The evolution debate...

Science
Religion

In the 7037 issue of Nature (a very prestigious scholarly publication) the front cover is devoted to the growing "intelligent design" movement that has gradually become a significant force in the US. I am deeply concerned that this phenomenon may gradually erode the scientific status of the formal "evolutionary theory" and influence the education of school children and university students.

Let me begin by saying that all serious scientists openly support the theory of natural selection as the most plausible explanation for evolution. As an example, the Nature article clearly quotes Bruce Alberts (president of the National Academy of Sciences, and also famous for his biology textbook that is freely available online here) in saying that "(...the concept of intelligent design) doesn't deserve any attention, because it doesn't make any sense".

This is not my main point, however.

The most important thing to always remember is that religion (and any theory that involves supernatural involvement has a religious basis) and science do not address the same issues. Religion is not about how man came to be, but rather about why man came to be and what principles should guide his behaviour. The issues that religion addresses are ethical and spiritual, not scientific. In that sense, religion operates on a higher level than science and the two should not mix, because they cannot contradict each other if interpreted in their respective context.

Finally, according to the famous philosopher Karl Popper (see here and here), any "theory" that is not falsifiable (i.e. can never be proven to be false) does not constitue science. Since it is completely impossible to prove that supernatural intervention never took place, the "intelligent design" theory does not constitute science (curiously enough, the proposition that aliens from Alpha Centauri guided the evolution of life on earth is a scientifically acceptable proposition, even though it is almost certainly bogus!).

PKT

Happy easter, by the way...

Today is orthodox Easter, so "Χριστός Ανέστη" to all of you.

What about the bike????

The bicycle (Ideal) I recently bought is a mountain-road hybrid. It has a nice front suspension, a comfortable straight handlebar and somewhat thicker tires (700C35, which is thicker than 700C25 or smaller road tires but larger than mountain tires). It can take some physical abuse without problem and is (appears?) reliable and strong. It is heavier than my previous bike (road) but the difference is not staggering and the price is right.

I don't see much purpose in riding mountain bikes in the city and on roads (much heavier, considerable rolling resistance) but I could not live with a pure road bike. Having the extra versatility of a hybrid is frequently worth the performance hit.

PKT

On bicycles and the perception of time...

Sports
books

I recently (March 30, 2005) bought a new bicycle.

Relying on your own effort and strength to transport yourself makes the riding experience real. The wind, the small hills, the turns, the surroundings all suddenly become very significant. You can feel the wind in your face, your leg muscles burn and your hands strain from the effort.

There is something very primitive and powerful that stems from these sensations. While theoretically one can be attentive and alert while cruising in a luxurious car, in practice the sensory insulation that we frequently perceive as comfort drastically lessens the emotional impact of our daily rituals, including transportation.

"A la recherche du temps perdu" is a famous (but very rarely read) novel by Marcel Proust that speaks, indirectly, about a search for "lost time". Time that went by while we were not paying attention to the details of our lives, if I may grossly oversimplify a multi-thousand-page novel. In a similar spirit, Thomas Mann, in his novel "The magic mountain", claims that while routine and boredom can make an hour seem like an eternity, they can easily consume several years without leaving an aftertaste, a recollection of significant events. In the end, memory is the only meaningful measure of time.

A bicycle is not merely kid's play or a fascinating sport. It symbolizes our desire to participate, to cherish moments of life. Speed and comfort is the rythm of oblivion because it precludes attention and memory, if I may paraphrase Milan Kundera ("La lenteur", "slowness").

PKT