From: David McFadzean (david@lucifer.com)
Date: Fri Jan 30 2004 - 07:27:49 MST
----- Original Message -----
From: "Erik Aronesty" <erik@zoneedit.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2004 10:32 PM
> The universe is actually a powerful computer running a massive simulation,
> using a genetic algorithm designed to answer the question, "What is the
> purpose of the universe?"
If the universe has a purpose, this candidate would get my vote. When I first
thought about the question my answer was that it has no purpose because the
universe was (probably) not designed. It occurs to me now that origins can
precede ascribed purposes. Not only is this possible, it is a fundamental
property of evolutionary theory. Mutations are never designed for a purpose,
they are random. The purpose (adaptation), if any, is discovered and exploited
after the fact. Moreover, the purpose as a purpose is not formulated until
an evolutionary biologist studies the problem and proposes a theory. So when
and how does something acquire a purpose? It is not an simple question.
Lucifer
--- To unsubscribe from the Virus list go to <http://www.lucifer.com/cgi-bin/virus-l>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Fri Jan 30 2004 - 07:30:41 MST