Monday, June 15, 2009

Wherein I disagree with Jason Rosenhouse

Jason Rosenhouse has posted a response to Ken Miller's take on this ongoing debate between Chris Mooney and Jerry Coyne. I tend to think that Jason's post is right on the mark, but I did take some exception to something he said in comments...
And as clever as dolphins are, I very much doubt they are dwelling much on the meaning of it all.
Now it's quite possible that I'm reading him wrong - that he is just explaining that of course dolphins aren't dwelling on the meaning of it all, because they already figured it some time ago. But as much as I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, the context of his statement implies something else entirely. One would almost assume that Jason doesn't realize just how much cleverer dolphins are, than humans are ever likely to be. It would seem that the problem of mathematicians spouting off about non-math related issues isn't limited to creationists and their nonsense. Because pretty much everyone knows that the reason dolphins quit on the whole "meaning of everything" focus, is because not only did they figure it out (more precisely figured out that the whole line of thinking is a waste in the face of experiencing everything), they also realized that it is much more critical to focus on how to get off this rock before humans (or a Vogon constructor fleet) manage to destroy it...

I realize this may seem like a rather small point, but come on Jason - you really should get your facts straight. I suppose next you'll be claiming that mice aren't also rather cleverer than humans...

3 comments:

CyberLizard said...

So long and thanks for all the fish!

Anonymous said...

Did anyone watch the PBS special "Killers in Eden"? The killer whales would come in close to the shore and guide fishermen to baleen whales that they were slowly exhausting. The killer whales had a symbiotic relationship with certain whalers, all they wanted in return was to eat the whales tongues. The Killer Whale brain size is close to the maximum size for all Earth Mammals. If you get a chance watch Killers in eden.

Bill

Jason Rosenhouse said...

I stand corrected. I am deeply shamed.