Changes

;How did blind chemistry create mind/intelligence, meaning, altruism and morality?

;How did blind chemistry create mind/intelligence, meaning, altruism and morality?

:Evolution is not blind chemistry.  It is easy to see how altruism and morality can lead to differential reproductive success on which natural selection can operate.  For example, chickens have a pecking order that determines which members of a population get the first chance at food.  The members of the population could compete every time there is food, but this would waste energy (possibly more than is contained in the food).  Likewise, we humans should be glad that we do not have to fight to get to the cashier in a restaurant, for we have developed queueing.  It is also easy to see how altruism develops in a population, since altruism can increase the reproductive success of a population.  Any biology student could explain how mutations increasing intelligence are selected for in evolution: in many cases (but not all), greater intellectual capacity can increase reproductive fitness.

:Evolution is not blind chemistry.  It is easy to see how altruism and morality can lead to differential reproductive success on which natural selection can operate.  For example, chickens have a pecking order that determines which members of a population get the first chance at food.  The members of the population could compete every time there is food, but this would waste energy (possibly more than is contained in the food).  Likewise, we humans should be glad that we do not have to fight to get to the cashier in a restaurant, for we have developed queueing.  It is also easy to see how altruism develops in a population, since altruism can increase the reproductive success of a population.  Any biology student could explain how mutations increasing intelligence are selected for in evolution: in many cases (but not all), greater intellectual capacity can increase reproductive fitness.

:With regards to meaning, the author of the 15 questions suggests that evolutionists believe that "we invented God."  This is not true.  Some scientists who believe in evolution suggest that creation of myths of supernatural beings in the human mind may improve reproductive fitness by entrenching the moral/altruistic behaviors that we have already seen provide additional reproductive success.  As a Catholic, I happen to disagree with them, of course.  Meaning is essentially a philosophical question, and not within the ambit of science or the theory of evolution.

:With regards to meaning, the author of the 15 questions suggests that evolutionists believe that "we invented God."  This is not true.  Some scientists who believe in evolution suggest that creation of myths of supernatural beings in the human mind may improve reproductive fitness by entrenching the moral/altruistic behaviors that we have already seen provide additional reproductive success.  As a Catholic, I happen to disagree with them, of course.  Meaning is essentially a philosophical question, and not within the ambit of science or the theory of evolution.  Some scientists may have a view on these matters (Dr. Miller and Dr. Dawkins will naturally disagree), but not every statement made by a scientist is a scientific statement.

;Why is evolutionary ‘just-so’ story-telling tolerated?

;Why is evolutionary ‘just-so’ story-telling tolerated?

:TODO

:TODO