From Greg Williams (930117)
Avery Andrews 930117.1230
The theme should be not `imbeciles rampant' but `interesting work
impeded by poor notations and subtle misunderstandings'.
And, I'd add, `divergent interpretations of similar models'. Except that
anything other than `imbeciles rampant' might make PCT seem less revolutionary
and utterly different from everybody else's ideas. Deja vu: the Beer debate.
It's hard to be conciliatory when one of your basic claims is that biology has
to start completely over.
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Gary Cziko 930117.0125 GMT
OK, I think I'm starting to catch on. But I don't think the distinction
between natural and artificial selection is quite so clear as you make it
out to be.
The distinction was originally applied with respect to real life, not
simulated life. It is entirely possible that the distinction might be an
inappropriate one for simulated life.
Why is it that if a human is involved in the selection process
its automatically artificial? Aren't humans natural, too?
Humans ARE natural, but "artificial" connotes activities by that part of
nature called "human." Artifacts are parts of the set of all natural items,
but still a distinguishable subset: the parts made by (natural) humans. Still,
it isn't always a wonderful distinction in real biology: since humans "make"
their offspring, it might be argued that humans are artifacts, and some
wouldn't like that, I suppose. At any rate, traditionally, artificial
selection has involved an artifactual determination of fitness criteria, as
well as human "selectors" wielding the sledgehammers. And natural selection
has NOT involved a deliberate human choice of fitness parameters. In simulated
life, the "life's" environment is artifactual, so one might say that the
fitness parameters ARE chosen by humans. Nevertheless, selection on the basis
of survival "alone" still might be worth distinguishing from selection on the
basis of parameters which would not normally affect survival much (analogous
to colors of flowers).
We're getting the TIERRA stuff ready to send to you. Sorry it took so long.
Also the book club info; I've already filled out my part of the form (two free
books; you get three free books).
How about if I get half of your free books, too, for signing me up?
The club will be sending them to me directly. If you want the halves, you''
have to come down here and rip the books apart, yourself. Were you thinking of
taking the front or the back halves?
As ever,
Greg