Darwin-L Message Log 1:79 (September 1993)

Academic Discussion on the History and Theory of the Historical Sciences

This is one message from the Archives of Darwin-L (1993–1997), a professional discussion group on the history and theory of the historical sciences.

Note: Additional publications on evolution and the historical sciences by the Darwin-L list owner are available on SSRN.

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<1:79>From msimon7@ua1ix.ua.edu  Thu Sep  9 06:41:52 1993

Date: Thu, 9 Sep 1993 06:44:31 -0600 (CDT)
From: Morris Simon <msimon7@ua1ix.ua.edu>
Subject: Re: Ordered Change
To: darwin-l@ukanaix.cc.ukans.edu

On Wed, 8 Sep 1993, DCHARLES@EAGLE.WESLEYAN.EDU wrote:

> May I rephrase David Polly's question?  Why do the people that have commented
> on ordered change tend to assume the pattern must arise in some future
> predestination rather than via the constraints of structure and history?

The "constraints of structure and history" are not co-terminous. Structure
is imposed upon classificatory systems from a variety of sources,
including culture-bound notions of ultimate causes and predesinations.
Implications of "progress" in evolutionary studies are notoriously biassed
toward Western philosophical and religious mindsets. The history of
taxonomy is a subject in itself and must include these culture-bound
models of "progressive change" as examples more of epistemological shifts
than enhancements in evolutionary sciences.

Morris Simon <msimon7@ua1ix.ua.edu>
Stillman College

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