[Taxacom] Teleology Revisited

[Robinwbruce at aol.com]

Well, for starters, what might be the right reasons?
 
Cheers
 
Robin
 
 
 
In a message dated 3/11/2013 2:04:15 P.M. GMT Standard Time,  
aphodiinaemate at gmail.com writes:

Oh dear.  Have we become so obfuscated with words that we fail to grasp
sarcasm? Or  maybe it is the inability to understand double meaning
that has started  this thread? If some people find fault in the use of
ambiguous words  (english, a pigdin language, is a rich source) then
maybe they would prefer  them gone from the discourse in
biology/science.  David Winter´s  choice of words may  have been
unfortunate (it has certainly been  painful), but it was a blog, and in
context his wording was not  teleological. Curtis Clark said it quite
clearly and  succintly:

"Purpose" is often used as an unfortunate substitute for  "function" by
biologists. Sloppy writing doesn't always mean sloppy  thinking.

Yet here we are, 4 days later, still arguing the  socioreligious
inuendo of words. A fascinating topic I´m sure, but started  for the
wrong reasons. Now fire  away.

Best

Jason

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