http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:20:39 -0500 FeedCreator 1.7.2-ppt DokuWiki http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/arns.com/class/348/wiki/lib/tpl/arctic-mbo/images/favicon.ico http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/ http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/112/blog/daugherty-skyhooks_and_cranes?rev=1328768024&do=diff Dennett explains that skyhooks are imaginary means of suspension or attachment to the sky. He makes clear that there is emphasis on imaginary. The skyhooks stand as a symbol/metaphor for the higher, unseen power of a creator. With this explanation of our existence it doesn’t allow to us to truly see the intricacies of the 'how'. In comparison, we have the metaphor for science and logic being the cranes in Dennett's description. The cranes are real, grounded, and strong. They themselves have to b… daughertya1 112:blog Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:13:44 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/112/blog/moore_-_skyhooks_and_cranes?rev=1328757824&do=diff In the third chapter of Dennett's book, he describes a distinction between skyhooks and cranes. Basically, he is using these two “machines” to distinguish the two ways of thinking about how the world was created and built, so to speak. Dennett gives an Oxford English Dictionary definition of skyhooks as being “an imaginary contrivance for attachment to the sky; an imaginary means of suspension in the sky” (74). In other words, skyhooks would be very convenient for building and creating things… moorea11 112:blog Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:23:44 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/gene_selectionism?rev=1328580715&do=diff From the gene's eye view: * Evolution consists of two fundamental processes: replication and interaction. * Replication is the process of copying in way that guarantees the links in the lineage are similar enough to provide for cumulative selection. * Ecological interaction biases the copy process, causing differential copying. * Dawkins argues that genes are the true (ancient) replicants and their preservation is the 'ultimate rationale for our existence.' Organisms don't replicate or … garns Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:11:55 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/112/blog/spence-_skyhooks?rev=1328572583&do=diff The discussion between skyhooks and cranes, is a difference between the difference in the belief of how things have come about. The skyhhok theory basically implies that there is a creator, and that they dropped from the sky. The theory of the crane, is that these features or outcomes started from a base and worked there way up to what they are now. Pretty much just like the regular thoery of evolution. This brings up a great argument of, which one makes more sense and to prove it. The scientist… spencej2 112:blog Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:56:23 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/112/blog/wright_skyhooks_and_cranes?rev=1328546992&do=diff Dennett introduces the ideology of a “skyhook” and “cranes” to give us a tangible example of how to think about things. The idea of a skyhook brings with it a lot of questions such as, “Where did it come from?” and “Who's operating it?”. This is why it is closely related to the idea of a creator. It symbolizes something that can get the “species” job done, but we are unable to explain it all without the skyhook. The crane idea is a “ground-up” idea. Where everything we have today can be explaine… wrightd 112:blog Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:49:52 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/112/blog/claudio_toro_skyhooks_and_cranes?rev=1328542694&do=diff When Dennett talks about skyhooks, he is referring to a way of explaining how living things come into being by a mysterious “sky hand”. We do not know where the skyhook comes from, or how it operates. Skyhooks are what we normally think of as a designer. Cranes, on the other hand, are firmly based on the ground. We have a very good idea of where these cranes come from, and we know that bigger cranes sometimes require smaller ones in order to be assembled (resembling the idea of gradual change wi… toroc1 112:blog Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:38:14 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/112/blog/welcome?rev=1328279837&do=diff * Enter a short title for your post in the box at the bottom of this page. Include your last name. Do not use ”/” or ”:” in your title. 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See the instructions post for more useful suggestions. garns 112:blog Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:37:17 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/112/archive?rev=1328279792&do=diff Previous Questions 02.09: Explain, discuss and evaluate Dennett's distinction between shyhooks and cranes. 02.02: Pick out what you think is an insightful passage in Darwin's Origin of Species and briefly discuss it's significance. 01.26: Describe one important way in which Darwin's idea (natural selection) is thought to be a dangerous. garns 112 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:36:32 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/?image=student_work%3A112%3Awright-_dawkins_essay.pdf&ns=student_work%3A112&rev=1328198606&tab_details=history&mediado=diff&do=media wrightd student_work:112 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:03:26 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/112/blog/cory_nordwick-_significant_passage?rev=1328192016&do=diff I felt that Darwin's passage about the illustrations of natural selection was significant because it gives specific examples of how it might work. Like the one about the wolf and whether there were more or less deer one year. If there were less it would seem that the fastest slimmest wolves would prevail in such a situation. I think that specific examples like this one put natural selection in a place that is easily understandable and relate able and these descriptions are helpful to understand … nordwickc1 112:blog Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:13:36 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/112/blog/eric_m._-_the_insightful_darwin?rev=1328162038&do=diff When reading through The Origin of Species I found the passage about the circumstances for natural selection to be particularly insightful. His comparison of natural selection through humans own ability to select traits through breeding particularly helped me to just realize the depth of natural selection. The intricacies that play into natural selection are nothing to be sneezed at. Like discussed in class even with the same environment as a “brand new” earth the odds of ending up with somethin… mermane1 112:blog Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:53:58 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/?image=student_work%3A112%3Amicro-essay_dawkins.pdf&ns=student_work%3A112&rev=1328160000&tab_details=history&mediado=diff&do=media thompsone8 student_work:112 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:20:00 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/?image=student_work%3A112%3Asutkamp_microessay1.pdf&ns=student_work%3A112&rev=1328157778&tab_details=history&mediado=diff&do=media ssutkamp student_work:112 Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:42:58 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/?image=student_work%3A112%3Aspence_first_micro_essay.pdf&ns=student_work%3A112&rev=1328150824&tab_details=history&mediado=diff&do=media spencej2 student_work:112 Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:47:04 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/112/blog/geiger_insightful_passage?rev=1328130134&do=diff In Chapter 3 of Origin of Species: The Struggle for Existence I believe lays out the foundation for which natural selection is a necessary mechanism. Within this chapter there are a few points in this passage which I find intriguing due to their parallels in modern human society. What I am talking about is Darwin describing the “population checks” which keep a species from overpopulating. This idea he has adopted from Malthus who expressed concern about the world overpopulating until the food … susan_geiger 112:blog Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:02:14 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/?image=student_work%3A112%3Atoro_first_microessay.pdf&ns=student_work%3A112&rev=1328121243&tab_details=history&mediado=diff&do=media toroc1 student_work:112 Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:34:03 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/112/blog/spence_signifigant_passage?rev=1328062874&do=diff When thinking about what is significant with Darwin, I think the most important part of the theory of natural selection is the aspect of struggle between individuals and other species. Without this struggle or competition, the only selection factors would be environmental which are across the board and not exclusive. Fitness is widely determined by an individuals ability to reproduce and if an individual has a specific trait that gives it a competitive advantage to it, it will be more likely to … spencej2 112:blog Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:21:14 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/112/blog/wright-_significant_passage?rev=1328034565&do=diff When I first read the assignment, the first thought that came to mind was the passage on variation. I will put it word-for-word just because I'm not sure what is possible to cut out without loosing too much. Chapter 2 of Origin of Species: “These individual differences are of the highest importance for us, for they are often inherited, as must be familiar to every one; and they thus afford materials for natural selection to act on and accumulate, in the same manner as man accumulates in any give… wrightd 112:blog Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:29:25 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/112/evolution_and_natural_selection?rev=1327880310&do=diff How does Darwin help us understand evolution and natural selection? Required * Darwin, Origin of Species, Ch. 3 Struggle for Existence; Ch. 4 Natural Selection; Ch. 14 Recapitulation and Conclusion * Background Tutorial: Ridley, Natural selection and Variation * Dennett, DDI, Ch. 2 An Idea is Born, 3 Universal Acid), 5 The Possible and the Actual, 6 Threads of Actuality in Design Space * Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Natural Selection (Brandon) * Background Tutorial: Ridley, T… garns 112 Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:38:30 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/?image=112%3Awilson_and_wilson_2008_gs_american_scientist.pdf&ns=112&rev=1327880168&tab_details=history&mediado=diff&do=media garns 112 Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:36:08 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/start?rev=1327879795&do=diff News and Information:!:evolution and natural selectionEvolution Is Still Happening: Beneficial Mutations in Humans.Culture Speeds Up Human Evolutionevolution and chance Some of Darwin's ideas about evolution and natural selection have been deemed to be “dangerous.” These ideas, along with the naturalistic methodology that endorses them, are alleged to challenge some very well established views philosophers and theologians (and others) have held about the status and origin of mankind, the meanin… garns Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:29:55 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/112/micro-essays?rev=1327879299&do=diff A micro-essay is a one page summary of an assigned reading, article or chapter. The essay should capture the overall thesis of the article and the main lines of reasoning such that both the narrative and the argumentative structure of the article is clear. You need not provide critical commentary or criticism; but the essay should set the stage for such criticism. As summaries, micro-essays are exercises in clarity and economy of expression. They will be evaluated for concision, accuracy, precis… garns 112 Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:21:39 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/?image=dawkins_selfish_gene_ch_2.pdf&ns=&rev=1327879126&tab_details=history&mediado=diff&do=media garns Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:18:46 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/units_of_selection?rev=1327853091&do=diff For Darwin, natural selection was usually thought of in terms of competition among conspecific organisms. But he also suggets that groups within a species might be in competition. Some have suggested that competing genes in a single organism (intragenetic conflict) are the targets of selection. Though genes in a single organism are equally fit (surviving or dying together) meiotic drive occurs when heterozygotes produce gamates that bear alleles disproportionately; thus there could be competitio… garns Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:04:51 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/112/blog/crystal_hudson-dangerous_idea?rev=1327590354&do=diff I think we complicate things too much using science, we think of the idea of hows and whys as a kind of game because we like a challenge..and there is nothing wrong with that. sometimes we find it exciting to understand a species..to find some kind of explanation and understand how its role is played out... But the idea of “natural selection” is thought to be a dangerous..why? i think because it fights against theories of adaptation which can be too focused on science. Take animals for example, … hudsonc 112:blog Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:05:54 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/112/blog/geiger-darwin_s_dangerous_idea?rev=1327588698&do=diff Science at Darwin’s time was based on the notion that to acquire knowledge about something the truth had to be permanent repeatedly predictable and observable. Species were studied as they were at present thought to be unchanging and to have been miraculously placed in environments for which they were suited. Evolution/Natrual Selection required projection to be involved in science. Scienties would have to go beyond empirical evidence and theorize about traits/qualities that had changed and w… susan_geiger 112:blog Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:38:18 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/112/blog/cory_nordwick?rev=1327585778&do=diff One reason that people of the time thought that Darwin's idea of natural selection was dangerous is because it would question the importance of their morals and ethics. If it's all natural selection and only the strong survive then it would be much more reasonable to just be out to only help yourself and your family. What is the point of being good in a world like this? This put the people on the same level as animals as well and they didn't want to believe such a thing. nordwickc1 112:blog Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:49:38 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/112/blog/eric_m_-_darwin_s_dangerous_idea?rev=1327584348&do=diff Darwin's idea of natural selection can be considered dangerous because it goes against the norm. At the time of its inception the only theory available to the populace was that of divine creation and intelligent design. So how could both of these ideas be possible? A perfect design from a Father on high and evolution of species through adaptations to better survive? These two things at the time did not coexist and that caused Darwin to be viewed in a negative light. His idea is so dangerous beca… mermane1 112:blog Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:25:48 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/112/blog/petrie_-_dangerous_idea?rev=1327560080&do=diff There are many ways in which Darwin’s ideas can be considered dangerous, some of which have been addressed countless times. To build upon them, my greatest concern, for the short term at least, revolves around the potential effects of this transition period we are actively living through. While I am personally not concerned about an angry god smiting us for disconnecting from belief (which Darwin’s theories have led a great many to do), I am primarily concerned with the followers, of any organ… petriej2 112:blog Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:41:20 -0500 http://www.rudygarns.com/class/348/wiki/doku.php/112/blog/daugherty-a_dangerous_idea?rev=1327557287&do=diff Darwin's ideas may be seen as dangerous because it defies the conventional ideas of his time about a divine creator. Without some sort of higher power/being it could appear that we are created at random and absent of any guidelines for morality. Without these 'black and white' structures of morality and creation our existence could appear insignificant. We, as humans, could be compared with the development of animal species vs. the idea of humans having some higher, privileged position over othe… daughertya1 112:blog Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:54:47 -0500