> IF random-mutation-based biological evolution is to be mathematically
>coherent, [as far as I know], one must have either the many-worlds
>interpretation of quantum mechanics, or a steady-state universe.
I disagree with this premise. Dennett is habitually advising us not to
confuse a failure of imagination (this is NOT intended to be a personal
insult, imagination in often limited by availiable information and models)
with a physical requirement. Theories of this sort are not like
mathematical equations which lead refutation by contradiction...they're
kludges, and when they don't fit together we force them.
The strength of science is that one can accept it's theories piecemeal (I
think someone makes this point later on).
Reed
Reed Konsler
konsler@ascat.harvard.edu