Date: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 07:50:15 -0500 (EST)
From: Kelly Timothy Lynch <ktlynch-AT-vex.net>
Subject: Re: Thank you Duryea


On Sat, 14 Feb 1998, John T. Duryea wrote:

> My pleasure. The earth also goes around the sun
> in case you haven't picked up on that one.
> 
> Once again, and sorry to burst your bubble, but
> I'm an engineer from one of the finest engineering
> schools in the country and have a high respect
> for science and technology, its how I make my
> living. My dispute with Darwin's theory of gradual
> evolution is that I consider it pseudo-science for
> starters and his "preservation of favored races
> in the struggle for existence" as a rationalization
> of inhumanity.
> 
> But you'll ignore that won't you? I mean if you're
> against Darwinism you must be a rabid creationist,
> just as if you're against marxism you must be a nazi.
> You rationalists must keep your world oh so simple, eh?

I already grasped that you are not a creationist
of some kind, quite awhile ago.  My rather caustic
remark was not aimed at that.  Rather, at your
assertion of a certain theory of the evolution
of our species as an _irrefutable fact_, end of
story.  At times, in your more general arguments,
you sound like you might like some of the
versions of evolutionary theory currently 
preferred by many in the field called punctuated
evolution--is that right?

> Now just one simple question and I would be happy if
> you provided a Spinozian perspective. Is there such a
> thing as eternal human progress or do civilizations
> exhaust their creativity and collapse?

You really need a Spengler list!
Sometimes you sound like a Spenglerian quiz master,
throwing out such questions when you know
the "right" answer.
(Needless to say, you are not asking a question
Spinoza asked.)
I hope you find the Spengler list you need.
(Just for the information:  Yes, I have read
some of the Master, I mean, Spengler.)


     Kelly Timothy Lynch     ||    "Dei potentia est
       ktlynch-AT-vex.net       ||  ipsa ipsius essentia."
   Toronto, Ontario, Canada  ||         Spinoza



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