3 Meanings of Evolution

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From: Scott Vigil
Sent: Saturday, December 14, 2013 7:53 AM
To: Casey Luskin
Subject: 3 Meanings

Hello Casey,

You said,

“Evolution” can have 3 different meanings:

But more basically, there is a fundamental flaw in the discussion at this point. You are defining what evolution needs and arguing on that basis with the assumption that your three points are necessary and sufficient. The problem here is that you are not an authority on evolution.

Casey Tuesday, January 14, 2014 4:13 PM: Yes, but I am formally trained at the university level in the subject, and mainstream sources I gave to you use these same kinds of definitions. We often see evolution defined as “change over time,” or “descent with modification” (entailing common descent) where the mechanism is natural selection. I’ve never had anyone controvert these definitions—including evolutionists. The burden is on you to cite some authoritative source showing I’m wrong. But you never seem to do that! You’re nitpicking Scott!

Therefore, your premise is already suspect. You are framing evolution here. When I look at evolution materials, I don’t see it couched this way. If you want to place such a frame, and speak in the vernacular of the theory, you need to provide a reference to a recognized evolutionary text.  This would like having an Aristotelian quote to me Leibniz’ calculus and then showing me why it’s wrong. ‘gotta have a reference to a recognized expert of Leibniz for such an argument to be accepted.

Casey Tuesday, January 14, 2014 4:13 PM: OK, here’s an expert who defines evolution like I do: Eugenie Scott, the leading evolution advocate in the USA. I quote her defining evolution in exactly the same three ways at the following link:

http://www.evolutionnews.org/2006/03/its_all_in_the_definition002035.html

Ironic that you should ask me for references when I’ve been providing you with dozens of references to the technical literature…and all you do is ask me to watch YouTube videos!

Best,

Scott

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