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Being Human Again: Stories of Evolution; Part 2

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Being Human Again: Stories of Evolution; Part 2 44 Being Human, Again: Stories of Evolution Part 2 Tanmoy Bhattacharya Centre of Advanced Studies in Linguistics University of Delhi Seeing is believing (or not) eeing is believing, they say; but there is something profoundly wrong with that statement, as borne out by our knowledge of most things in almost every sphere. Science, for example, does not demand that a concept (for example, ‘energy’) be directly visible, only its manifestations may be. It is said that most of the current ideas in Physics are dark matter, as most hypotheses are not physically testable. This was true even during Galilean times, Galileo himself did not – and in fact, plausibly could not -- perform most of the experiments, as most of the experiments were hypothetical or thought experiments. For example, a Sstatement like “If a ball were to roll down a frictionless surface …” can only be an idealistic set up as it is not possible to have in reality a frictionless surface. No one “saw” the atom before particle Physics was founded, no one found the use of graphic design before Euclidean Geometry was founded, and so forth. Yet, time and again, and more so now—for reasons which have to do with a multitude of factors, including instant gratification—demonstrable results are demanded; something has to be seen to be believed. 46 neScholar 0 vol 4 0 issue 1 HIS is also the reason for a recent public N fact, if we go by the various groups of Tstatement about Darwin’s theory of evolution Irespondents, the highest leaning towards empiricism (see The Indian Express, Jan. 22, 2018) when a Union obtains for (philosophy) undergraduates (42.4%) minister stated that “Nobody, including our ancestors, and the lowest leaning towards rationalism obtains in written or oral, have said they saw an ape turning for the group not affiliated to philosophy (22.9%) at into a man,” over which, the media had a hearty laugh all. Although this a small survey restricted mostly to for a week or two. However, I would like to consider philosophy students and faculty, it nonetheless shows this statement more academically, because, I think, the trend clearly; the trend being, for every person who such popular statements, shared by many, need to be leans toward rationalism, there are almost 2 persons analysed and dissected for everyone to see, and not just who lean toward empiricism. If this is the result maligned or laughed at. There are at least two things in of a survey conducted among philosophy affiliated the above statement that need attention in the context students and faculty, a similar survey in the context of the topic that we are discussing in this series (that of an economically poorer region of the world will is, evolution)—one, revolving round the word “saw” or surely widen this gap considerably; and when such a seeing, and the other, involving the use of the phrase survey is made open to the general public, the gap will “turning into”. We have already discussed briefly above be even wider (for more discussion, see Bhattacharya, the relevance of “seeing”, but if we were to situate this forthcoming, “Disability Studies as Resistance: The sentiment (seeing is believing) within the world of ideas Politics of Estrangement” in Disability in South Asia, then we must make reference to the debate between ed. Anita Ghai, Sage Publications). This was about Rationalism and Empiricism, a debate which I termed “seeing”, the phrase “turning into” has a much more elsewhere (Bhattacharya, 2015, “Pollock-er Bakkyo- focussed relevance for the theory of evolution, to be bhongo Othoba Butterfly Effect” [in Bangla] Ebong discussed below. Mushaira, Vol 22, Nos. 3-4: pp. 21-32) as the greatest, on-going football match of the millennia, the result of which is becoming more and more apparent. Denying Darwin -- the old game A short foray into the URNING into”, when viewed with the Rationalism versus “TDarwinian lens of natural selection must mean a long series of stages where each stage is reinforced Empiricism debate through natural selection of some trait or other. Within this perspective, “turning into” cannot be an HE dominant discourse around us is based on instantaneous event that can be “seen” by anyone, let Tvarious shades of Empiricism—that all knowledge alone by a potential observer who is yet to be turned is derived from or reducible to aspects of experience, into; in fact, there lies the fallacy of the minister’s that is, reality cannot be knowable from reason or statement which no media has picked up—if, as per rationality alone (roughly, Rationalism). Policies, the Darwinian theory, the first human ever were to be funding, sympathies, and ‘knowledge’, are all geared turned into, from an ape, who is there to observe it, towards what is ‘visible’ or visibly effective. Further since by definition there is no human yet? Quite apart support for the status quo, namely, that empiricism is from this and a philosophical problem of the observer’s winning the greatest on-going football match can be paradox, the process of “turning into” in the parlance understood from the results of the PhilSurvey as in of evolution must involve several millennia. Table 1. enial of Darwin’s theory is not new; apart from Other 1158 / 3226 (35.9%) Dtheological creationism believed by 40% of Americans influenced by fundamental Christians who Accept or lean toward: 1254 / 3226 (38.9%) deny evolution and believe that god created humans, empiricism there have been scientific critiques of Darwin’s natural Accept or lean toward: 814 / 3226 (25.2%) selection soon after the Origin of Species was published rationalism in 1859. One of the most significant critiques came from a British zoologist, St. George Mivart (1817- Table 1: Knowledge: empiricism or rationalism? 1900). Mivart was influenced by religion and his (Source: http://philpapers.org/surveys/results.pl (31.03.17)) thinking in zoology was often derived from religion. 46 neScholar 0 vol 4 0 issue 1 neScholar 0 vol 4 0 issue 1 47 BEING HUMAN I HISTORY In fact, the last chapter (chapter natural selection to explain how and important kind.” 12) of his book described below, an organism can proceed from (italics mine) is titled ‘Theology and Evolution.’ one intermediate stage to another At the age of 17 he renounced the intermediate stage in the course S can be read off from this Anglican church and converted of evolution; what would be the Aquote, the suddenness thesis is to Roman Catholicism. Given the selectional advantage of progressing really Mivart’s idea, since Darwin’s importance of religion in other from one such stage to another? theory, on the contrary, prides itself spheres of life at that time, the Stephen Jay Gould, in an essay on gradual changes sanctioned dominant prevailing atmosphere this section relies upon, titled by natural selection. In fact, of Anglican Protestantism in “Not necessarily a wing” (Natural Darwin explicitly prohibits sudden England made his entry into History, 1985), has a nice way of change: “Natural Selection, if it Oxford or Cambridge to study highlighting this dilemma, namely, be a true principle, will banish the Zoology impossible. Mivart ended that no organism could fly with belief ... of any great and sudden up studying Law instead. However, 2% of a wing. Mivart thus raised modification in their structure.” he kept his interest in Zoology a valid objection by saying that Mivart’s theory of evolution alive but pursuing the subject on “Natural selection utterly fails to therefore is definitely an anti- the side and after completing his account for the conservation and Darwinian version of evolution. career in law, established himself as development of the minute and a distinguished anatomist. He did rudimentary beginnings, the slight not deny evolution, but he strongly and insignificant commencements Darwin’s defence argued against Darwin’s position of structures, however useful those ARWIN, on his part, though on natural selection. He agreed that structures may afterwards become.” Dunderstood the seriousness natural selection has a role to play of the issue that Mivart’s critique when it comes to preservation and IVART’S own solution raised, attacked it nonetheless, by increasing of a preferred adaptive Mto this dilemma is in fact playing on the ridiculousness of trait, but when it comes to the the first foray into the somewhat believing that a complex structure origin of that trait, Darwin’s theory strange idea of ‘sudden’ change like a wing can evolve in a day: has nothing to say. that is more famously associated in fact with Darwin. In part 1 of He who believes that this series (vol. 3, issue 4, p.20), some ancient form was The incipient the suddenness idea was mentioned transformed suddenly in relation to language evolution, through an internal force stages and the a topic that I will engage with or tendency into, for throughout the series. Let us instance, one furnished suddenness thesis first see, how Mivart came upon with wings, will be… HIS questioning led Mivart this idea. After a fair amount of compelled to believe Tto publish his major work in illustrations, Mivart arrives at the that many structures 1871, the title of the book was following conclusion: beautifully adapted to On the Genesis of Species a play all the other parts of on the title of Darwin’s famous “Arguments may yet be the same creature and book mentioned above. The advanced in favour of to the surrounding main criticism of Darwin’s theory the view that new species conditions, have been appeared in the chapter right after have from time to time suddenly produced; and the Introduction, with a long- manifested themselves of such complex and winded title, as was the practice of with suddenness, and wonderful coadaptations, those times, ‘The Incompetency by modifications he will not be able to of “Natural Selection” to Account appearing at once….
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