LamarckismWhorl

As list administrator, I decree that discussion of Wolfe's views on lamarckism is acceptable as long as you pay a Lamarck Tax of 200% in Long Sun content. In an attempt to forestall extended discussion: Lamarckism, according to American Heritage Dictionary: The theory that adaptive responses to environment cause structural changes capable of being inherited. After Chevalier de [[Lamarck]] (1744-1829), its formulator. There's an interesting page about Lamarck at http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/lamarck.html The discussion on this page gives Lamarck's ideas the benefit of the doubt, and, I think, shares Wolfe's view that Lamarckism, while wrong on the details, is a useful metaphor to describe the some of results of Darwinian natural selection. But Wolfe would rather make bold pronouncements ("We done Lamarck wrong," or "The gods of the Greeks really existed") without explanation. Questions or problems to whorl-owner at lists.best.com