Q&A: Evolution
Evolution
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I’m currently reading a book by Yakir Shoshani called “On God.” He raises a claim regarding evolution: that “characterizing an entity by means of properties implicitly presupposes logic, and the optimal adaptation of one entity to another presupposes mathematics.”
A) I’d be happy if you could help me understand what is written.
B) Do you think there is any real argument here?
I’m also attaching the full paragraph…
Thank you very much.
Have a good week.
Answer
I don’t understand it either. After all, there really are no such “laws of adaptation.” Indeed, the basic principle is tautological: the fittest is the one that survives. True, survival is a function of the laws of nature, since they are what determine what will happen in any given situation. Without them, the question of who is “fit” has no meaning whatsoever (fit for what?). So in truth I find no meaning at all in these sentences.
Discussion on Answer
His claim is not correct, and there is nothing valid in it. He says that adaptation is to the laws of nature, but of course adaptation is to the laws of nature. What else would it be—to a vacuum? In short, I have no interest in explaining mistaken things.
Sorry, but I didn’t really understand. Is his claim correct? If so, what is correct about it?