Benedict Ashley - Causality and Evolution.rtf

8/10/2019 Benedict Ashley - Causality and Evolution.rtf

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CAUSALITY AND EVOLUTION

Benedict M. Ashley, O. P.

The Institute of Religion

Texas Medical Center

Houston, Texas

The Search for a Proportionate Cause of Evolutionary

Processes

I WILL ASSUME in the fll!in" th#t the $%inci$le fc#&s#lity !hich st#tes th#t ' nthin" !hich c(es t)e, c(es t )e !ith&t # $%$%tin#te c#&se ' c#nnt)e eli(in#ted f%( e($i%ic#l science, #lth&"h thee*%t h#s %e$e#tedly )een (#de.+

Cnse&ently, !e h#-e t f#ce s%ely # f&nd#(ent#l&estin #)&t #ll the%ies f e-l&tin /! c#n (%ec($le0

+E-en $siti-istic $hils$he%s f science h#-e nt )een #)le teli(in#te the $%inci$le f c#&s#lity #s # necess#%y #ss&($tin fscience, #lth&"h they h#-e st%i-en t "i-e it # /&(e#n f%( )y#%"&in" th#t it is nt #n ind&cti-e "ene%#li1#tin, )&t # %&le fthin2in" !hich is necess#%ily %e&i%ed )y #ny the%etic#l science #s

ln" #s science %et#ins the "#ls !hich it h#s historically #cce$ted.See the disc&ssin in E%nest N#"el, The Structure of Science3/#%c&%t, B%#ce #nd W%ld, Inc. N. Y. +45+6, $$. 7+5879:. ' B&t it isdi;c&lt t &nde%st#nd h! it !&ld )e $ssi)le f% (de%nthe%etic#l science t s&%%ende% the "ene%#l ide#l e0$%essed )y the$%inci$le 3f c#&s#lity6 !ith&t )ec(in" the%e)y t%#nsf%(ed ints(ethin" inc($#%#)ly di*e%ent f%( !h#t th#t ente%$%ise #ctllyis.' $. 79:. See #ls M#%i B&n"e, Causality, The Place of the CausalPrinciple in Modern Science 3/#%-#%d Uni-e%sity P%ess C#()%id"e,M#ss., +4


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$#"e 9==

#nd hi"hly inte"%#ted entities #%ise &t f si($le% #ndless %"#ni1ed entities> /! c#n the '"%e#te% c(e

f%( the less '> /! c#n # new entity ' e(e%"e '> Wh#tis theproportionate c#&se f this e(e%"ence>

S(e h#-e t%ied t esc#$e the di;c&lty )y #%"&in" th#t' e-l&tin ' 3#s the ety(l"y f the !%d indic#tes6 isnly #n ' &nfldin",' #n e0$licit#tin f !h#t iss(eh! #l%e#dy the%e, li2e the de-el$(ent f #ne()%y. Othe%s h#-e #%"&ed th#t it is nly s&)?ecti-e t

cnside% #n ele$h#nt '"%e#te%' th#n #n #(e)#. B&tneithe% #%"&(ent is (%e th#n #n e-#sin f # "en&ine$%)le(. We n! h#-e # %#the% det#iled 2n!led"e f-#%i&s e-l&tin#%y $%cesses, #nd nne f these%ese()le e()%yl"ic#l de-el$(ent e0ce$t )y thelsest f #n#l"ies. A"#in the%e is # $%ecise, )?ecti-e,#nd e($i%ic#l sense in !hich #n #t( is # (%ec($le0 #nd inte"%#ted syste( th#n #n elect%n, #

(lec&le th#n #n #t(, #n %"#nis( th#n # (lec&le, #(#((#l th#n # $%t1#n, the h&(#n )%#in th#n # )i%d)%#in.9

If, the%ef%e, !e #%e t h#-e # che%ent, $hils$hic#l&nde%st#ndin" f the e-l&tin#%y -ie! f the !%ld#nd (#n !hich (de%n science h#s sh!n t )e thenly $l#&si)le #cc&nt, !e (&st identify in th#t !%ld8

$ict&%e #proportionate c#&se, # s&;cient #"ent fe-l&tin#%y e(e%"ence.

@&% $%inci$le le-els f this e(e%"ence #%e c((nlydistin"&ished td#y 7

3+6 uclear e-l&tin !hich $%ceeds )y n&cle#%synthesis #nd "i-es %ise t #t(s.

396 Che!ical e-l&tin !hich $%ceeds )y che(ic#l


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%e#ctins #nd "i-es %ise t (lec&les f "%e#te% #nd"%e#te% c($le0ity.

9L&d!i" -n Be%t#l#n*y, "eneral Syste! Theory 3e%"e B%#1ille%

Ne! Y%2, +456, $$. 9894, %efe%%in" es$eci#lly t the !%2 fenneth B&ldin".

7Mel-in C#l-in, ' Che(ic#l E-l&tin #nd the O%i"in f Life,'#!erican Scientist, :: 3&ly, +4


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c&nt ist$es6. /&nd%eds f th&s#nds f 2inds fche(ic#l (lec&les cc&% in n#t&%e, )&t the s$ecies fli-in" %"#nis(s #%e c&nted in the (illins. @in#lly,#lth&"h the%e is nly ne h&(#n s$ecies )il"ic#llycnside%ed, $sychsci#lly cnside%ed the%e #%e )illinsf &ni&e h&(#n $e%sn#lities $l#yin" thei% %les in #-#st -#%iety f h&(#n c&lt&%es. The (%e #d-#nced thec&lt&%e, it !&ld see(, the (%e the indi-idl$e%sn#lity )ec(es cnsci&s f its !n &ni&eness inhist%y, #nd the (%e this &ni&eness is -#l&ed #ndc&lti-#ted.

Evolution and #nti(Evolution

It !&ld )e # "%ss e%%% t thin2 th#t #ll n#t&%#l,cs(ic $%cesses #%e e-l&tin#%y, th#t is, $%cesses fe(e%"ence. On the cnt%#%y the (%e &ni-e%s#l cs(ic$%cesses #%e #nti8e-l&tin#%y, !hile e-l&tin#%y$%cesses #$$e#% t )e nly lc#l #nd te($%#%y. Anti8e-l&tin#%y $%cesses, tendencies )y !hich e-e%y

syste( in the &ni-e%se is dis%"#ni1ed, dis%&$ted, #nddissl-ed int # &ni-e%s#l %#nd( &0 f $#%ticles in #ne&ili)%i&( f &ndi*e%enti#ted #nd (ini(#lcc&%%ences, #%e e-e%y!he%e (ntn&sly e-ident. In(st f the -#st %e"ins f s$#ce, #nd (st f thei((ense e$chs f ti(e, nthin"

$#"e 9=9ne!, % #t le#st nt (&ch e-e% h#$$ens.:C($le0syste(s !hethe% they )e scieties, %"#nis(s,(lec&les, % #t(s, see( d(ed t $e%d&%e nly in #fe! $l#ces #nd f% # sh%t !hile.

The l#! f inc%e#sin" ent%$y 3% secnd l#! fthe%(dyn#(ics6 st#tes th#t in # clsed syste( #ll


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$%cesses &lti(#tely tend t # st#te f (#0i(&(ent%$y % dis%de%, )ec#&se e-e%y $%cess in !hich%de% is inc%e#sed in # s&)8syste( in-l-es #n inc%e#sef dis%de% in the tt#l clsed syste(.


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Cy-ernetics 3D-e%, +4556. Ch#$te% VII ' Inf%(#tin #nd Ent%$y,'$$. 787 #nd W. ss Ash)y, Introduction to Cy-ernetics 3hnWiley #nd Sns N. Y., +4576, $$. +:8+4+. @% s(e )?ectins t the&se f the cnce$t )y #n #nti8%ed&ctinist see C. /. W#ddin"tn,Towards a Theoretical 'iology, Vl. + 3Aldine P&)lishin" C. N.Y.,+456, P%le"(en#.

When, in th%!in" dice, !e s#y th#t the ' ch#nce,' i. e., the$%)#)ility f # "i-en c()in#tin is s&ch8#nd8s&ch, !e %e#lly (e#nth#t the se.uence f c()in#tins is ch#nce 3!ith&t #ny $#tte%n %%de%6 )&t th#t the fre.uency in !hich # "i-en c()in#tin cc&%s inthe se&ence is deter!inate 3h#s # deHnite $%)#)ility6. This$%)#)ility h#s # c#&se, n#(ely, the sh#$e f the dice, the#%%#n"e(ent f the (#%2in"s, #nd the f%ce f the th%!F the e0#ct

se&ence is ch#nce, h#s n c#&se, #nd is %#nd(. @% # hel$f&ldisc&ssin see D#-id /#!2ins, The &anguage of ature 3D&)led#yAnch% B2 #%den City, Ne! Y%2, +456, c. 5 ' Ch#nce #ndP%)#)ility,' $. +5


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%e$%d&ce it )y %e$e#tin" the e-l&tin#%y $%cesses%e&i%ed, $e%h#$s in (%e e;cient, #))%e-i#ted f%(th#n the n#t&%#l nes.

A te($%#%y e-l&tin#%y t%end !ithin # s&)8syste( fthe &ni-e%se, the%ef%e, (e#ns #n in$&t f inf%(#tin8)e#%in" ene%"y int th#t s&)8syste(.

uclear and Che!ical Evolution

Whethe% the H%st st#"es f n&cle#% e-l&tin t2 $l#cein # ' )i"8)#n" ' % $%i(%di#l e0$lsin % nt,4it

see(s ce%t#in th#t s&ch e-l&tin cntin&es !ithin theinte%i% f st#%s, f%"in" he#-ie% #t(s &t f hyd%"en#nd heli&( #t(s )y n&cle#% Hssin #nd f&sin.+=These$%cesses #%e $ssi)le nly

4e%"e #(!, The Creation of the 0niverse 3Vi2in" P%ess Ne!Y%2, +45+6. This ' )i"8)#n" ' hy$thesis f cs(ic %i"ins stillsee(s t h#-e the ed"e -e% the /yle8Bndi ' ste#dy8st#te 'hy$thesis. See Willi#( /. McC%e#, ' Cs(l"y Td#y,'#!erican

Scientist,


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&n%"#ni1ed, !ith $#%ticles (-in" in the !ildeste0$lsi-e dis%de%. S&ch cnditins #%e %#%e #nd in &%sl#% syste( e0ist nly in the s&n, % in # n&cle#%%e#ct%.

Che(ic#l e-l&tin, )y !hich (lec&les #%e )&ilt f%(#t(s #nd (%e c($le0 (lec&les f%( si($le%(lec&les, is (&ch (%e !ides$%e#d in the &ni-e%se,)&t it des nt $%"%ess t the hi"he% le-els f%"#ni1#tin e0ce$t in -e%y select sittins, !he%ete($e%#t&%es #%e (de%#te #nd the%e is # delic#te)#l#nce )et!een # (&ltit&de f f#ct%s.++The (%e

c($le0 the (lec&le the (%e c($le0 #nd )#l#ncedthe sittin %e&i%ed, s th#t e0tensi-e che(ic#le-l&tin see(s (%e f#-%ed n the s&%f#ce f &%e#%th th#n #t #ny the% site yet 2n!n in the sl#%syste(.

@% )%e-ityJs s#2e I !ill (it #n #n#lysis f n&cle#%e-l&tin #nd cnside% nly che(ic#l e-l&tin in %de%

t c($#%e it !ith )il"ic#l e-l&tin. If !e e0#(inethe sittin in !hich # (lec&le e(e%"es )y theche(ic#l c()in#tin f #t(s, !e c#n distin"&ishth%ee $h#ses +9

@i%st, nt nly (&st the%e )e the %e&i%ed (#te%i#ls 3the#t(s6 )&t # c($le0 set f cnditins (&st e0ist if #$#%tic&l#% che(ic#l c()in#tin is t t#2e $l#ce.

C((nly the #t(s (&st )e in # li&id % "#s sl&tinf #n #$$%$%i#te te($e%#t&%e #nd $%ess&%e s th#tthey !ill c(e in clse cnt#ct !ith e#ch the%. They(&st #ls )e $%$e%ly %ient#ted, since e#ch #t( h#sits !n s$eci#l cnH"&%#tin #nd (&st )e ' Htted ' tthe #t( !ith !hich it is t c()ine.

Secnd, the%e (&st )e s&$$lied #n energy of

activation+ Bef%e the ((ent f c()in#tin the


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#t(s #%e st#)le, inde$endent &nits !hich %esistdis%&$tin f thei% !n inte%n#l %de%. This st#)ility fthe isl#ted #t( is # )#%%ie% t %e#ctin. When theene%"y f #cti-#tin is s&$$lied in the f%( f

++ /!e-e%, see nte : #)-e f% e-idence th#t these cnditins (#y)e (et in &ns&s$ected sittins.

+9 See A%th&% . C#($)ell, 1hy 2o Che!ical Reactions %ccur33P%entice8/#ll En"le!d Cli*s, N. .6, +45


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#t(s d nt ' s$nt#ne&sly ' c()ine $&%ely th%&"hf%ces inhe%ent in the #t(s. The s$nt#ne&s#tt%#ctins #nd %e$&lsins d&e t the elect%(#"neticf%ces in the #t(s c(e int $l#y in the thi%d $h#se,after the ((ent !hen the ne! %"#ni1#tin isiniti#ted )y the ene%"y f #cti-#tin. We c#n cncl&deth#t it is this ene%"y, nt the f&nd#(ent#lelect%(#"netic f%ces inhe%ent in the c()inin"#t(s, !hich is theproper cause f the ne! &nit, #nd!hich is, s t s$e#2, ' )&ilt int it.'

This cncl&sin, h!e-e%, %#ises # "%#-e di;c&lty. The

ne! (lec&le is # c($le0 &nity, (%e c($le0 #nd(%e inte"%#ted th#n eithe% f the #t(s f%( !hich it!#s f%(ed.+7/! c#n the ene%"y f #cti-#tin !hich iss&$$lied in the f%( f he#t,

+7Th&s the n#t&%e #nd $%$e%ties f # (lec&le de$end nt nly nits c($nent $#%ts 4co!position*, #nd n the s$#ti#l #%%#n"e(entf these $#%ts 4structure*, )&t #ls n the che(ic#l )nds !hich&nite the $#%ts 4constitution*+These )dies #%e ' Helds,' # cnce$tth#t c#nnt )e %ed&ced (e%ely t the #%%#n"e(ent f $#%ticles ins$#ce )&t !hich is essenti#lly dyn#(ic. See /. e(y, . S. Ande%sn,

. lein)e%", Treatise on %rganic Che!istry 3Else-ie% P&). C.A(ste%d#(, +4 /! c#n# "ene%#li1ed f%ce $%d&ce s s$eciHc #n e*ect, #s if #st%n" !ind c&ld $%d&ce # h&se &t f sc#tte%ed$l#n2s>

One #ns!e% !&ld )e t $sit # virtuality inf&nd#(ent#l cs(ic f%ces f "%#-it#tin,

elect%(#"netis(, etc., li2e the rationes se!inales f#ncient Stic $hils$hy,+:)y !hich they #%e #)le t


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$%d&ce #ll the -#%iety f che(ic#l s$ecies. This !&ld(e#n th#t s(eh! in these "ene%#l f%ces the%e is #hidden code, #n e()%ynic s&$$ly f inf%(#tin#n#l"&s t the "enetic cde in the fe%tili1ed 1y"te.S&ch # hy$thesis see(s t f#nt#stic, # %et&%n t the 'cc&lt f%ces ' f the #lche(ists.

Anthe% #ns!e% "i-en )y %ed&ctinists is t inte%$%etche(ic#l c()in#tin #s # si($le, (ech#nic#l #dditinf $#%ts. In s&ch # c()in#tin n "%e#te% c(es f%(the less, since # ' s&( is el t its $#%ts.' Thisinte%$%et#tin, h!e-e%, is nt #dete t &% $%esent

&nde%st#ndin" f the (lec&le !hich h#s !#-e8(ech#nic#l &nity in !hich the cnstit&tin" #t(s$e%d&%e nly in # (diHed #nd inte"%#ted f%(. Th&sthe %)it#l elect%ns f the cnstit&tin" #t(s (#y nln"e% )eln" t # sin"le n&cle&s !ithin the (lec&le)&t t se-e%#l. A ne! net!%2 f %el#tins )et!een theele(ent#%y $#%ticles !ithin the (lec&le f%(s #&nit#%y syste(, nt # (e%e ?&0t#$sitin f $%e-i&ssyste(s.+ ' in %d#n M. Sche%, ed., Theories of the Mind 3The @%ee P%essN. Y., +4596, $$. 7+:8794.

$#"e 9+

%est%ictins f 2n!led"e !hich h#-e $%ed(in#tedd&%in" the scientiHc e$ch !ill yield t # (%einte"%#ted -ie! f the !%ld in !hich thec($le(ent#%ity f di*e%ent (des f 2n!led"e is#cce$ted. A(n" the% indic#tins f this ne! st#"e fh&(#n thin2in" is the %ec"nitin )y $hils$he%s fscience th#t science itself is # c%e#ti-e, h&(#nistic(de f th&"ht, nt $&%e )?ecti-ity. Pe%h#$s the te%(

' c%e#ti-e ' )est desc%i)es this f&%th $h#se f h&(#nself8&nde%st#ndin".79


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/&(#n intelli"ence, the%ef%e, incl&des #nd t%#nscendsche(ic#l #nd )il"ic#l e-l&tin in th#t (#n c(es t&nde%st#nd #nd cnt%l e-l&tin in # c%e#ti-e !#y )y$%cesses th#t #%e nt nly $hysic#l )&t H%st f #llsy()lic. M#nJs )eh#-i% is $enet%#ted )yintentionality+ It is he%e th#t his c%e#ti-ity %esides, sincence he &nde%st#nds n#t&%e he is nt nly #)le t%e$%d&ce it )&t t %e8c%e#te it, t int%d&ce "en&ine,f%eely chsen n-elty int the !%ld.

The $ssi)ility f this intelli"ent, %"#nic life %i"in#ted#(n" #%)%e#l $%i(#te (#((#ls !h h#d # hi"hly

de-el$ed, inte%n#li1ed en-i%n(ent, #n e0cellentne%-&s syste( !ith "d -isin #nd he#%in", #nd !hh#d #n e%ect $st&%e th#t f%eed the &$$e% li()s,(#2in" f% "%e#t ()ility #nd c#$#city e#sily t s&%-ey#nd (#ni$&l#te the en-i%n(ent #nd t c((&nic#teth%&"h "est&%es #nd -c#l si"ns. Mst i($%t#nt f #ll,s&ch $%i(#tes li-ed sci#lly in # c&lt&%#l %#the% th#n #ninstincti-e insect8li2e sciety.77

It is th&"ht th#t in Af%ic# #%)%e#l #$es !e%e f%ced tthe "%&nd )y en-i%n(ent#l ch#n"es #nd )e"#n tc((&nic#te

79C(teJs th%ee8fld sche(e f the de-el$(ent f h&(#n th&"htthe thel"ic#l, the $hils$hic#l, #nd the scientiHc see(s t h#-es&%-i-ed #s ne f the )est !#ys f s&((#%i1in" the de-el$(entf h&(#n8th&"ht (des, )&t !e n! tend t see it #s cu!ulativent #s #n e-l&tin in !hich l#te% (des %ende% the e#%lie% )slete.

This &nde%st#ndin" is itself #n indic#tin th#t !e #%e (-in" in #f&%th e$ch. The de-el$(ents in the $hils$hy f science%efe%%ed t #%e st#ted )%illi#ntly in # $$&l#% #%ticle )y P#&l@eye%#)end, ' E0$e%ts in # @%ee Sciety,' The Critic 3N-.8Dec.,+4=6, $$.


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$#"e 9+4

)y t%&e s$eech. It is $%)#)le th#t this t%&e s$eech #ndthe sy()lic, sci#l (de f )eh#-i% !hich it i($lied$%-ed f s&ch s&%-i-#l -#l&e e-en !hen thesec#$#cities !e%e still -e%y %&di(ent#%y th#t n#t&%#l8selectin $%ess&%e !%2ed in f#-% f the %#$ide-l&tin f the l#%"e )%#in !hich (#2es it $ssi)le f%ho!o sapiens t t&%n his en-i%n(ent int # c&lt&%e .7:

Th&s, if !e #tte($t t %ecnst%&ct the sittin in !hich(#n e(e%"ed it is nt s&;cient (e%ely t $sit)il"ic#l e-l&tin $e%#tin" in the s%t f sittins!hich e0$l#in the %i"in f s&)8h&(#n s$ecies. It isnecess#%y #ls t $sit in the ecsyste( f#ct%s !hich#cc&nt f% sy!-olic -ehavior+ Unless $%t8(#n )e"#nt #ct sy()lic#lly )y s(e ty$e f t%&e l#n""e, it!#s nt $ssi)le f% n#t&%#l8selectin t )e"in t sh#$e

hi( in the di%ectin f ho!o sapiens+ It see(sest#)lished th#t # h&(#n inf#nt c#nnt de-el$ s$eech% h&(#nly intelli"ent )eh#-i% e0ce$t in #nen-i%n(ent !hich incl&des sy()lic )eh#-i%. Des itnt then see( di;c&lt t i(#"ine h! the H%st (en)e"#n t s$e#2 in # sittin !he%e sy()ls,intentin#lity, !e%e nt # $#%t f the ecsyste( in!hich he li-ed>7

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Benedict Ashley - Causality and Evolution.rtf