I mean, let's put aside whether or not you believe in evolution; if you take biology 101 or just read a layman's explanation, it should become clear that in no way is it ever insinuated that humans evolved from the other primates in existence today. Why is this such a common fallacy?
2007-07-26 14:55:26 · 15 answers · asked by zero 6 in Social Science ➔ Anthropology
I am getting answers from a lot of people who don't like the theory of evolution, but they are repeating the same fallacy. This is disturbing. This misunderstanding of theory seems to be rampant. Apes today are evolving equally with humans, just in a different manner dictated by their environment, genetics and so on. Please explain where you get the idea that they should be evolving in the same manner as humans? This is what I don't understand. People argue about a theory that they obviously have never studied and put forth an identical fallacy. Where are you getting this from? Is there a fear of studying evolution? You wouldn't have to believe it to pick up a text book and study.
2007-07-26 15:37:52 · update #1
"If a certain species evolved into man, why didn't the rest of the species evolve with better brains and so on? " Those of you who have these questions, have you ever tried to seek an answer on your own? Have you ever tried to see what the theory of evolution has to say about such a question from a reputable scientific source (professor, text book,ect.) Or do you just ask these questions without really caring about the scientific answers? If you don't care, you don't care, but why argue in the first place? You would be more effective if you said "look I understand the theory of evolution, but I choose to have faith that......." Then your position is defensible. But from an educated perspective (and I'm talking basic college 101 ed), these questions are so childlike. Why is the sky blue, indeed.
2007-07-27 08:11:17 · update #2
The American education system is broken - it's that simple. I've taught at both the college and high school level. My college kids generally can't write a coherent sentence, think logically, or understand basic science.
The high school kids were worse - most of them didn't even TRY.
Ironically enough, it seems that the only kids who are learning solid science/biology/evolutionary theory are the ones who come from Catholic schools.
2007-07-27 01:54:18 · answer #1 · answered by stormsinger1 5 · 7⤊ 4⤋
I know! I continually try and hypnotize the askers into an accepting submission to the reality of the situation with my long, detailed and example filled answers...
Yet we keep seeing this question a couple times a day of late. I don't mind the question as I don't mind enlightening people on the processes of evolution and how we evolved from common ancestors. What really gets me is that there are only three pages of anthropology questions and this question or ones very similar to it make up 7% of the questions.
The other anthropology question which shares this habit of repeat postings at times...
"What are humans evolving towards", an equally as flawed question!
Answers' answerers, could make their answers' career out of answering these two questions alone! I Do!
2007-07-26 23:12:33 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 10⤊ 1⤋
I blame it on the destruction of the school system by the hippie movement. & the fact todays "news" people went through that broken system without getting an actual education. these people actually believe an opinion is equal to evidence so if 60%believe something, that makes it true whether the facts support that opinion or not. no one is able to reason from first principles because they were'nt taught those principles & were never required to think so never learned how to reason.
2007-07-28 00:14:47 · answer #3 · answered by Who Dat ? 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Asker adds:
"Apes today are evolving equally with humans, just in a different manner dictated by their environment, genetics and so on. Please explain where you get the idea that they should be evolving in the same manner as humans?"
Why wouldn't they?
Your going to blame a thundershower, a desert, a snow storm? There's really not a lot of different things out there, after all.
Success thrives, right? Humans were successful, why don't all species become more intelligent?
If a certain species evolved into man, why didn't the rest of the species evolve with better brains and so on? To say that only one species evolved intelligence makes no sense. Whatever caused this certainly could have acted on the rest of the species for nearly the same effect.
The Asker adds:
"Have you ever tried to see what the theory of evolution has to say about such a question from a reputable scientific source (professor, text book,ect.)"
To which I answer, that is so lame! That is like giving up the argument. As I say below, these stories are not falsifiable. If you believe in evolution and natural selection then every species is the result of a successful adaptation and all results of successful adaptations represent today's species. It is circular logic.
It is easy to cast doubt on this chain of reasoning by looking how far some species go and how others don't evolve at all, despite the fact there is not much difference in the environment. Thus, the person vs. the ape problem. If man can evolve with intelligence, why didn't the ape do it, or the chicken, or elephant, or whatever.
2007-07-26 22:06:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 10⤋
I think much of it is willful ignorance.
Look at a couple of the ignorant answers below. More will come, as their deluded position compels them to the lie in service of said position.
Angelwith4faces. You are a complete ignoramus. Just finding a human skeleton in the Jurassic period rock would falsify evolutionary theory, or the converse, a Dino skeleton in the Pleistocene. Neither of these things have happened, though we have fossils galore. As I said; willful ignorance.
I expected more deluded answers than just two. If this question had come up in biology, the delusional would come in droves. Dare I hope that the darkening ignorance that blots so much of our country is coming to an end?
2007-07-26 22:01:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 2⤋
It is apparently one of the most basic concepts that needs to be taught first. It is a valid question. It is like the child who says why is the sky blue. All it indicates is ignorance.
2007-07-26 23:26:35 · answer #6 · answered by bravozulu 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It seems to be a big thing on the creationist side, that whole "I ain't no monkey" thing. I don't know why. Maybe they think comparing us to animals is degrading and ridiculous? Or maybe they think that it's patently absurd that great-grandpa Joe could be a baboon. Unfortunately, a lot of people just don't seem to have a firm grasp on basic scientific principles. We need, like, Mr. Wizard back or something. Maybe another space race. People just don't seem to care.
2007-07-26 22:30:26 · answer #7 · answered by random6x7 6 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Because these same people have the mentality of a salad bar.
2007-07-26 22:51:27 · answer #8 · answered by tercentenary98 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
They will learn once they complete their first science class. Prior to that all they have are their superstitions and myths.
2007-07-28 04:52:46 · answer #9 · answered by Bob H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No one ever said humans evolved directly from apes, we are just closely related to them. People are stupid.
2007-07-26 22:02:54 · answer #10 · answered by Heather 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋