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essentialsaltes -> RE: Earth Basics (3/12/2008 10:33:52 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: unclemonkey
I agree that IS the best evidence evolution has to offer. However, as this quote from your cite,” the fossil record clearly shows”, demonstrates it is nothing more than circular reasoning.
Similarities in fossils are ASSUMED to have resulted from a common heritage and presented as proof of a common heritage.
The reasoning is not circular. If evolution occurs, then fossils of this kind should exist. They do exist. Evolution is not falsified, and the evidence is positive evidence in favor of evolution. Alternative theories need to explain the fossil evidence as well if not better than evolution does.
The site offers a list of 30 species that present transitional forms arranged in a time hierarchy from the reptiles to the mammals, with morphological changes that mirror the timeline. That is, as time goes on, the morphology becomes more and more mammal-like. As you say, this is not PROOF of common descent, but as I persevere in pointing out, there is no proof in science. However, evolution provides the best scientific explanation of the data.
An alternative explanation is that aliens dropped off Paleothyris in the early Pennsylvanian, but they all died out.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Protoclepsydrops, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Clepsydrops, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Archaeothyris, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Varanops, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Haptodus, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Dimetrodon, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Biarmosuchia, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Procynosuchus, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Dvinia, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Thrinaxodon, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Cynognathus, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Diademodon, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Probelesodon, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Probainognathus, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Exaeretodon, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Oligokyphus, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Pachygenelus, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Adelobasileus, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Sinoconodon, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Kuehneotherium, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Eozostrodon, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Peramus, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Endotherium, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Kielantherium, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Steropodon, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Vincelestes, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Pariadens, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Kennalestes, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
A few million years later, the aliens dropped off Cimolestes, but they all died out. Coincidentally, they're a bit more mammal-like.
However, this is not a very parsimonious explanation. After all, the aliens could have dropped off these species in some other order -- one that does not show a clear, monotonic time progression from reptile-like features to mammal-like features.
What is your alternative hypothesis?
Earlier you stated that "No one denies that a wolf can “evolve” into terrier". If (just as a thought experiment) some of the species in the chain above differ from their predecessors less than a wolf does from a terrier, would you deny that one "evolved" from the other?
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