Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/12/06
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Another interesting evolutionary tangent is the role that parasites play in the evolution of a species. It is much more important than previously thought. My questions are.... Why have the little rascals driven us to develop photography? What is in it for them? What is a protozoan's favourite camera? More questions to ponder when contemplating the Great Void on the Negative. Cheers, John Collier A little too much like "Aliens" for me. Images of Leica wielding things bursting through my stomach....Yuck! > From: Martin Howard <howard.390@osu.edu> > > John Collier jotted down the following: > >> I think that evolution tended to favour the, now considered rash, quick >> thinker rather than the contemplator when faced with a sabre-tooth tiger. > > Good point, but also slightly off target. With the advent of language we > have the capacity of -- and daily exercise in -- abstract, rational thought. > Yet, what is surprising is that while we use it constantly, we stop way > short of the limits of this faculty. > > Other survival points to consider are gathering food, collective hunting, > finding secure shelter from the environment, raising young. These all > profit from contemplative, problem-solving thinking, rather than just quick > reacting to stimuli. > > On second thought, you're actually dead on, but in a (perhaps?) unintended > fashion: it's a question of satisficing, rather than optimizing. Which, of > course, is in perfect keeping with human nature and evolution. > > M. > > -- > Martin Howard | > Visiting Scholar, CSEL, OSU | If you have to drink and drive, make > email: howard.390@osu.edu | it a latte... > www: http://mvhoward.i.am/ +--------------------------------------- > >