I've lost count of the number of times I've seen the question:
"If we evolved from monkeys then why are there still monkeys"
my question:
"Why on earth not? Why, IF we evolved from monkeys, should all species of monkeys now be extinct?"
(note the "IF" - and try not to leap back with "we didn't")
2006-11-16 07:00:13 · 7 answers · asked by anthonypaullloyd 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I despair sometimes.
I am NOT of the opinion that if we descended from monkeys there should be no monkeys. Humans descended from monkey and monkeys still being around is fine by me. But there are others who think that the existence of monkeys is a surefire hit against evolution and I'm trying to find out why they think that.
I know some of you don't believe in evolution. Now the "monkey" argument may not be in your armoury of anto-evolution arguments but another of your anti-evolution arguments doesn't support the "monkey" argument.
I'll state the question again (please notice the hypothetical):
IF humans were descended from monkeys why should all monkey species be extinct.
I don't think they need to be - convince me that I am wrong on this.
2006-11-16 07:32:04 · update #1
The better question is, "if evolution is true... what cause some of the monkeys to evolve and the others to stay the same?
2006-11-16 07:04:59 · answer #1 · answered by Pastor 1 · 1⤊ 3⤋
My argument is going to be nonscientific, but designed to demonstate the logic in microcosm. Please do not read anything into it in terms of evolutionary process.
Charles Monkey has two children, John and Lisa.
John Monkey gets married and has a son, Jay Monkey.
Lisa Monkey marries Guy Human, and has a son Bob Human.
At a family outing, someone comments if Bob Human is Charles Monkey's grandson, why are there still Monkeys?
Silly, but I have a point. Ignoring the details of the phylogenetic tree, and not picking nits. Starting with a monkey, why can there not be two evolutionary lines -- one that leads to humans and one that makes better monkeys? No reason.
I'm afraid I'm going to have to agree with you.
2006-11-16 19:02:18 · answer #2 · answered by novangelis 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ferns evolved from the non-vascular hepaticae, and they still exist...
So monkeys could still exist if we evolved from them, not all individuals in the species become extinct after a new variation arises...
2006-11-16 15:04:19 · answer #3 · answered by Shinkirou Hasukage 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is about the easist scientific question that all scientists agree on. I can't believe people still ask this. It makes me laugh :O
Study natural and environmental selection pastor, it will answer your questions. Although I doubt you will.
2006-11-16 15:05:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
because it wasn't the monkey we evolved from, it was a common ancestor
2006-11-16 15:04:15 · answer #5 · answered by systematic_touchdown 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Amazes me that people ask these questions and yet have absolutely no desire to hear the answers.
2006-11-16 15:10:00 · answer #6 · answered by fourmorebeers 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
thats my answer,i did not
2006-11-16 15:10:58 · answer #7 · answered by daleswife 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋