----- Original Message ----- From: "Knisely, Jonathan" <jonathan.knisely@yale.edu> To: <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org> Sent: Friday, June 04, 2010 1:20 PM Subject: Re: [pbs] Crinum in MO > > It looks as though they've evolved a long neck to permit them to tolerate being planted deep. > Jonathan? It may seem minor but it's a major point. Evolution as > understood in science is not purposeful. it does not occur "in order to" > anything. If a character seems to fit, it is the result of having become > "fit" by happenstance. Some of these adaptatons are, of course useful to us, and we may attribute their occurrence to causality in service to a purpose. If there is purpose, it is not keyed to future "intent" or utility. No teleology here.