Claudius Denk
Guest
|
 Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:19 pm Post subject: Re: "Human ancestors born big brained" |
 |
|
On Nov 17, 3:49 am, mclark <mbclar...@comcast.net> wrote:
[quote]On Nov 17, 5:02 am, Paul Crowley <dsfdsfd...@sdfsfsfs.com> wrote:> Claudius Denk wrote:
[crap]
Take any species, see how it lives, and that
will tell you how its infants will develop
(including their brains). Bird chicks in high
nests risk falling out if they are too active
too early. Those which nest on the ground
usually need to be active early to minimise
predation. The first will be altricial, the
second precocial. Chimp infants need to be
fairly capable early on, since they can readily
fall from the high trees in which they sleep
and spend much other time. Human infants have
no such pressures, and are far better off NOT
moving. So they don>t.
Say, Pauly, 'ever notice how the tip of your index
finger fits nicely up your nose? Must be for pickin',
eh? Instead of calling that great swath of science
fed by years of observation and experiment (anthropology)
"bullshit", why don>t you try to reason your way past
its arguments.
[/quote]
It would be like trying to nail spit to a wall. PA>s arguments are
intentionally vague.
[quote]That>s called critical thinking. Make the
attempt sometime before you die --for your own sake.
[/quote]
Clark, feel free to follow your own advice. |
|
Claudius Denk
Guest
|
| Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 6:25 pm Post subject: Re: "Human ancestors born big brained" |
|
|
On Nov 17, 3:02 am, Paul Crowley <dsfdsfd...@sdfsfsfs.com> wrote:
[quote]Claudius Denk wrote:
we moderns have an extended infancy in
order to grow our brains bigger outside the womb.
This IS self-praising B/S
Strange comment. It seems like standard evolutionary
thinking. It seems pretty tame and even conservative to me.
It is indeed "standard evolutionary 'thinking' ".
It is also self-praising B/S.
Whenever you see a Standard-PA comment
on human brain-size, you will necessarily
find pure B/S.
[/quote]
I can>t even figure out what your point is.
[quote]Elephants have a big brain as well. But
their neonates can walk just as quickly
as any deer. Altriciality/precocity is
determined by the niche
Vague, meaningless.
Not at all. Elephants have big brains.
BUT their niche requires each family group
to be constantly on the move, and to fend
off predators. So, like antelope, their
neonates have to be able to walk well
almost as soon as they are born. Species,
without these kinds of pressures, (e.g.
carnivores, pigs, porcupine) can have
altricial infants, and often use burrows
for nests.
When you encounter a species with altricial
young, you will know that it does not move
around much.
[/quote]
I agree.
[quote]Guess how Standard PA regards
the animal it studies? All its 'thinking' is the
result of a deep ignorance of the concept of
niche.
[/quote]
Paul, you like to throw the N word around a lot. Especially lately.
[quote]
-- not by daft
notions about 'brain development'.
Are you suggesting that 'brain development' can>t be part of
the niche? If not then it seems you have a non-issue (as
usual).
'Brain development' is like all other kinds
of growth -- and its rate and nature will be
determined, above all, by the requirements
of the niche.
[/quote]
Isn>t this the case for *all* adaptations?
[quote]Take any species, see how it lives, and that
will tell you how its infants will develop
(including their brains). Bird chicks in high
nests risk falling out if they are too active
too early. Those which nest on the ground
usually need to be active early to minimise
predation. The first will be altricial, the
second precocial. Chimp infants need to be
fairly capable early on, since they can readily
fall from the high trees in which they sleep
and spend much other time. Human infants have
no such pressures, and are far better off NOT
moving. So they don>t.
[/quote]
There may be some truth to what your saying but you are blowing it all
out of proportion. |
|
