could mean anything from "smallest" or "squishiest" to "most poisonous" or "best able to live without water for weeks at a time." Plus, creatures don't always evolve in a way that we can explain as adaptations. Their evolutionary path may have more to do with random mutations, or traits that other members of their species find attractive.
(emphasis mine)
Fittest does not mean strongest, or smartest. It simply means an organism that fits best into its environment, which could mean anything from "smallest" or "squishiest" to "most poisonous" or "best able to live without water for weeks at a time." Plus, creatures don't always evolve in a way that we can explain as adaptations. Their evolutionary path may have more to do with random mutations, or traits that other members of their species find attractive.
- Cattleman
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Re: 10 scientific ideas you should stop misusing
for posting this; I have read it (too quickly) and find myself in agreement with much of it. I want to re-read and study each point in more detail before I comment further.
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Always listen to experts. They'll tell you what can't be done, and why. Then do it. -Robert A. Heinlein
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Re: 10 scientific ideas you should stop misusing
It is also annoying (a pet peeve I guess!) when someone is talking about evolution and mentions traits being designed, I guess this would fall into the survival of the fittest misuse. For example, when remarking about humans being prone to bad backs, because we "weren't designed to walk upright" and the like.
It doesn't help that those little tubes of plastic toy dinosaurs often include cave people or mammoths.
- Interbane
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Re: 10 scientific ideas you should stop misusing
"Fittest" is a pliable term. It means tallest as well as shortest, depending on the niche. It means largest as well as smallest, depending on the niche. It means most toxic as well as most nutritious, depending on the niche. In today's fitness-crazed culture, the word is probably more misunderstood than "theory".Fittest does not mean strongest, or smartest. It simply means an organism that fits best into its environment, which could mean anything from "smallest" or "squishiest" to "most poisonous" or "best able to live without water for weeks at a time." Plus, creatures don't always evolve in a way that we can explain as adaptations. Their evolutionary path may have more to do with random mutations, or traits that other members of their species find attractive.
I had one to add to the list - string theory. I was reading Brian Greene's "An Elegant Universe" 12 or so years ago, and I started talking to my aunt about it. I mentioned string theory and how vibrations determine the emergent characteristics of the building blocks of nature. She cut me off almost before I started, saying she already knew all about it. She's been "harmonizing" peoples vibrational frequencies for longer than I've been alive. She proceeded to hover one of her hands over my arm, then nod thoughtfully as if she detected some malady. I saw through her following cold-reading questions and embarrassed her like the dick I am though. It's a happy memory for me.
“In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move.” - Douglas Adams
- ant
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Re: 10 scientific ideas you should stop misusing
I mentioned string theory and how vibrations determine the emergent characteristics of the building blocks of nature."
what evidence is there for that?
Our is this some metaphysical statement youre trying to feed as fact to someone?
what evidence is there for that?
Our is this some metaphysical statement youre trying to feed as fact to someone?
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Re: 10 scientific ideas you should stop misusing
It is hardly fact. The work is/was all theoretical. I'm sure there's been progress since I read the book a decade ago, progress in the direction of showing it to be faulty.what evidence is there for that?
Our is this some metaphysical statement youre trying to feed as fact to someone?
As for the evidence, there is just enough to make it plausible, but not much more.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superstring_theory
Next time I'll couch everything I say with the appropriate confidence-level adjectives, just so you won't get your knickers in a bunch.
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Re: 10 scientific ideas you should stop misusing
I can't determine whether or not there's any evidence for your aunt's ability detect maladies based on vibrations that are not able to be detected with our senses, or can be empirically verified to exist by scientific methodologies.
Just the same, your claim that string vibrations ultimately DETERMINE "the building blocks of nature" is based on nothing more than abstract mathematical hypotheses not verifiable by testability is also a load of crap.
You're just using abstract theoretical conjectures (of which I don't believe you are capable of doing or understanding the math) that rely heavily on ad hoc hypothesis to "sound" more naturally grounded than you're dear old aunt.
This was a fine example of how arrogant are with your assertions.
Thanks for the story.
Just the same, your claim that string vibrations ultimately DETERMINE "the building blocks of nature" is based on nothing more than abstract mathematical hypotheses not verifiable by testability is also a load of crap.
You're just using abstract theoretical conjectures (of which I don't believe you are capable of doing or understanding the math) that rely heavily on ad hoc hypothesis to "sound" more naturally grounded than you're dear old aunt.
This was a fine example of how arrogant are with your assertions.
Thanks for the story.
Last edited by ant on Sat Jun 21, 2014 2:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: 10 scientific ideas you should stop misusing
You see, out of a void, something like strings vibrate and ultimately determine nature.
There's no evidence for this except mathematical theorems.
Our large partical smashers will prove it one day.
But there is nothing intelligent about it. I can't prove that but it sounds better than your metaphysical statements because science is on my side.
The above is void of any meaning or content whatsoever.
Note: And some people have the gaul to be critical of spiritual talk because "there's no evidence for it"
There's no evidence for this except mathematical theorems.
Our large partical smashers will prove it one day.
But there is nothing intelligent about it. I can't prove that but it sounds better than your metaphysical statements because science is on my side.
The above is void of any meaning or content whatsoever.
Note: And some people have the gaul to be critical of spiritual talk because "there's no evidence for it"
Last edited by ant on Sat Jun 21, 2014 2:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: 10 scientific ideas you should stop misusing
Ant, very noble of you to hold Interbane's feet to the fire on his conversational use of string theory.
Imagine if he'd come out and said something REALLy ridiculous! Something that was just obviously wrong, but he refused to address it any further, like:
Ant...
Do you believe Odin, the supernatural god, exists?
Imagine if he'd come out and said something REALLy ridiculous! Something that was just obviously wrong, but he refused to address it any further, like:
Why, i think if i heard somebody say that on these forums, and never address it again, or try to reconcile what is so clearly wrong with it, i might stop taking anything they say seriously in the least! Especially if they started trying to hold anyone else account for something they said! Or if that statement was only the latest in a long line of nonsense claims!Ant:
It's really dumb of a disbeliever to state he believes a supernatural entity does not exist.
Ant...
Do you believe Odin, the supernatural god, exists?
In the absence of God, I found Man.
-Guillermo Del Torro
Are you pushing your own short comings on us and safely hating them from a distance?
Is this the virtue of faith? To never change your mind: especially when you should?
Young Earth Creationists take offense at the idea that we have a common heritage with other animals. Why is being the descendant of a mud golem any better?
-Guillermo Del Torro
Are you pushing your own short comings on us and safely hating them from a distance?
Is this the virtue of faith? To never change your mind: especially when you should?
Young Earth Creationists take offense at the idea that we have a common heritage with other animals. Why is being the descendant of a mud golem any better?