14AR19-15

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Apologia Report 19:15 (1,198)

May 15, 2014

Subject: Genetics: "Not enough time for evolution to work"

In this issue:

ORIGINS - advances in genetics show evolutionary theory takes way longer than history allows

PSYCHOLOGY - an academic use of sin to explain our dark side

YOGA - "the theoretical and philosophical basis of modern-day yoga" is not what most assume it to be

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ORIGINS

"Darwin's Doubt and the Case for Intelligent Design" by Stephen C. Meyer, Director of Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture <www.discovery.org/csc > -- showcases a summary of advances in genetics which pose formidable new problems for the theory of evolution.

Meyer writes: "According to neo-Darwinian theory, new genetic information arises first as random mutations occur in the DNA of existing organisms. When mutations arise that confer a survival advantage on the organisms that possess them, the resulting genetic changes are passed on by natural selection to the next generation. As such changes accumulate, the features of a population change over time. Nevertheless, natural selection can only 'select' what *random* mutations first generate. Thus, for natural selection to preserve any significant functional or anatomical innovation, random mutations must first produce new genetic information for building novel proteins.

"Nevertheless, when it comes to producing new genetic information, the neo-Darwinian mechanism, with its reliance on random mutations, faces a kind of needle-in-the-haystack problem - or what mathematicians call a 'combinatorial problem.' 'Combinatorial' refers to the number of possible ways that a set of objects can be arranged. ...

"It turns out that it is extremely difficult to assemble a new information-bearing gene or protein by the natural selection/random mutation process because of the sheer number of possible sequences that must be searched in the available time. As the length of the required gene or protein grows, the number of possible base or amino-acid sequences of that length grows exponentially. ... [T]he ultimate probability of the success of a random search - and the plausibility of any hypothesis that affirms the success of such a search - depends upon both *the size of the space* that needs to be searched and *the number of opportunities* available to search it.

"In my new book Darwin's Doubt [1], I show that the number of possible DNA sequences (or amino-acid sequences) that need to be searched by the evolutionary process dwarfs the time available for such a search - even taking into account evolutionary deep time. ...

"The number of trials available to the evolutionary process turns out to be incredibly small *in relation to* the number of *possible* sequences that need to be searched."

Meyer concludes that "the neo-Darwinian mechanism - with its reliance on a random search - is not sufficient to generate the information necessary to produce even a single new protein, let alone a completely new Cambrian animal, in the time available. Or to put the point differently, the neo-Darwinian explanation for the origin of genetic information is *overwhelmingly* more likely to be *false* than true." Christian Research Journal, 37:1 - 2014, pp14-23.

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PSYCHOLOGY

"The Human Dark Side: Evolutionary Psychology and Original Sin" by Joseph Lee -- from the abstract: "Human nature has a dark side, something important to religions. ... This article seeks to examine the evolutionary psychology’s understanding of human nature and to propose an unexpected dialog with an enduring account of human evil known as original sin. Two cases are briefly considered: murder and rape. To further the exchange, numerous theoretical and methodological criticisms and replies of evolutionary psychology are explored jointly with original sin. Evolutionary psychology can partner with original sin since they share some theoretical likenesses and together they offer insights into the nature of what it means to be human."

Lee's introduction describes "the Dark Triad of personality, i.e., narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism, [which] may be associated with a group of evolved traits that enable tactical and opportunistic exploitation of the environment, increasing reproductive fitness in unsustainable situations."

For Lee, there are "clear differences between evolutionary psychology and original sin. Evolutionary psychology assumes a world which is secular and physicalist. Whereas original sin has a worldview which includes God, angels, and the devil, coexisting with the material universe."

The article's "first section uncovers the nature of human persons in evolutionary psychology. Then, we survey the essential tenets of original sin. In the third section, we analyze the two for similarities and differences. The fourth section probes the human dark side using two criminal phenomena. The fifth section considers some criticisms of evolutionary psychology, which by analogy could be criticisms of original sin. By association, original sin could be vulnerable to the critique, and yet it may offer new light. In the final section, we look at some of the answers evolutionary psychology gives to questions about other limitations. These could help defend original sin which shares similarities with evolutionary psychology. ...

"Evolutionary psychology questions the traditional standard social science model (SSSM) in the social and behavioral sciences, because it argues that SSSM is founded on faulty assumptions about human nature. ...

"To keep focused and for convenience, we draw from the magisterial teachings of the Catholic tradition. The contexts for original sin are suffering, evils in nature, limitations of creatures, moral evil, and redemption." Lee summarizes: "what Adam and Eve transmitted to their descendants was human nature wounded by their own first sin and therefore deprived of original holiness and justice; this deprivation is original sin. ...

"For evolutionary psychology, human nature was formed in the Pleistocene [epoch] and handed down thereafter. For original sin, weakened human nature resulted from the fall and transmitted through the human lineage. In both perspectives, infants who are born today are endowed with human natures that influence their development and future lives.

"Original sin is not a replacement explanation for evolutionary psychology. Indeed, evolutionary psychologists may prefer to explicate rather than dialog with religious phenomena. Nevertheless, if the theoretical possibility of original sin is granted, then it probably needs evolutionary means to propagate that nature, thus 'reproducing' evil."

After a lengthy evaluation of criticisms laid against evolutionary psychology, Lee concludes: "All things considered, original sin is jointly vulnerable to certain criticisms of evolutionary psychology's theory and methods, while learning from how evolutionary psychology defends itself. This suggests that the two perspectives can interact at their theoretical bases about universal human nature and its transmission, thus paving the way for further multidisciplinary explorations about the darker dimensions of that nature."

Lee asks: "Can the two perspectives be married?" He comes to his answer after a second paragraph: "It is reasonable to think that human history and personal experiences are more profoundly contextualized through an original yet flawed human nature and an evolutionary past; but one that is capable of altruism, supernatural beliefs, and cooperation. Evolutionary psychology can partner with original sin because together they speak meaningfully about the nature of what it is to be human, even if it means living with a dark side. The invitation and willing support from religion, and the resources of psychology and spiritual traditions, can all help persons accept such shadows and indeed enable them to flourish." Journal of Religion and Health, 53:2 - 2014, pp614-629.

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YOGA

The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali: A Biography, by David Gordon White [2] -- "The four books of Patanjali's Yoga Sutra contain 196 sutras (aphorisms) that many believe to be the theoretical and philosophical basis of modern-day yoga. However, White shows how the work in its original form is not the basis of today's teachings. White explores its development, from Patanjali's esoteric Sanskrit text through its innumerable interpretations and translations. He clearly demonstrates the evolution of the works through a long line of commentaries and manipulations. In fact, the original text only has four verbs and is virtually incomprehensible to those who do not know Sanskrit. White discusses renowned and lesser-known progenitors, gurus, and disciples who made the ancient work accessible. Key figures covered include British orientalist Henry Thomas, who 'discovered' the sutras in the early 1800s and made them palatable to Western civilization; Swami Vivekananda, whose English-language commentaries and book Raja Yoga (1896) ignited a U.S. passion for yoga; and Tirumalai Krishnamachrya, the 'father of modern yoga.'" Library Journal, 2014 Apr #1.

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SOURCES: Monographs

1 - Darwin's Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design, by Stephen C. Meyer (HarperOne, 2014, paperback, 560 pages) <www.ow.ly/wHJ6n>

2 - The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali: A Biography, by David Gordon White (Princeton Univ Prs, 2014, hardcover, 296 pages) <www.ow.ly/wHFHO>

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