parsimony/biology

[Richard Jensen]

"Zdenìk Skála" wrote:

> Moreover, the phylogenetic events are largely believed to be unique (in
> contrast to car accidents); hence the impossibility to gather independent
> information.

Gee, I thought *all* events were unique.  Once it occurs, it's in the past and
can never occur again.
The automobile accident may not be the best analogy, but I certainly understand
what was meant by using it.   And, I don't believe it is "impossible to gather
independent information."  All events occur in a spatio-temporal context and
there are infinite other events happening simultaneously.  We find evidence of
many of these events and look for a "pattern" that suggests some common
causality.  And, the word pattern should not be a problem.  All of science can
be viewed as pattern recognition.

Cheers,

Dick

--
Richard J. Jensen              TEL: 219-284-4674
Department of Biology      FAX: 219-284-4716
Saint Mary's College         E-mail: rjensen at saintmarys.edu
Notre Dame, IN  46556     http://www.saintmarys.edu/~rjensen