1,129
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 84:
Line 84: + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
On Maxwell and Evolution
:;:: I don't think the question of whether this is quote mining is a necessary one to deal with here. Taken solely on its own terms, this quote is clearly not speaking about Darwin's theory of biological evolution.
:;:: I don't think the question of whether this is quote mining is a necessary one to deal with here. Taken solely on its own terms, this quote is clearly not speaking about Darwin's theory of biological evolution.
:::: A good Easter to you, as well. --[[User:Jtl|Jtl]] 22:31, 8 April 2007 (EDT)
:::: A good Easter to you, as well. --[[User:Jtl|Jtl]] 22:31, 8 April 2007 (EDT)
== On Maxwell and Evolution ==
From http://www.charlespetzold.com/etc/MaxwellMoleculesAndEvolution.html
: No theory of evolution can be formed to account for the similarity ''of molecules'', for evolution necessarily implies continuous change, and the molecule is incapable of growth or decay, of generation or destruction.
: None of the processes of Nature, since the time when Nature began, have produced the slightest difference in the properties of any molecule. We are therefore unable to ascribe either the existence of the molecules or the identity of their properties to any of the causes which we call natural.
The only writing that I can find by James Maxwell on evolution is this poem[http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/molecular-evolution/]
:At quite uncertain times and places,
:The atoms left their heavenly path,
:And by fortuitous embraces,
:Engendered all that being hath.
:And though they seem to cling together,
:And form "associations" here,
:Yet, soon or late, they burst their tether,
:And through the depths of space career.
:So we who sat, oppressed with science,
:As British asses, wise and grave,
:Are now transformed to wild Red Lions,
:As round our prey we ramp and rave.
:Thus, by a swift metamorphosis,
:Wisdom turns wit, and science joke,
:Nonsense is incense to our noses,
:For when Red Lions speak, they smoke.
:Hail, Nonsense! dry nurse of Red Lions,
:From thee the wise their wisdom learn,
:From thee they cull those truths of science,
:Which into thee again they turn.
:What combinations of ideas,
:Nonsense alone can wisely form!
:What sage has half the power that she has,
:To take the towers of Truth by storm?
:Yield, then, ye rules of rigid reason!
:Dissolve, thou too, too solid sense!
:Melt into nonsense for a season,
:Then in some nobler form condense.
:Soon, all too soon, the chilly morning,
:This flow of soul will crystallize,
:Then those who Nonsense now are scorning,
:May learn, too late, where wisdom lies.
As such, I am changing the sentence on the article page from
: Maxwell rejected the theory of evolution of fellow Englishman Charles Darwin.
to read
: Maxwell did not believe that the theory of evolution had any application to molecules and atoms.
If anyone wishes to change it to something else, I strongly suggest that they have a citation of something written by Maxwell that applies to the particular type of evolution in question (if it is about biology, then about biology - Darwin didn't make any claim that molecules had any application to his work in the Origin of Species).
--[[User:Mtur|Mtur]] 13:10, 9 April 2007 (EDT)