What a wonderful way to finish 2018! A great crew and thoughtful discussion, coupled with tasty grog & eats….yes please!!
Here is a look at what we explored, some pics of the fun, and a favorite quote from the eve that we still find ourselves giggling over (and relating with on a daily basis!).
The Question We Selected as a Group
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Have humans transcended evolution? Is this even possible?
Our Favorite “Knowledge-y/Nature-y” Quote from the Eve
I mean… think about the snow geese. Every year they respond to and interpret data around them and know precisely how, when, and where to migrate. How do they “know” this?!! For *&@’s sake… I can’t even find my car keys!! (Thomas Baumeister)
Some Things Explored & Unpacked in the Process
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What exactly are we meaning by ‘evolution’? Genomic expression? Cultural expression?
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Is all change evolution/does evolution always involve change? Are there examples where stagnancy can be considered evolution?
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How does the concept of ‘response’ fit into all of this? And what about conscious choice?
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Must everything that is part of evolution be ‘natural’?
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What do mean by ‘natural’ and ‘unnatural’? For example, what if we came up with biodegradable plastic….is this natural?
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Is the natural-unnatural distinction necessary? What about in cases where value judgments are involved?
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And oh yes….what about the American Beaver dam and the ‘Sea Turtle armed with H-Bomb capabilities’ world? (Thank you Thomas Baumeister and Jemma Hazen for these gems!)
Thank you to the Philosophy Learning & Teaching Organization (PLATO) for supporting philosophy in the community and helping us bring activities like these to the Helena community!
