It is difficult to imagine evolution in alien planets operating in any manner other than Darwinian. Simon Conway Morris More Quotes by Simon Conway Morris More Quotes From Simon Conway Morris The way Conway Morris goes about biting the hand that once fed him would make a shoal of piranha seem decorous. Simon Conway Morris bitinghandsway The underlying reason for convergence seems to be that all organisms are under constant scrutiny of natural selection and are also subject to the constraints of the physical and chemical factors that severely limit the action of all inhabitants of the biosphere. Put simply, convergence shows that in a real world not all things are possible. Simon Conway Morris limitsrealworld The Burgess Shale is not unique, but for those who study evolution and fossils it has become something of an icon. It provides a reference point and a benchmark, a point of common discussion and an issue of universal scientific interest. Simon Conway Morris iconsissuesunique Life's Solution builds a forceful case for the predictability of evolutionary outcomes, not in terms of genetic details but rather their broad phenotypic manifestations. The case rests on a remarkable compilation of examples of convergent evolution, in which two or more lineages have independently evolved similar structures and functions. Simon Conway Morris detailsexampletwo I dont think an alien will be a blob. If aliens are out there they should have evolved just like us. They should have eyes and be walking on two legs. In short if there is any life out there then it is likely to be very similar to us. Simon Conway Morris eyeshould-havethinking When discussing organic evolution the only point of agreement seems to be: ‘It happened.’ Thereafter, there is little consensus, which at first sight must seem rather odd. Simon Conway Morris agreementsightlittles It seldom seems to strike the ultra-Darwinists that theology might have its own richness and subtleties, and might strange thought actually tell us things about the world that are not only to our real advantage, but will never be revealed by science. Simon Conway Morris realmightworld I am puzzled that Conway Morris apparently doesn't grasp the equally strong (and inevitable) personal preferences embedded in his own view of life. Simon Conway Morris embeddedstrongviews Evolution is true, it happens, it is the way the world is, and we too are one of its products. This does not mean that evolution does not have metaphysical implications; I remain convinced that this is the case. Simon Conway Morris doemeanworld The long history of mankind is studded with convergences, perhaps most notably in social systems and the use of artefacts and technology. But for human history, set in the arrow of time, there appears to be one intolerable stumbling-block. This is the catastrophic failure in human values and decency. Simon Conway Morris arrowsblocktechnology If one compares the sequence of amino acids that go to form the protein haemoglobin, it becomes apparent that humans and chimps are identical and do not differ in a single site. Simon Conway Morris acidproteinform By obtaining a sense of its place in the unfolding drama of life, set in an ecological theatre, so we can understand why it has become one of the leading players. Simon Conway Morris playerhousedrama If there were a clear prospect that such evils were part of a barbarian past, then at least we might find a small crumb of comfort. No such prospect exists: no scientific analysis can even remotely answer or account for past and present horrors of human behaviour. Simon Conway Morris perspectiveevilpast Scientists don't believe anything.Scientists test things. Simon Conway Morris scientisttestsbelieve Richard Dawkins is arguably England's most pious atheist. Simon Conway Morris piousenglandatheist I am driven to observe of the ultra-Darwinists the following features as symptomatic. First, to my eyes, is their almost unbelievable self-assurance, their breezy self-confidence. Simon Conway Morris self-confidenceeyefirsts It is my opinion that human history can make no sense unless evil doings are recognized for what they are, and that they are bearable only if somehow they may be redeemed. Simon Conway Morris opinionevilmay On a perfect planet such as might be acceptable to a physicist, one might predict that from its origin the diversity of life would grow exponentially until the carrying capacity, however defined, was reached. The fossil record on Earth, however, tells a very different story. Simon Conway Morris perfectlifescience The tree of life was always there. Evolution just fills in the gaps. Simon Conway Morris alwaysevolutiontreelife One can say with reasonable confidence that the likelihood of something analogous to a human evolving is really pretty high. Simon Conway Morris highsaysomethingconfidence
