My earlier post Life is like Javascript, not like Java discussed the conflict between Plato's theory of Forms and evolution of new species [*]. I think this conflict is the real motivator behind Intelligent Design. The idea of Forms is pre-Plato; it is implied in Genesis in the animal Kinds and is actually part of our early cognitive heritage. For Plato the belief in Forms both presupposed and necessitated a deity.
The IDers believe in Platonic Forms (often without realizing it), and view species as Forms. They believe natural processes like evolution cannot produce new Platonic Forms, since the Forms preexist and reside in some other timeless dimension our minds somehow contact. Space aliens (an alternative proposed by the IDers in my earlier post Did the First Giraffe have a Navel?) are also unlikely to be able to add new Platonic Forms. The only viable alternative is a deity, the same one who set the mathematical and physical constants (like Pi, and the speed of light C) before the universe was created. The species Forms would have also all been predefined before the universe started.
[*] Note this summary also slides towards a common trap, not unique to IDers. My linked post also asserts species don't really exist, but are an arbitrary man-made construct. So in an important sense evolution doesn't produce species, only individuals. The IDers are asserting nature is bounded by preexisting species Forms, while I say nature in generating new individuals does not recognize or respect any such boundaries.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Why many of us dislike Pair Programming
From Extraversion and introversion on Wikipedia:
An extravert is energized when around other people. Extraverts tend to "fade" when alone and can easily become bored without other people around. Extraverts tend to think as they speak. When given the chance, an extravert will talk with someone else rather than sit alone and think...
An introvert is energized when alone. Introverts tend to "fade" when with people and can easily become overstimulated with too many others around...
Acting, teaching, directing, managing, brokering are fields that favor extraversion...
(Introverts) often take pleasure in solitary activities such as reading, writing, drawing, watching movies, and using computers. The archetypal artist, writer, sculptor, composer and inventor are all highly introverted...
Some careers such as computer programming may be more satisfying for an introverted temperament, while other areas such as sales may be more agreeable to the extraverted type.
An extravert is energized when around other people. Extraverts tend to "fade" when alone and can easily become bored without other people around. Extraverts tend to think as they speak. When given the chance, an extravert will talk with someone else rather than sit alone and think...
An introvert is energized when alone. Introverts tend to "fade" when with people and can easily become overstimulated with too many others around...
Acting, teaching, directing, managing, brokering are fields that favor extraversion...
(Introverts) often take pleasure in solitary activities such as reading, writing, drawing, watching movies, and using computers. The archetypal artist, writer, sculptor, composer and inventor are all highly introverted...
Some careers such as computer programming may be more satisfying for an introverted temperament, while other areas such as sales may be more agreeable to the extraverted type.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Maker Faire 2008
A bit more Burning Man,
a bit more Love Parade,
a bit more Disney.
The Theremin by the Steampunk section was cool.
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