Darwin-L Message Log 5:41 (January 1994)

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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<5:41>From abrown@independent.co.uk  Sun Jan  9 07:12:26 1994

From: Andrew Brown <abrown@independent.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 94 21:48:51 GMT
To: darwin-l@ukanaix.cc.ukans.edu
Subject: Re: Langdon vs. Tuomistu, Brown and Occam's shaving foam

Finn Rasmussen cheerfully admits to not having read Morgan's books: I'd
rather he did so before having a go at her theory.

I quite take his point about parsimonious explanations. That is what
attracts me to her theory. At the core of it lies the observation that
there are a number of human characteristics, of which the most obvious
are aubcutaneous fat and the arrangement of our hair, which have many
parallels among aquatic and shore-dwelling animals and none on the
savannah. The most parsimonious explanation is surely that these are
adaptations to a semi-aquatic mode of life.

So far, I am still waiting for someone to put forward a more elegant
explanation based on evolution a long way from water.

Andrew Brown

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