bacon and darwin questions

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Sir Francis Bacon's Fascinating Life and Political Career, with Will Durant

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Charles Darwin Biography (New Documentary 2014)

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Francis Bacon

Charles Darwin

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▼ 2014 (2)
- ▼ April (2)
  - Sir Francis Bacon's Fascinating Life and Political...
  - Charles Darwin Biography (New Documentary 2014)

Bacon 1.)

Define the word idols in the sense that Bacon seems to use it. Is the word idol a good term to use for the idea that lies behind it?

Idols are obsessions or fixations of an individual. No, idols are symbols. Bacon regards idols more like fixations.

Bacon 2.)

Compare the importance of one idol with that of another. Is it possible to determine which is more likely to prevent the acquisition of true knowledge?

Idols of the tribe are deceptive beliefs in the human mind.

Idols of the theater are those which are due to sophistication.

Idols of the market place are errors arising from a false sense of significance put on words and/or events.

Idols of the cave are those which appear within the mind of an individual.

I think that the idols of the marketplace are the idols that would most likely prevent the acquisition of true knowledge.

Bacon 3.)

Which of the idols are the results of social intercourse, and which are the results of individual reflection? Would a person be more likely to be free of the tyranny of the idols if he/she were restricted in society? Is it possible that a hermit would be completely free of the idols? Or would he become more free the more he socialized?

The idols responsible for individual reflection are the idols of the cave, which occur within the mind of the individual. The idols that are responsible for social intercourse are the idols of the tribe, which are the deceptive beliefs in the minds of humans.

No, restrictions would only make the man have more idols. A hermit would be more likely to be free of the idols.

Darwin 4.)

Define the phrase the survival of the fittest (the title of this chapter in a later edition of On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection). Look for ways in which its implications can be fully understood. Look, also, for examples by which it can be illustrated.

Survival of the fittest means that the individuals who are the strongest and most fitted for their environment have the best chance of passing on their genes. If you have two individuals, the first being strong and fit, and second being starved and unfit. The first one would be more likely to survive and pass on its genes.

Darwin 5.)

Compare the breeding of animals with natural selection. Which is more directed? Which is more dominated by chance? Which is more efficient? Which is more important?

Breeding with natural selection is more directed because the genes that more prominent in a population are the ones that will make the species more likely to survive and thrive. Breeding with natural selection is the most important and the most efficient.

Darwin 6.)

How does cloning affect Darwin’s views? Is cloning likely to undo the beneficial work of natural selection?

An example of a clone is identical twins, this doesn't effect his views. Those genes were picked to be passed on so the two individuals inherited those traits. Clones made by scientists however, do effect his views. He believed in the selection of genes in nature, not in a laboratory.

No cloning will not undo the beneficial work of natural selection.

Darwin 7.)

How does human social policy affect the survival of the fittest? Are modern medicine and modern social welfare agencies causing humans to be less fit?

The human social policy makes it possible for the unfit people to survive along with the fit. No, they are causing people who would otherwise die to be able to live a strong fit life.

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