[Some other forum] and SJ Gould

[Roy]

Yay! It's so good to be back among knowledgeable, humorous and intelligent people again. Now I don't have to feed my addiction by strafing the parrotting imbeciles inhabiting the cesspit of [censored].

Unfortunately I have a couple of small pieces of unfinished business there which I hope one of my old inadversaries here might be able to assist with. Would any of you happen to have a copy of SJ Gould's "Panda's Thumb" handy? Mine has gone missing

Roy

[Sparko]

You spent time on another forum???

You sir, are a forum tart!

[Roy]

Had to get my fix somehow...

[rogue06]

Yay! It's so good to be back among knowledgeable, humorous and intelligent people again. Now I don't have to feed my addiction by strafing the parrotting imbeciles inhabiting the cesspit of [censored].

Unfortunately I have a couple of small pieces of unfinished business there which I hope one of my old inadversaries here might be able to assist with. Would any of you happen to have a copy of SJ Gould's "Panda's Thumb" handy? Mine has gone missing

Roy

A preview is available online

[Roy]

Thanks rogue, but it doesn't contain the article I'm after

Roy

[HMS_Beagle]

Would any of you happen to have a copy of SJ Gould's "Panda's Thumb" handy? Mine has gone missing

Roy

I have my copy right here. What info from it do you seek?

[Roy]

I have my copy right here. What info from it do you seek?

You are a :star:. I'm after the exact text of the section in 'The return of hopeful monsters' that starts:

All paleontologists know that the fossil record contains ...

Many thanks,

Roy

[phank]

Just checked my library. I have eleven of Gould's books, but not that one.

[HMS_Beagle]

You are a :star:. I'm after the exact text of the section in 'The return of hopeful monsters' that starts:


Many thanks,

Roy

"All paleontologists know that the fossil record contains precious little in the way of intermediate forms; transitions between major groups are characteristically abrupt. Gradualists usually extract themselves from this dilemma by invoking the extreme imperfection of the fossil record. Although I reject this argument (for reasons discussed in essay 17), let us grant the traditional escape and ask a different question. Even though we have no direct evidence for smooth transitions, can we invent a reasonable sequence of intermediate forms -- that is, viable, functioning organisms -- between ancestors and descendants in major structural transitions? Of what possible use are the imperfect incipient stages of useful structures? What good is half a jaw or half a wing? The concept of preadaptation provides the conventional answer by permitting us to argue that incipient stages performed different functions. The half jaw worked perfectly well as a series of gill-supporting bones; the half wing may have trapped prey or controlled body temperature. I regard preadaptation as an important, even an indispensable, concept. But a plausible story is not necessarily true. I do not doubt that preadaptation can save gradualism in some cases, but does it permit us to invent a tale of continuity in most or all cases? I submit, although it may only reflect my lack of imagination, that the answer is no, and I invoke two recently supported cases of discontinuous change in my defense."

HTH.

[Roy]

Many thanks - you are a gentleman and a scholar.

Roy