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August 14, 2005

Cambrian Kaboom

During the recent blogospheric debates involving evolutionists vs. people who are wrong, a recurring theme seemed to be that the Cambrian "explosion" somehow disproves evolution. Sadly, for them, that simply isn't the case.

Our energies are probably better used arguing with people who know their ass from their elbow. After all, these are usually the same people who don't understand the difference between how the word "theory" is used by the layman and the scientist, and who seem wholly incapable of grasping that the Big Bang was not an explosion, per se, but rather the actual inflation of the universe from a singularity.

However, there are certain benefits to knowing one's ass from one's elbow, particularly when the urge to poop comes around. So, let the debate rage on.

So, where were we? Ah, yes, people who are wrong who like to use the Cambrian explosion as a weapon against evolutionary theory, which (based on what you're about to read) is akin to attacking Mecha-Godzilla with a very stern frown and wagging finger.

An obvious mistake, which even a layman like myself came up with all on his lonesome through the miraculous act of reading about the topic, is that they fail to appreciate the time scale of this "explosion:" millions of years, not some miraculous design event where you fall asleep and wake up to discover yourself in a bathtub of ice, your kidneys missing, and new lifeforms crawling around you.

Although, dude, that would be cool, huh? I mean, aside from the kidneys thing. Nothing a little faith healing couldn't fix, though, I'm sure of it.

As for other reasons they are wrong and why the Cambrian explosion is more an example of evolution than a counter-argument, go visit our pal Pharyngula.

I've had many creationists try to use the Argument from the Cambrian Explosion as a fait accompli against evolution (most recently, just this week). It's actually an argument from ignorance, though, since the data certainly does not fit a sudden creation by divine or alien fiat. It does fit with the idea of the appearance of these animals as a product of prior history, though…even though there are many mysteries about the details, the big picture does not require miracles or the supernatural.

In summary, we know quite a bit about it and it's just sad, intellectual dishonesty to say that "we don't know" is equal to "God did it!"

Go on, read the whole thing. It's even got pictures.