Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
AVE ATQUE VALE, Traianos
Dear Colleagues:
It is my sad duty to inform you that Traianos Gagos died very unexpectedly on April 24, 49 years old. We have lost a very dear friend, colleague, and one of the best documentary papyrologists of his generation. We are also losing a human being who had the capacity to make everybody feel at ease and respected in his presence. His service to the field of papyrology as a whole and especially to papyrology here in Michigan is well known to all. He was a great mentor to students and younger colleagues. We miss him.
Traianos will be buried in his beloved Greece.
Arthur Verhoogt
Department of Classical Studies
University of Michigan
It is my sad duty to inform you that Traianos Gagos died very unexpectedly on April 24, 49 years old. We have lost a very dear friend, colleague, and one of the best documentary papyrologists of his generation. We are also losing a human being who had the capacity to make everybody feel at ease and respected in his presence. His service to the field of papyrology as a whole and especially to papyrology here in Michigan is well known to all. He was a great mentor to students and younger colleagues. We miss him.
Traianos will be buried in his beloved Greece.
Arthur Verhoogt
Department of Classical Studies
University of Michigan
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
The Toronto Star Gets Suckered!
At least they weren't the only ones. The Toronto Star is a perfectly respectable newspaper. It's not one of those tabloids that publish anything in order to pander to the lowest common denominator.But even a "respectable" newspaper can get taken in when it comes to religion. For some reason, the editors of this newspaper thought it was legitimate to publish a story on the latest announcement about the discovery of Noah's Ark [Noah’s Ark found, researchers claim]. They picked up on a story in a Chinese newspaper.
Anyone with an IQ over 100 knows there was no such thing as a world-wide deluge in 2800 BCE and there's no such thing as a giant ark built by some shepherd in Israel.
Science disproved that particular Biblical myth a long time ago. Whenever you see a story like this there are only two possibilities; either the "researchers" are making it up, or they were the victims of a hoax (or a bit of both). In this case, it seems to be mostly a hoax perpetrated on a gullible group who were only too willing to fall for it.
PZ Myers has the details: Latest Ark finding is a fake.
What about when a presumably respectable newspaper publishes something silly that flies in the face of everything we know about science and history? There's no excuse for that. Shame on The Toronto Star. Maybe they should hire a science journalist to save them from future embarrassment?
I Am Not a Crook
Sometimes you discover that you're related to people you'd rather not be related to. Here's a valid relationship between me and Richard Nixon. Deborah Lockwood and her husband William Ward are my great9 grandparents. Deborah was born in Watertown Massachusetts in 1636 [see The Hanging of Goodwife Knapp in 1653]. William Ward was born in Fairfield Connecticut in 1631. Deborah's mother was Susanna Norman. There must be a million descendants of the Norman, Ward and Lockwood families. They're all related to Richard Nixon so I'm in good company.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
I Think We Have the Same Eyes
Ancestry.com (ancestry.ca) has this neat feature where they combine all their family trees into a big "One World" tree. If you know your ancestors, you can access the "one world" tree and check to see who you're related to. It's especially fun to see which famous people are your distance cousins.There's only one problem. You really have to know something about your ancestors before you trust the results. Most of the relationships are wrong because someone has entered the wrong data and it gets propagated to the "one world" tree. This is a problem with all such databases—including scientific ones.
Here's one of the reliable hits. It shows how Bette Davis is a distant cousin. She descends from my great10 grandparents Captain Richard Norman and his wife Margaret Alford. They were born in Orchard Portman, Somerset, England (midway between Exeter and Bristol) and came to Massachusetts Colony in 1626.
Monday, April 26, 2010
REVIEW: J. G. Manning, The Last Pharaohs: Egypt under the Ptolemies, 305-30 BC.
J. G. Manning, The Last Pharaohs: Egypt under the Ptolemies, 305-30 BC. Princeton/Oxford: Princeton University Press, 2010. Pp. xvi, 264. ISBN 9780691142623. $39.50.
Reviewed by Timothy Howe, Saint Olaf College (howe@stolaf.edu)
In The last pharaohs, J. G. Manning attempts to bring Ptolemaic Egypt, and the economic policies of the Ptolemaic state, out of isolation from other fields of ancient Mediterranean history. Often seen as "a place apart," especially by classicists focused on Greece and Rome, Ptolemaic Egypt has entered historical conversations tangentially, as a stage for wider Roman policy, for instance, or as a counterpoint to classical, polis civilization. Here, Manning is reacting against the scholarly tendency to assess the Hellenistic experience from the perspective of Greece.1 Using a social science models, Manning suggests that Ptolemaic Egypt be seen as an intentionally constructed hybrid of Greek and Egyptian elements, wherein Ptolemaic policies encouraged a fertile interaction of cultures and ideas, an interaction that produced complex native and immigrant responses, ranging from rejection to acceptance. By examining the Ptolemaic state from an Egyptian perspective, Manning seizes an opportunity to rethink terms like "hellenization" and "Hellenistic" and demonstrate how, by adopting a native Egyptian, pharaonic mode of governance, the Ptolemies fit their institutions into long-term Egyptian history. As Manning puts it, "This book offers a new perspective on the connections between Greek and Egyptian civilization, by trying to understand Egyptian civilization in its own terms, examining the manner in which the Ptolemies established themselves within Egyptian traditions, and the dynamic interactions between the two cultures during Ptolemaic rule" (205). And such a new perspective is now possible, Manning argues, because of the material uncovered in the past 100 years.2 Because of its rich literary records, Ptolemaic Egypt is at present the only well-documented state of the ancient world that allows such a quantitative approach.
Etc. at BMCR
Sunday, April 25, 2010
"Ancient culture and modern thinking collision" an interview with W. Clarysse (Li Wei) in Chinese
Chinese to English translation (by Google translator, very imperfect, but more-or-less understandable)
Ancient culture and modern thinking collision Weilikelai Rees (Willy Clarysse), University of Leuven, Belgium Department of Ancient History senior professor, Department Head, College of Liberal Arts and Ancient History Department of the Academic Council and the title of director of the Vetting Committee, the Belgian Royal Academy of Sciences Fellow (1999-present). University of Leuven in 1975, received his Ph.D. in 1996, received France's highest academic award Sheng Duer Award (Prix Saintour) ,1998-1999 Free University in Brussels helm chair, and served as the famous "ancient" (Ancient Society) magazine editor. Research the Greek Roman Egypt (Greco-Roman Egypt) (BC 323-640) and multi-cultural society. Edit a lot of Greek and secular language (ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic cursive scripts) in papyrus archives, published a lot on the Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt, language, proper names, (historical or literary) character study ( Prosopography), system and religious issues of the research works, is currently guiding a number of issues of Fayum region, in papyrus records compilations. Includes "Human Studies Ptolemaic Egypt" (1981), "Alexandria's eponymous priest" (1983), "103/101 BC in Egypt and Syria's War" (1989), "Peter Li will "(1991) and" calculation of Egypt's population of Greece "(2 volumes, 2006).
December 2009, the author of Leuven in Belgium Academy of Ancient History Department of the University as a visiting scholar. The system is currently the international academic history of Greece and Roman Egypt papyrus Studies center. During this period, had the honor to visit the Weilikelai Professor Rees.
Papyrus of learning and research into the history of Egypt is interconnected
GUO Zi-lin: In recent years Chinese scholars began to study Greek and Roman Egypt during the reign of the history of the papyrus Studies in China is almost blank. You are in the Greek and Roman Egypt papyrus school history in both areas have made achievements that attracted worldwide attention, is that the two areas of the world's leading expert in both areas and both are among the world's Ancient History is very difficult even daunting branches, even if an area in which results have been very difficult to make, and you have to simultaneously achieve outstanding achievements in both areas. You can talk about the personal experience of it?
Weilikelai Rees (hereinafter referred to as "Li Wei"): On this issue, I think that should be treated as such.
First, the Greek and Roman history of Egypt during the rule refers to Macedonia in 323 BC until the death of Alexander the Great invaded Egypt in 640 AD the Arabs that nearly 1,000 years of history. This 1000 has been a very long history, there have been many stories, rich content, we can be as an independent subject to be treated. Papyrus study refers to the papyrus documents as the basis for interpretation of the text, linguistics, history and other aspects of a comprehensive study of the temporal and spatial scales involved are very extensive, of course, a huge subject. So, I agree with you these two research areas as the views of the two disciplines.
Second, do you think these two areas of research is very difficult, to some extent is true. In fact, the world's ancient history and papyrus studies are difficult, or even in the ancient history of the study, there are no easy solutions. Of course, one reason that these two areas of research is very difficult, even daunting, mainly because of people not in-depth grasp of ancient languages, about the ancient Egyptian, ancient Greek and Latin, but also the history of these languages in different during deformation, the general academic and research institutions have difficulty in-depth study of these two aspects, because they lack the ancient language, and I and our Department of scholars such problems do not exist.
Furthermore, although these two areas are different, but they are interoperable, that is, learning of papyrus in Egypt for the period provided the basis for research into the history, and history of science can also help the analysis of papyrus , so I can conduct research in two areas simultaneously, and we are papyrus Department of Ancient History Greek and Roman learning and the best period of Egyptian history research institutions.
GUO Zi-lin: How did you research the papyrus and Ptolemaic Egypt History come together?
Li Wei: This is actually a research methodology. Great emphasis on ancient history of the world's primary sources, and the history of Ptolemaic Egypt, just a lot of primary sources, inscriptions and archaeological material in addition to suits, most are papyrus archives, currently only in 法尤姆奥克西 Forest Library Sri Lanka find a way out of papyrus as many as more than 100,000 archival papers, there are other parts of the papyrus documents that are significant, and the archaeological excavation is continually growing number of papyrus archives, of course, has been interpreted and archives which published less than 1 / 20, this requires that we continue to interpret papyrus documents. Therefore, to study the history of Ptolemaic Egypt, the first draft should be able to read the paper archives. During my Ph.D. reading, translation, Sir Petrie brought back from Egypt, papyrus documents and will lay the foundation. On this basis, I find out the history of Ptolemaic Egypt, many issues and made a number of articles that were a lot of reference.
To clarify a number of historical issues in the future, I was on the papyrus documents in a number of issues have a better understanding of papyrus documents in reading more accurate. Can say that I first read the papyrus documents of basic research as, of course, that the historical research methods to history by some scholars as the traditional method, and even some scholars and schools have been denied, they like sociological, anthropological methods to study ancient history. I object to my students start with some from theory to theory research methods, I and my students, my colleagues insisted the traditional historiography, especially in the history of Ptolemaic Egypt in this regard should be even more so, more historical data illustrates the problem.
GUO Zi-lin: you just say that you and your colleagues, the ancient language is not a problem, how do you do?
Li Wei: It's very simple, we introduce talents, the first required to have a very good candidate to read the ancient language ability, and our master's and doctoral students take a lot of time in learning the ancient language, even when they read University ready to learn ancient history when we must seriously study the ancient language. We are in the primary stage to accept the ancient Greek education. In addition, Belgium is itself a multi-ethnic, multi-language countries, only the official language have Dutch, German and French, three, many other languages and even our local dialect, so we naturally have a strong adaptability of language .
Research is also concerned about the ancient history of contemporary
GUO Zi-lin: Currently, international studies which papyrus and reference works worth learning what? History of Ptolemaic Egypt, papyrus should use what archival collection?
Li Wei: In my opinion, today, scholars in the West papyrus, papyrus learn more influential general works mainly with two, one is "reading papyrus, written in Ancient History" (Reading Papyri, Writing Ancient History, Routledge Press, 1995), which is well-known American scientist Bagenal papyrus (Roger S. Bagnall) classic. Another, "Oxford Handbook of papyrus" (The Oxford Handbook of Papyrology, Oxford University Press, 2009) is the latest editor of the papyrus Bagenal study guide book, a collection of almost all famous international scientists papyrus works, and also my article on the Greek and Roman religion in Egypt during the reign of the article, this is a must-read book. The papyrus archives collection, in addition to English literature collection edited Bagenal, there are a number of series of papyrus books, such as "奥克西林库斯 papyrus" (The Oxyrhynchus papyri) (published 73 volumes) "Michigan papyrus" (Michigan Papyri) (18 have been published), "Tabu Tunisia papyrus" (The Tebtunis Papyri) (4 volumes) and "Flinders Petrie papyrus" (The Flinders Petrie Papyri) (3 volumes), followed by this set has a roll of papyrus is my "Petree will", you should learn. In addition, there are a number of electronic resources, such as we hosted the "TRISMEGISTOS" (http://www.trismegistos.org/index.html) and "Leuven Database of Ancient Books" (LDAB) (http://www.trismegistos. org / ldab /) and the University of California, Berkeley's "Taboo Tunisia papyrus Center Online" (http://ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/ ~ tebtunis / index.html) and so on.
GUO Zi-lin: you study the history of Ptolemaic Egypt, the main concern about ethnic groups and ethnic identity. Belgium is a multi-ethnic, multi-language country. Ptolemaic Egypt is Egypt by the Greeks outside the local people and other immigrants to rule a country. So, if your research and the similarity of the two activities?
Li Wei: Your very good question. Ptolemy of Egypt and the modern Belgium does have many similarities. As mentioned above, Belgium is a multi-ethnic, multi-language country, people are basically divided into three groups according to language, the relationship between each other is very complex, involves many political, economic, religious problems. Ptolemy of Egypt is the same situation, with Greeks, Macedonians, Jews, Persians and Egyptians. Greeks speak Greek, speak Greek Macedonia Macedonian dialect, the Jews have their own language, and the Egyptians have their own secular language. It is this similarity prompted us to focus Ptolemaic Egypt ethnicity. In fact, any study ancient history because of practical problems to motivate, and this point since we have these so-called post-colonial era of Western scholars of ancient Greek history (especially Greek democracy) study has already begun. In turn, we have to choose their own research, they should take the initiative to consider contemporary issues and contemporary ideas, my mentor when choosing this field of study (strictly speaking, I inherited the research supervisor), and also by think about their own country was a Belgian national issues affecting, can be said that his research is ancient history, culture and contemporary thought collision (crash) of the results, but I just continued this collision, of course, I also hope that my students and colleagues able to continue such a collision.
Names of the problem is to understand the key groups Ptolemaic Egypt
GUO Zi-lin: indeed, any ancient history of the problem, researchers are subject to the impact of age and background. So, how do you conduct the Study of Ptolemaic Egypt's population? Can tell us about your entry point to the problem it?
Li Wei: Many scholars are concerned about 族群 (ethnic) and ethnic identity (ethnic identity) issues, which is the birth of post-colonial era, particularly those relating to the Greek ethnic identity of the most enthusiastically received, and this is currently a hot topic in academic circles, I believe that China scholars are concerned about this. Scholars in the study population issues, often from the language, customs, religion, physical appearance and other aspects of features, in fact, language, customs and religious beliefs are very strong cultural phenomenon, is very easy to change with the environment changes, although the physical characteristics is not easy to change, but there are many limitations, were not enough. Our study population problem, primarily relies on the Ptolemaic papyrus archives in the use of Egyptian names, composition and evolution. Although the language of Ptolemaic Egypt divide more obvious, but to the Ptolemaic dynasty after the mid-rule, particularly in a later stage, more and more Egyptians can speak Greek, because Greek occupy the status of official language, many Egyptians contract between the Greek also used to write, so completely on the language to determine the ethnic problem is not scientific, but the person's name can reflect a person's ethnic affiliation, as any one nation or race has its own naming convention. For example, the Greek name to reflect the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren, that is, grandson's name Grandpa's name is often used; Egyptian names have similar characteristics, but they are more like something to do with God. Therefore, by examining the evolution of Ptolemy the Egyptian name, we can observe the evolution of different communities and even study the policy Ptolemy Egypt populations.
GUO Zi-lin: in March 2004, you do the University of California, Berkeley speech, presented a paper on ethnic identity in Ptolemaic Egypt the article, the article shows you whether the large ones and methods of this study?
Li Wei: Yes, the article is "Greek and Roman period of Egypt's ethnic identity," because it is just a speech, so only roughly in several ways (personal name, language, social, educational, religious) of the time Egypt's ethnic identity is introduced. Later, I wrote this article under another article, entitled "Creating the Greeks: Ptolemaic Egypt population policy or rule policy?. " In this article, I use a lot of statistics and analysis on the name of the show with an Egyptian family pedigree (three generations) but there are two family trees, genealogy Egyptians and Greeks. In fact, this is a family of two lineages, because the second generation of the family at least two male: one is the village head, village head is the Egyptians to act as the official, so he must use the Egyptians, the name, but established him as the core of the three generations of family lineage is of course the Egyptian lineage; another male was the village police, the police is Greek officials, so the male must use a Greek name, and therefore he established the family as the core is of course the Greeks pedigree pedigree. I also mentioned in the article caused a number of other official name change. My final conclusion is: in the Ptolemaic Egypt, the Greeks and Egyptians really mixed up, and the population is always at work, but the government policy for the Egyptians to enter into the Greek royal family system and opened the door.
Of course, many other articles which I still use such a research method. For example, in recently published two articles in the issue will be fully explored names. Including one on the names used in Greece and Egypt characteristics, in particular, names described the changes in the Ptolemaic Egypt, and the name change research is to study the population-based perspective. Another one Shiyi Salapisi of papyrus documents as the basis, in the full analysis of the data based on the names proposed Salapisi place names and in favor of God, the Egyptians linked to that a majority of the name of Lai Yuan in God's name.
GUO Zi-lin: You Ptolemaic Egypt in the study of names and the use of names in the process of research of ethnic groups, is Greece considered the impact of culture on the Egyptian culture?To talk about how you look at this it?
Li Wei: In 2004, the University of California at Berkeley, I was an academic visit, submitted another article to explore the 500 BC to AD 500, the Greek culture in the Mediterranean region.I am from the political, economic, linguistic and other aspects described, that Alexander the Great Crusade before the Hellenistic around the Mediterranean region had begun, the first businessman to the spread of Greek culture, and then the mercenaries on the spread of culture and, finally, Alexander Crusade of the Kingdom of Greece after the ruling class deliberately spread Greek culture to the Roman period, although the Greek is no longer the official language, but the strong influence of Greek culture still exists, has been extended to around 500 AD, or even longer.
Ptolemaic Egypt is an oligarchy government
GUO Zi-lin: At this point, I have to ask the other on Greek culture and the question of the relationship between Egyptian culture. I have been studying the Ptolemaic Egypt, autocratic monarchy, I think that the Ptolemy of Egypt's autocratic monarchy is the combination of monarchy and the Pharaoh of Egypt in Macedonia is a special system of despotism, this system embodies the elements of Greek and Egyptian elements combination. You also concerned about the Ptolemaic system of government in Egypt, what do you think of Ptolemy of Egypt's political system?
WEI Li: First of all, definitely not a positive autocratic politics, but a negative political. In fact, no one likes to autocratic government. Second, since ancient times many governments are oligarchic government (Oligarchy), Ptolemy of Egypt is no exception. In 1939, Rahim (Ronald Syme) "written by Roman Revolution" (The Roman Revolution, Oxford University Press), Chapter II, "oligarchy" can provide us some clues, Ptolemy of Egypt's political system and the Roman Republic is very similar to the later. Also, if we modern system of government in some countries the analysis, then a certain extent, we believe that the Nazi government of Germany's Hitler, Mussolini in Italy and France, the Napoleonic empire, are all oligarchic government. King Ptolemy of power are in their own hands, so the Greeks to become the ruling class, to Egypt, some of the local people in the aristocratic privilege of using them to rule, and take advantage of the magic of religion by religion to control the local and Greeks, he orders a group of vested interests will be upheld and supported, thereby ensuring the country's oligarchy. Of course, I know that my views have not been recognized by many people, most scholars still insist on Ptolemaic Egypt was a monarchy, and autocratic nature of the monarchy, the problem still continue to need to explore.
GUO Zi-lin: You just mentioned that King Ptolemy full use of the religion, the Egyptian ruler Ptolemy further elaborated the relationship between the Group and the priests do?
Li Wei: This question is actually very close to my question, I recently also took part in the writing of some related works are also directly or indirectly address the issue. King Ptolemy of Egypt's position is higher than the pharaonic period, so that they can make better use of religious factors, the priest group services for the king, of course, in Ptolemaic Egypt, high priest group occupying a pivotal position. Jiu Ptolemy king of Egypt and religious priests in the relationship, there are many specific issues not discussed clearly refer to this area in addition to some of the suits I can also be based more in-depth study of historical data.
Land development and environmental destruction are a puzzling contradiction
GUO Zi-lin: As you said earlier, ancient history, culture and contemporary thought can trigger a collision of many historical problems. At present, concern about environmental pollution, which makes me think of the Ptolemaic Egypt's agricultural development and environmental damage issues. I think the reason why the Fayum region of Egypt Ptolemy agricultural development, mainly in order to house veterans and Greek immigrants, economic development, and agricultural development has certainly achieved the desired results, but also on the environment to a certain extent damage. You long been concerned about the academic study of the Fayum region, is also chair of Fayum, Egypt Ptolemy project. You can talk about the views on this issue it?
Li Wei: Ptolemaic Egypt, Fayum region is a very important area, have important significance, and we get from here is also the most historical fact, our research Ptolemaic Egypt, mainly depend on the method You Mu Unearthed papyrus documents, such as 奥克西林库斯 papyrus, papyrus Tunisia Tarbes, Zeno papyrus, Petrie papyrus and so on. Therefore, we more concerned about the region of the archival and management system.
Fayum agricultural development is a very important economic issue, on this issue, Stanford University, Manning (JJManning), PhD, is an expert, I think you must read his "Land and Power in Ptolemaic Egypt" ( Land and Power in Ptolemaic Egypt), in his book on the issue in which some of, of course, he did not mention the land development and environmental destruction, he is mainly concerned with the king's economic dictatorship. Therefore, this study is promising, but had to rely more on interpretation of historical documents, you do not focus too much on the archaeological excavation of things, because those are not historical Interpretation.
But my view is slightly different point of view with you. I think the Fayum agricultural development mainly for resettlement of Greek immigrants, but also from the Fayum papyrus found in some of the terms, Ptolemaic Egypt does Fayum on a large scale development and construction of King Ptolemy to large numbers of Greeks migrated here. Of course, these Greeks, which may be mercenaries, but not much direct evidence. The statistics from the name the Greeks the majority of other people, including Persians, Jews, Egyptians. As you said the other reasons, I would like to Ptolemy king, there is an economic consideration, but I have not studied, I dare not say. The land development will affect the environment, I think this is an indisputable fact, as long as look at modern Fayum desert will know, and land development and environmental destruction has always been difficult to resolve a pair of contradictions, even in today's society is no exception.
Founder of the ancient Olympics site
GUO Zi-lin: In the occasion of the 2008 Olympic Games, you are to lead their students to Sophie (Sofie Remijsen) Yan Haiying of Beijing University professor and a co-founder of the ancient Olympic site (http://ancientolympics.arts.kuleuven.be/), to English, Dutch, Chinese and Arabic language to the world of four people the history and culture of the ancient Olympic Games, introduced the 2008 Beijing Olympics grand occasion. Can talk about your site's original intention to do this academic it?
Li Wei: A few years ago, Yan Haiying of Beijing University professor invited me to give lectures in China, I went to Beijing, Wuhan and Sichuan, China has been deeply felt the earth-shaking changes have taken place in people's mental outlook than ever before, enthusiastic studentsand scholars of the spirit are touched and surprised me, it all changed my mind before going to China. China's ancient civilization, I had a very strong sense of curiosity, wanted to better understand her. I believe the rest of the world many people, like me, think China does not accurately reflect the current situation in China. 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, which again aroused my curiosity in China. I would like to personally witness the grand occasion of 2008 Olympic Games, but unfortunately I have very old, the body does not allow. So I hope that online viewing. At this point, Professor Yan Haiying just suggestions and I hope together to build a website, not only introduced the world the grand occasion of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, but also introduces the history and culture of the ancient Olympic Games, it must be many people concerned. I think this is ancient history, culture and contemporary thought it the result of the collision. (CASS Institute of World History GUO Zi-lin)
December 2009, the author of Leuven in Belgium Academy of Ancient History Department of the University as a visiting scholar. The system is currently the international academic history of Greece and Roman Egypt papyrus Studies center. During this period, had the honor to visit the Weilikelai Professor Rees.
Papyrus of learning and research into the history of Egypt is interconnected
GUO Zi-lin: In recent years Chinese scholars began to study Greek and Roman Egypt during the reign of the history of the papyrus Studies in China is almost blank. You are in the Greek and Roman Egypt papyrus school history in both areas have made achievements that attracted worldwide attention, is that the two areas of the world's leading expert in both areas and both are among the world's Ancient History is very difficult even daunting branches, even if an area in which results have been very difficult to make, and you have to simultaneously achieve outstanding achievements in both areas. You can talk about the personal experience of it?
Weilikelai Rees (hereinafter referred to as "Li Wei"): On this issue, I think that should be treated as such.
First, the Greek and Roman history of Egypt during the rule refers to Macedonia in 323 BC until the death of Alexander the Great invaded Egypt in 640 AD the Arabs that nearly 1,000 years of history. This 1000 has been a very long history, there have been many stories, rich content, we can be as an independent subject to be treated. Papyrus study refers to the papyrus documents as the basis for interpretation of the text, linguistics, history and other aspects of a comprehensive study of the temporal and spatial scales involved are very extensive, of course, a huge subject. So, I agree with you these two research areas as the views of the two disciplines.
Second, do you think these two areas of research is very difficult, to some extent is true. In fact, the world's ancient history and papyrus studies are difficult, or even in the ancient history of the study, there are no easy solutions. Of course, one reason that these two areas of research is very difficult, even daunting, mainly because of people not in-depth grasp of ancient languages, about the ancient Egyptian, ancient Greek and Latin, but also the history of these languages in different during deformation, the general academic and research institutions have difficulty in-depth study of these two aspects, because they lack the ancient language, and I and our Department of scholars such problems do not exist.
Furthermore, although these two areas are different, but they are interoperable, that is, learning of papyrus in Egypt for the period provided the basis for research into the history, and history of science can also help the analysis of papyrus , so I can conduct research in two areas simultaneously, and we are papyrus Department of Ancient History Greek and Roman learning and the best period of Egyptian history research institutions.
GUO Zi-lin: How did you research the papyrus and Ptolemaic Egypt History come together?
Li Wei: This is actually a research methodology. Great emphasis on ancient history of the world's primary sources, and the history of Ptolemaic Egypt, just a lot of primary sources, inscriptions and archaeological material in addition to suits, most are papyrus archives, currently only in 法尤姆奥克西 Forest Library Sri Lanka find a way out of papyrus as many as more than 100,000 archival papers, there are other parts of the papyrus documents that are significant, and the archaeological excavation is continually growing number of papyrus archives, of course, has been interpreted and archives which published less than 1 / 20, this requires that we continue to interpret papyrus documents. Therefore, to study the history of Ptolemaic Egypt, the first draft should be able to read the paper archives. During my Ph.D. reading, translation, Sir Petrie brought back from Egypt, papyrus documents and will lay the foundation. On this basis, I find out the history of Ptolemaic Egypt, many issues and made a number of articles that were a lot of reference.
To clarify a number of historical issues in the future, I was on the papyrus documents in a number of issues have a better understanding of papyrus documents in reading more accurate. Can say that I first read the papyrus documents of basic research as, of course, that the historical research methods to history by some scholars as the traditional method, and even some scholars and schools have been denied, they like sociological, anthropological methods to study ancient history. I object to my students start with some from theory to theory research methods, I and my students, my colleagues insisted the traditional historiography, especially in the history of Ptolemaic Egypt in this regard should be even more so, more historical data illustrates the problem.
GUO Zi-lin: you just say that you and your colleagues, the ancient language is not a problem, how do you do?
Li Wei: It's very simple, we introduce talents, the first required to have a very good candidate to read the ancient language ability, and our master's and doctoral students take a lot of time in learning the ancient language, even when they read University ready to learn ancient history when we must seriously study the ancient language. We are in the primary stage to accept the ancient Greek education. In addition, Belgium is itself a multi-ethnic, multi-language countries, only the official language have Dutch, German and French, three, many other languages and even our local dialect, so we naturally have a strong adaptability of language .
Research is also concerned about the ancient history of contemporary
GUO Zi-lin: Currently, international studies which papyrus and reference works worth learning what? History of Ptolemaic Egypt, papyrus should use what archival collection?
Li Wei: In my opinion, today, scholars in the West papyrus, papyrus learn more influential general works mainly with two, one is "reading papyrus, written in Ancient History" (Reading Papyri, Writing Ancient History, Routledge Press, 1995), which is well-known American scientist Bagenal papyrus (Roger S. Bagnall) classic. Another, "Oxford Handbook of papyrus" (The Oxford Handbook of Papyrology, Oxford University Press, 2009) is the latest editor of the papyrus Bagenal study guide book, a collection of almost all famous international scientists papyrus works, and also my article on the Greek and Roman religion in Egypt during the reign of the article, this is a must-read book. The papyrus archives collection, in addition to English literature collection edited Bagenal, there are a number of series of papyrus books, such as "奥克西林库斯 papyrus" (The Oxyrhynchus papyri) (published 73 volumes) "Michigan papyrus" (Michigan Papyri) (18 have been published), "Tabu Tunisia papyrus" (The Tebtunis Papyri) (4 volumes) and "Flinders Petrie papyrus" (The Flinders Petrie Papyri) (3 volumes), followed by this set has a roll of papyrus is my "Petree will", you should learn. In addition, there are a number of electronic resources, such as we hosted the "TRISMEGISTOS" (http://www.trismegistos.org/index.html) and "Leuven Database of Ancient Books" (LDAB) (http://www.trismegistos. org / ldab /) and the University of California, Berkeley's "Taboo Tunisia papyrus Center Online" (http://ist-socrates.berkeley.edu/ ~ tebtunis / index.html) and so on.
GUO Zi-lin: you study the history of Ptolemaic Egypt, the main concern about ethnic groups and ethnic identity. Belgium is a multi-ethnic, multi-language country. Ptolemaic Egypt is Egypt by the Greeks outside the local people and other immigrants to rule a country. So, if your research and the similarity of the two activities?
Li Wei: Your very good question. Ptolemy of Egypt and the modern Belgium does have many similarities. As mentioned above, Belgium is a multi-ethnic, multi-language country, people are basically divided into three groups according to language, the relationship between each other is very complex, involves many political, economic, religious problems. Ptolemy of Egypt is the same situation, with Greeks, Macedonians, Jews, Persians and Egyptians. Greeks speak Greek, speak Greek Macedonia Macedonian dialect, the Jews have their own language, and the Egyptians have their own secular language. It is this similarity prompted us to focus Ptolemaic Egypt ethnicity. In fact, any study ancient history because of practical problems to motivate, and this point since we have these so-called post-colonial era of Western scholars of ancient Greek history (especially Greek democracy) study has already begun. In turn, we have to choose their own research, they should take the initiative to consider contemporary issues and contemporary ideas, my mentor when choosing this field of study (strictly speaking, I inherited the research supervisor), and also by think about their own country was a Belgian national issues affecting, can be said that his research is ancient history, culture and contemporary thought collision (crash) of the results, but I just continued this collision, of course, I also hope that my students and colleagues able to continue such a collision.
Names of the problem is to understand the key groups Ptolemaic Egypt
GUO Zi-lin: indeed, any ancient history of the problem, researchers are subject to the impact of age and background. So, how do you conduct the Study of Ptolemaic Egypt's population? Can tell us about your entry point to the problem it?
Li Wei: Many scholars are concerned about 族群 (ethnic) and ethnic identity (ethnic identity) issues, which is the birth of post-colonial era, particularly those relating to the Greek ethnic identity of the most enthusiastically received, and this is currently a hot topic in academic circles, I believe that China scholars are concerned about this. Scholars in the study population issues, often from the language, customs, religion, physical appearance and other aspects of features, in fact, language, customs and religious beliefs are very strong cultural phenomenon, is very easy to change with the environment changes, although the physical characteristics is not easy to change, but there are many limitations, were not enough. Our study population problem, primarily relies on the Ptolemaic papyrus archives in the use of Egyptian names, composition and evolution. Although the language of Ptolemaic Egypt divide more obvious, but to the Ptolemaic dynasty after the mid-rule, particularly in a later stage, more and more Egyptians can speak Greek, because Greek occupy the status of official language, many Egyptians contract between the Greek also used to write, so completely on the language to determine the ethnic problem is not scientific, but the person's name can reflect a person's ethnic affiliation, as any one nation or race has its own naming convention. For example, the Greek name to reflect the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren, that is, grandson's name Grandpa's name is often used; Egyptian names have similar characteristics, but they are more like something to do with God. Therefore, by examining the evolution of Ptolemy the Egyptian name, we can observe the evolution of different communities and even study the policy Ptolemy Egypt populations.
GUO Zi-lin: in March 2004, you do the University of California, Berkeley speech, presented a paper on ethnic identity in Ptolemaic Egypt the article, the article shows you whether the large ones and methods of this study?
Li Wei: Yes, the article is "Greek and Roman period of Egypt's ethnic identity," because it is just a speech, so only roughly in several ways (personal name, language, social, educational, religious) of the time Egypt's ethnic identity is introduced. Later, I wrote this article under another article, entitled "Creating the Greeks: Ptolemaic Egypt population policy or rule policy?. " In this article, I use a lot of statistics and analysis on the name of the show with an Egyptian family pedigree (three generations) but there are two family trees, genealogy Egyptians and Greeks. In fact, this is a family of two lineages, because the second generation of the family at least two male: one is the village head, village head is the Egyptians to act as the official, so he must use the Egyptians, the name, but established him as the core of the three generations of family lineage is of course the Egyptian lineage; another male was the village police, the police is Greek officials, so the male must use a Greek name, and therefore he established the family as the core is of course the Greeks pedigree pedigree. I also mentioned in the article caused a number of other official name change. My final conclusion is: in the Ptolemaic Egypt, the Greeks and Egyptians really mixed up, and the population is always at work, but the government policy for the Egyptians to enter into the Greek royal family system and opened the door.
Of course, many other articles which I still use such a research method. For example, in recently published two articles in the issue will be fully explored names. Including one on the names used in Greece and Egypt characteristics, in particular, names described the changes in the Ptolemaic Egypt, and the name change research is to study the population-based perspective. Another one Shiyi Salapisi of papyrus documents as the basis, in the full analysis of the data based on the names proposed Salapisi place names and in favor of God, the Egyptians linked to that a majority of the name of Lai Yuan in God's name.
GUO Zi-lin: You Ptolemaic Egypt in the study of names and the use of names in the process of research of ethnic groups, is Greece considered the impact of culture on the Egyptian culture?To talk about how you look at this it?
Li Wei: In 2004, the University of California at Berkeley, I was an academic visit, submitted another article to explore the 500 BC to AD 500, the Greek culture in the Mediterranean region.I am from the political, economic, linguistic and other aspects described, that Alexander the Great Crusade before the Hellenistic around the Mediterranean region had begun, the first businessman to the spread of Greek culture, and then the mercenaries on the spread of culture and, finally, Alexander Crusade of the Kingdom of Greece after the ruling class deliberately spread Greek culture to the Roman period, although the Greek is no longer the official language, but the strong influence of Greek culture still exists, has been extended to around 500 AD, or even longer.
Ptolemaic Egypt is an oligarchy government
GUO Zi-lin: At this point, I have to ask the other on Greek culture and the question of the relationship between Egyptian culture. I have been studying the Ptolemaic Egypt, autocratic monarchy, I think that the Ptolemy of Egypt's autocratic monarchy is the combination of monarchy and the Pharaoh of Egypt in Macedonia is a special system of despotism, this system embodies the elements of Greek and Egyptian elements combination. You also concerned about the Ptolemaic system of government in Egypt, what do you think of Ptolemy of Egypt's political system?
WEI Li: First of all, definitely not a positive autocratic politics, but a negative political. In fact, no one likes to autocratic government. Second, since ancient times many governments are oligarchic government (Oligarchy), Ptolemy of Egypt is no exception. In 1939, Rahim (Ronald Syme) "written by Roman Revolution" (The Roman Revolution, Oxford University Press), Chapter II, "oligarchy" can provide us some clues, Ptolemy of Egypt's political system and the Roman Republic is very similar to the later. Also, if we modern system of government in some countries the analysis, then a certain extent, we believe that the Nazi government of Germany's Hitler, Mussolini in Italy and France, the Napoleonic empire, are all oligarchic government. King Ptolemy of power are in their own hands, so the Greeks to become the ruling class, to Egypt, some of the local people in the aristocratic privilege of using them to rule, and take advantage of the magic of religion by religion to control the local and Greeks, he orders a group of vested interests will be upheld and supported, thereby ensuring the country's oligarchy. Of course, I know that my views have not been recognized by many people, most scholars still insist on Ptolemaic Egypt was a monarchy, and autocratic nature of the monarchy, the problem still continue to need to explore.
GUO Zi-lin: You just mentioned that King Ptolemy full use of the religion, the Egyptian ruler Ptolemy further elaborated the relationship between the Group and the priests do?
Li Wei: This question is actually very close to my question, I recently also took part in the writing of some related works are also directly or indirectly address the issue. King Ptolemy of Egypt's position is higher than the pharaonic period, so that they can make better use of religious factors, the priest group services for the king, of course, in Ptolemaic Egypt, high priest group occupying a pivotal position. Jiu Ptolemy king of Egypt and religious priests in the relationship, there are many specific issues not discussed clearly refer to this area in addition to some of the suits I can also be based more in-depth study of historical data.
Land development and environmental destruction are a puzzling contradiction
GUO Zi-lin: As you said earlier, ancient history, culture and contemporary thought can trigger a collision of many historical problems. At present, concern about environmental pollution, which makes me think of the Ptolemaic Egypt's agricultural development and environmental damage issues. I think the reason why the Fayum region of Egypt Ptolemy agricultural development, mainly in order to house veterans and Greek immigrants, economic development, and agricultural development has certainly achieved the desired results, but also on the environment to a certain extent damage. You long been concerned about the academic study of the Fayum region, is also chair of Fayum, Egypt Ptolemy project. You can talk about the views on this issue it?
Li Wei: Ptolemaic Egypt, Fayum region is a very important area, have important significance, and we get from here is also the most historical fact, our research Ptolemaic Egypt, mainly depend on the method You Mu Unearthed papyrus documents, such as 奥克西林库斯 papyrus, papyrus Tunisia Tarbes, Zeno papyrus, Petrie papyrus and so on. Therefore, we more concerned about the region of the archival and management system.
Fayum agricultural development is a very important economic issue, on this issue, Stanford University, Manning (JJManning), PhD, is an expert, I think you must read his "Land and Power in Ptolemaic Egypt" ( Land and Power in Ptolemaic Egypt), in his book on the issue in which some of, of course, he did not mention the land development and environmental destruction, he is mainly concerned with the king's economic dictatorship. Therefore, this study is promising, but had to rely more on interpretation of historical documents, you do not focus too much on the archaeological excavation of things, because those are not historical Interpretation.
But my view is slightly different point of view with you. I think the Fayum agricultural development mainly for resettlement of Greek immigrants, but also from the Fayum papyrus found in some of the terms, Ptolemaic Egypt does Fayum on a large scale development and construction of King Ptolemy to large numbers of Greeks migrated here. Of course, these Greeks, which may be mercenaries, but not much direct evidence. The statistics from the name the Greeks the majority of other people, including Persians, Jews, Egyptians. As you said the other reasons, I would like to Ptolemy king, there is an economic consideration, but I have not studied, I dare not say. The land development will affect the environment, I think this is an indisputable fact, as long as look at modern Fayum desert will know, and land development and environmental destruction has always been difficult to resolve a pair of contradictions, even in today's society is no exception.
Founder of the ancient Olympics site
GUO Zi-lin: In the occasion of the 2008 Olympic Games, you are to lead their students to Sophie (Sofie Remijsen) Yan Haiying of Beijing University professor and a co-founder of the ancient Olympic site (http://ancientolympics.arts.kuleuven.be/), to English, Dutch, Chinese and Arabic language to the world of four people the history and culture of the ancient Olympic Games, introduced the 2008 Beijing Olympics grand occasion. Can talk about your site's original intention to do this academic it?
Li Wei: A few years ago, Yan Haiying of Beijing University professor invited me to give lectures in China, I went to Beijing, Wuhan and Sichuan, China has been deeply felt the earth-shaking changes have taken place in people's mental outlook than ever before, enthusiastic studentsand scholars of the spirit are touched and surprised me, it all changed my mind before going to China. China's ancient civilization, I had a very strong sense of curiosity, wanted to better understand her. I believe the rest of the world many people, like me, think China does not accurately reflect the current situation in China. 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, which again aroused my curiosity in China. I would like to personally witness the grand occasion of 2008 Olympic Games, but unfortunately I have very old, the body does not allow. So I hope that online viewing. At this point, Professor Yan Haiying just suggestions and I hope together to build a website, not only introduced the world the grand occasion of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, but also introduces the history and culture of the ancient Olympic Games, it must be many people concerned. I think this is ancient history, culture and contemporary thought it the result of the collision. (CASS Institute of World History GUO Zi-lin)
Friday, April 23, 2010
What Is Evolutionary Theory? Futuyma vs Coyne
I've been under the impression that the distinction between the fact of evolution and evolutionary theory is not controversial—at least among evolutionary biologists. Ever since Gould, the point has been that the facts of evolution include things like common descent and the history of life on Earth. Evolutionary theory attempts to provide a mechanism that accounts for those fact and observations.
Richard Dawkins makes this clear in his book The Greatest Show on Earth (p. 17).
Douglas Futuyma has written one of the most respected textbooks on evolution. He agrees with this distinction—as do all other textbook authors that I know of. Here's what Futuyma says in Evolution 2nd ed. p. 4.
Apparently, not all of us agree. In an otherwise excellent review of Richard Dawkin's book, Jerry Coyne says the following [see: The Improbability Pump].
I hope this was just an attempt to (over-)simplify evolution for the readers of The Nation. In that case it might be (just) excusable. But I can't wait until the creationists get a hold of this review. They'll be delighted to learn that, according to Jerry Coyne, the gradual descent and diversification of life is only a theory.
They'll also be happy to learn from a prominent evolutionary biologist that design is part of modern evolutionary theory.
Richard Dawkins makes this clear in his book The Greatest Show on Earth (p. 17).
Biologists often make a distinction between the fact of evolution (all living things are cousins) and the theory of what drives it (they usually mean natural selection, and they may contrast it with rival theories such as Lamarck's theory of 'use and disuse' and 'the inheritance of acquired characteristics'). ... Nowadays it is no longer possible to dispute the fact of evolution itself—it has graduated to become a theorum or obviously supported fact—but it could still bedoubted (just) that natural selection is its major driving force.The distinction is important. Things like common descent and the history of life are the facts that demonstrate evolution. Evolutionary theory offers a solid, widely-accepted, explanation of how evolution happens.
Douglas Futuyma has written one of the most respected textbooks on evolution. He agrees with this distinction—as do all other textbook authors that I know of. Here's what Futuyma says in Evolution 2nd ed. p. 4.The explanation of how modification occurs and how ancestors gave rise to diverse descendants constitutes the theory of evolution. We now know that Darwin's hypothesis of natural selection on hereditary variation was correct, but we also know that there are more causes of evolution than Darwin realized, and that natural selection and hereditary variation themselves are more complex than he imagined. A body of ideas about the causes of evolution, including mutation, recombination, gene flow, isolation, random genetic drift, the many forms of natural selection, and other factors, constitute our current theory of evolution or "evolutionary theory." Like all theories in science, it is a work in progress, for we do not yet know the causes of all of evolution, or all the biological phenomena that evolutionary biology will have to explain. Indeed, some details may turn out to be wrong. But the main tenets of the theory, as far as it goes, are so well supported that most biologists confidently accept evolutionary theory as the foundation of the science of life.No doubt you're puzzled about the purpose of this posting. You are probably saying to yourself. "So what? We all know that, already."
Apparently, not all of us agree. In an otherwise excellent review of Richard Dawkin's book, Jerry Coyne says the following [see: The Improbability Pump].Demonstrating the truth of natural selection is just one of Dawkins's aims, for the theory of evolution is composed of several more or less independent parts, which I like to describe in one longish sentence: "Life on earth evolved gradually, beginning with one primitive species; it then branched out over time, throwing off many new and diverse species--and the process producing the illusion of design in organisms is natural selection." This sentence constitutes a scientific theory, which is not just a guess but an informed statement about the general principles that explain many observations about nature.I think that's very wrong. First, it's wrong because it states that the history of life is a theory. Second, it's wrong because it states that the "illusion of design" is part of modern evolutionary theory (it isn't). Third, it's wrong because it only mentions natural selection and modern evolutionary theory is much more than that.
I hope this was just an attempt to (over-)simplify evolution for the readers of The Nation. In that case it might be (just) excusable. But I can't wait until the creationists get a hold of this review. They'll be delighted to learn that, according to Jerry Coyne, the gradual descent and diversification of life is only a theory.
They'll also be happy to learn from a prominent evolutionary biologist that design is part of modern evolutionary theory.
Prepare for a "Boobquake" on Monday, April 26, 2010
I don't know what I'm going to do on Monday. On the one hand, I should stay home in case there's a massive earthquake. On the other hand, I may miss all the fun if I stay home [Blogger: Show cleavage to test cleric’s quake theory].
I think I'll take my chances on the university campus.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Francis Collins on Compatibility
Many of us struggle with the controversy between science and religion. As one who argues that science and religion are not compatible (with minor exceptions), I try hard to understand the views of my opponents. One of the greatest challenges is to understand why Francis Collins sees his position as an argument in favor of compatibility.Here's a video of a talk he gave last October at The Veritas Forum in California. All of it is really interesting but the punchline comes at 50 minutes when he gives a short summary of his beliefs.
[First Slide] Almighty God, who is not limited in space and time, created a universe 13.7 billion years ago with its parameters precisely tuned to allow the development of complexity over long periods of time.Collins goes on to describe this view as "Theistic Evolution." It could also be called the "New Creationism."
[Second Slide] God's plan included the mechanism of evolution to create the marvelous diversity of living things on our planet. Most especially, that plan included human beings.
[Third Slide] After evolution, in the fullness of time, had prepared a sufficiently advanced neurological "house" (the brain), God gifted humanity with free will and with a soul. Thus humans received a special status, "made in God's image."
[Fourth Slide] We humans used our free will to disobey God, leading to our realization of being in violation of the Moral Law. Thus we were estranged from God. For Christians, Jesus is the solution to that estrangement.
That's it. A very simple but, I think, entirely compatible view that does no violence either to faith or to science. And puts them in a harmonious position ...
I can think of six, perfectly scientific, questions that could be asked.
- Is there any evidence of purposeful "fine tuning"?
- Is there any evidence that humans were inevitable?
- Is there any evidence of a Moral Law?
- Is there any evidence of a soul?
- Is there any evidence that humans have something called "free will" that other species lack?
- Is there any evidence that such a personal God exists?
The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief from The Veritas Forum on Vimeo.
Argue Both Sides
One of the distinguishing features of a true scientific controversy is that there are good arguments on both sides. In my class on controversies and misconceptions, I teach my students that they have to recognize a real scientific controversy and, when they do, they should be prepared to argue both sides. That's the only way to demonstrate that they understand the issues.Unfortunately, this simple concept is not widely practiced—even among scientists. Quite often we see a case being made for one side without even acknowledging that there's plenty of evidence for the opposing view. I'm giving a talk on Monday about "Junk DNA" and that's one of the main points. The current literature is full of claims about the demise of junk DNA. The claim is based on some recent findings but nobody ever mentions the older evidence that has to be refuted. When you're advocating a new model you have to do two things: (1) present evidence in favor of our model, and (2) demonstrate that evidence against your model should be rejected.
You can't do one without the other.
This rule only applies to controversies within science. In many cases, the trick is to recognize a "real" scientific controversy from one that only appears to be a scientific controversy. Take Intelligent Design Creationism for example ....
I was thrilled to see a posting by Granville Sewell on one of the IDiot blogs. The title suggested that he was finally recognizing that science had some valid points in this non-scientific controversy [Acknowledging our opponents’ strong points]. My "thrill" rapidly turned to disgust when I read the posting ....
In any debate, it is always good strategy to acknowledge your opponent’s strongest points, thereby taking them off the table. In the debate over ID, our opponents have two very strong points:Oh, dear. He just doesn't get it.
1. We have discovered scientific explanations for so many other previously mysterious phenomena, why not evolution as well? The laws God made are very clever and fine-tuned, and probably are sufficient to explain everything in astronomy, geology, chemistry and atmospheric science, for example, so it is hardly surprising that many would insist that they must be able to explain all of biology as well.
2. There are a lot of things about the development of life that give the appearance of natural causes. “This just doesn’t look like the way God would create things,” is an argument frequently used by Darwin, and by modern day evolutionists. There are also things that don’t suggest natural causes–such as the sudden appearance of nearly all the animal phyla at the beginning of the Cambrian era–but much of the history of life admittedly does leave us with a strong impression of natural causes.
All of the “evidence” for evolution falls into one of these two categories, there is no evidence to support the idea that natural selection of random mutations or any other unintelligent process can explain the major steps of evolution. Once you have acknowledged these two strong points, our opponents have nothing.
That's why we call them IDiots.
[Photo Credit: University of Texas El Paso]
Granville Sewell is in the Mathematics Department at the University of Texas El Paso. His major research interest is differential equations.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
A vestige of the 18th century
I belong to the Committee for the Advancement of Scientific Skepticism (CASS) at the Centre for Inquiry—Canada. Members of that group have published an article about homeopathy on the National Post website: A vestige of the 18th century.
Congratulations to Mitchell Gerskup, Ryan Gray, Michael Kruse, Iain Martel and Justin Trottier for a great contribution to homeopathy awareness. And congratulations to the National Post for publishing it.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Charles Darwin Died on this Day in 1882
Charles Darwin died at Down house during the afternoon of April 19, 1882. Janet Brown describes the moment in her biography (Charles Darwin: The Power of Place p. 495).He died on the afternoon of 19, April 1882, after sinking very low for two or three days beforehand and suffering what Emma called "fatal attack" at midnight on the 18th. There was no deathbed conversion, no famous last words. "I am not the least afraid to die," he apparently murmured to Emma. "Remember what a good wife you have been." Allfrey signed the death certificate giving "Angina Pectoris Syncope" as the cause of death, the gradual ceasing of the heart. He was seventy-three.The subtitle of Janet Browne's book (The power of Place) alludes to the remarkable status that Darwin achieved following publication of On the Origin of Species. Darwin was buried in Westminster Abbey at a huge funeral held on Wednesday, April 26, 1882. He was buried next to Sir John Herschel near the tomb of Sir Isaac Newton, "... an honorable place but not as close to [Charles] Lyell as Emma had hoped" (Browne, p. 497).
Here's a list of the pallbearers from AboutDarwin.com.
George Campbell - The 9th Duke of Argyll
William Cavendish - The 7th Duke of Devonshire
Edward Henry Stanley - The 15th Earl of Derby
James Russell Lowell - The American Ambassador to Britain
William Spottiswoode - Mathematician, physicist, the Queen's Printer, and friend of Darwin
Joseph Dalton Hooker - Darwin's close friend and champion of his Theory of Evolution
Thomas Henry Huxley - Darwin's close friend and champion of his Theory of Evolution
Alfred Russel Wallace - Darwin's friend and the co-founder of Natural Selection
Sir John Lubbock - The 1st Baron of Avebury, Darwin's next door neighbor and close friend
Here's the report of the funeral published in The Times on Thursday, April 27, 1882 [Wikisource].The Funeral of Mr. Darwin
The mortal remains of Charles Robert Darwin were interred in the Abbey at Westminster yesterday with marks of respect due to one whose name has been for many years familiar as a household word to his countrymen, and whose works have shed so much distinction upon English science. The coffin containing the body was brought to the Abbey late on the previous evening and borne through the cloisters, Mr. Darwin's five sons following, into the Chapel of St. Faith. This is a portion of the Abbey little known to casual visitors. It is a long narrow apartment, with a groined and vaulted roof, situate between the end of the south transept and the vestibule of the Chapter House, and was until a few years ago used as a store room, and for some time was mistakenly called the Chapel of St. Blaize. Sir Gilbert Scott, however, discovered at the east end, where traces of an alter are found, a mural painting of a female figure, evidently a saint, holding in her hands a book and an iron rod — the emblems of St. Faith. The western portion of the room formed of old a revestry. Into this bare chapel, which, to the eyes of of the greatest architect seemed "a picturesque and beautiful room," the coffin was carried on Tuesday night, and, seen by the dim light from two old-fashioned lanterns, the place seemed gloomy and tomb-like in contrast with the lofty, nobly proportioned interior of the Abbey which could be seen through the glass door opening into the south transept. The presence of death was more painfully forced on the mind even than during the solemn ceremonial of yesterday, when the great building was again peopled with the living. Soon after 11 in the morning those who were to follow the body as mourners began to assemble in the Chapter House. The Embassies of France, Germany, Italy, and Spain were represented, and among those invited through Messrs. T, and W. Banting to be present or to send representatives nearly all those who received invitations were present, were:—
The Marquis of Salisbury, K.G., Chancellor of the University of Oxford; Lord Aberdare, President of the Geographical Society; the Speaker of the House of Commons, M.r. Childers, M.P., Sir Stafford Northcote, M.P., Mr. Fawcett, M.P., Mr. Mundella, M.P., Sir T Brassey, M.P., Sir Charles Dilke, M.P., Lord Kensington, M.P., Mr. A. J. Beresford, M.P., and Mr. Spencer Walpole, M.P., the two members of the University of Cambridge; Sir J. R. Mowbray, M.P., and Mr. J. G. Talbot, M.P., the members for the University of Oxford; Mr. J. A. Campbell, M.P. for the Universtiy of Glasgow and Aberdeen; Lord Arthur Russell, M.P., Mr. Plunket, M.P., and Mr. Edward Gibson, Q.C., M.P., the members for the University of Dublin; Dr. Lyon Playfair, M.P., for the Universities for Edinburgh and St. Andrew's; Sir Farrer Herschell, Q.C., M.P., Sir David Wedderburn, M.P., Sir Henry Holland, M.P., Mr Nevil Story Maskelyne, M.P., Mr. H. Broadhurst, M.P., Mr. T,. Burt, M.P., Professor Bryce, M.P.; the vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, the Master of Balliol, the Regius Professor of Medicine (Dr. Acland), and the Linacre Professor of Zoology, as representing the University of Oxford; the President of the College of Surgeons, the President of the College of Physicians, the Council of the Royal Society, the Council of the Linnean Society, the Council of the Royal Geographical Society, the council of the Geological Society, the Master of Christ's College, Cambridge, the Head-Master of the Grammar School, Shrewsbury; the Rev. Professor Kennedy, the Rev. Professor Pritchard, F.R.S., Professor Humphry, F.R.S., Professor Max Müller, Professor Henry S. Smith, F.R.S., Professor Prestwick, F.R.S., Professor Hirst, F.R.S., Professor Mosely, F.R.S., Professor Babington, F.R.S., Professor De Chaumont, F.R.S., Sir William Thomson, F.R.S., Sir John Hawkshaw, Dr. W. B. Carpenter, C.B., F.R.S., Mr. Ray Lankester, F.R.S., Sir Henry Maine, Mr. John Simon, C.B., Professor W. Chandler Roberts, F.R.S., Mr. John Murray, Captain Douglas Galton, secretary to the British Association for the Advancement of Science; Mr. W. Onless, R.A., Professor W. B. Richmond, R.A., Mr. George Atherley, Mr. W. Dallas, Mr. H. W. Bates, Mr. Walter White, Mr. J. W. Judd, Mr. G. A. Spottiswoode, Mr. R. C. Hankinson, Mr. John Morley, Mr. R. H. Hutton, Mr. W. C. Leckie, Mr. Frederic Harrison, Captain Abney, R.E., Mr. Frederick Pollock, Mr. W. R. S. Ralston, the Hon. Robert Winthrop, Professor Flower, F.R.S., and Mr. Herbert Spencer, F.R.S.
The Anthropological Institute appointed a deputation to attend, composed of the following members of the Society:— Sir John Lubbock, Mr. John Evans, F.R.S., Mr. E. B. Tylor, F.R.S., Professor Busk, F.R.S., Mr. Hyde Clarke, Professor W. H. Flower, Mr. Francis Galton, F.R.S., Dr. Allen Thomson, F.R.S., Mr. F. W. Rudler, F.G.S., Mr. F. E. W. Brabrook, F.S.A., Mr. J. E. Price, F.S.A., Lieutenant-Colonel H. H. Godwin-Austen, F.R.S., Professor Huxley F.R.S., Mr. R. R. Martin, M.P., Mr. Alfred Tylor, F.G.S., and Mr. George W. Bloxam, M.A., assistant secretary.
At about 20 minutes to 12 the body was brought out of the Chapel of St. Faith, through the Chapter-house vestibule, into the west cloister, and the procession was formed. The coffin was covered with a black velvet pall edged with white silk, On it were laid many wreaths of beautiful white flowers, one of the wreaths having been sent by members of scientific societies in Liverpool, represented by Mr. Isaac C. Thompson, F.R.M.S., honorary secretary of the Microscopical Society of Liverpool. The pall-bearers were the Duke of Devonshire, the Duke of Argyll, the Earl of Derby, Mr. J. Russell Lowell, the American Minister; Mr. W. Spottiswoode, LL.D., President of the Royal Society; Sir Joseph Hooker, Mr. A. R. Wallace, Professor Huxley, Sir John Lubbock, and the Rev. Canon Farrar. Proceeding slowly along the south cloister those heading the procession were met at the west entrance by members of the family and others, whose names follow:—
Mr. William Erasmus Darwin, chief mourner; Mr. George Darwin, F.R.S., Mrs. William Darwin, Miss Darwin, Mrs. Litchfield, Mr Francis Darwin, Mr. Leonard Darwin, Mr. R. B. Litchfield, Mr. Horace Darwin, Mr. Leonard Darwin, R.E., Mr. Darwin of Elston-hall, Mr. F. Alvey Darwin, Captain Charles Darwin, Mr. Reginald Darwin, of Buxton, Mrs. Vaughan Williams, Miss Wedgwood, the Rev. Charles Parker, Mr. Robert Packer, Mr. H. F. Bristowe, Q.C., Mr. Francis Galton, F.R.S., Mr. Ernest Wedgwood, Mr. Hensleigh Wedgwood, Mr. T. H. Farrer, Secretary of the Board of Trade, Mrs. Farrer, Mr. Godfrey Wedgwood, Miss A. Wedgwood, Mrs. Ruck, the Rev. Arthur Wedgwood, Mr. J. C. Hawkshaw, Mrs. Hawkshaw, Mr. George Allen, Mr. Henry Allen, M.P.; servant, Mr. William Jackson, and Mr. Joseph Parslow.
Within the Abbey a large congregation was assembled, filling the seats on the south side of the nave, the seats in the choir and such as were not reserved for the mourners in the transepts, while a large number admitted without tickets stood on the north side of the nave. Among those present were the Baroness Burdett-Boutts and Mr. Burdett-Coutts, the Lord Mayor, and Lady Mayoress and Miss Ellis, Mr. Sheriff Ogg, the Rev. R. C. Billing, Mr. Mark H. Judge, Mr. L. T. D'Eyncourt, and the Head Constable of Westminster. Masters and Queen's scholars of the Westminster School also attended. At the West Cloister door the mourners were met by the Rev. Canon Prothero, as senior canon in the absence of the Dean, who is abroad. Canon Prothero having read the opening sentence of the Service for the Burial of the Dead, the choir changed the other processional sentences to the music of Croft, as the procession moved down the south aisle to the west end of the church and then up the nave into the choir. Following the choristers came the Rev. J. H. Cheadle and the Rev. J. Troutbeck (minor canons of Westminster), Canon Rowsell, Canon Barry, Canon Duckworth, and the Rev. S. Flood Jones (precentor), and near the senior canon the Chapter Clerk, Mr. C. St. C. Bedford. The body was placed in front of the Communion rails during the first portion of the service. The Psalms were chanted to Purcell's music, and after the Lesson, which was read by Canon Duckworth, an anthem composed for the occasion by Mr. Bridge was sung to the words from the Book of Proverbs, "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom. and getteth understanding. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." The soft and subdued ending of the composition, which was sung with much feeling by the choir, prepared the mind for the last sad duty that remained to be performed. The body was not removed to the grave, which is at the north-east corner of the nave next to that of Sir John Herschell, Dr. Bridge playing first Beethoven's Funeral March and then a more plaintive march by Franz Schubert in B minor, while the mourners proceeded to the grave, and the rest of the service was impressively read by Canon Prothero, the choir singing their part to Croft and Purcell's music. Near the grave and just beneath the monument to Sir Isaac Newton stood a remarkable and representative crowd of distinguished men, such as only an occasion of deep and general would bring together. Leaders of men and leaders of thought; political opponents, scientific co-workers; eminent discoverers, and practitioners of the arts. To name only a few as representative, there were Lord Spencer, President of the Council, who represented Her Majesty's Ministers at the funeral; the Marquis of Salisbury, Viscount Sherbrooke, Sir William Jenner, Sir Stafford Northcote, Sir Charles Dilke, Mr. Moncure D. Conway, Dr. Siemens, Sir William Gull, Mr. Childers, Professor Marshall, Sir John Hawkshaw, Mr. Ernest Hart, Mr. W. H. Smith, Mr. Herbert Spencer, Dr. Farquharson, Professor Flower, Mr. Robert Winthrop, and Mr. Ellis. The anthem by Handel, "His body is buried in peace, but his name liveth evermore," was sung, and the senior Canon having pronounced the Benediction, the mourners left, and the public were then allowed to pass round the grave. The inscription on the plate of the white, unpolished oak coffin read, "Charles Robert Darwin. Born February 12, 1809. Died April 19th, 1882."
In an article in to-day's Nature on the late Mr,. Darwin, Professor Huxley writes as follows:— "Not only in these islands, where so many have felt the fascination of personal contact with an intellect which had no superior, and with a character which was even nobler than the intellect, but in all parts of the civilized world it would seem that those who business it is to feel the pulse of the nations and to know what interests the masses of mankind were well aware that thousands of their readers would thin the world poorer for Darwin's death, and would dwell with eager interest upon every incident of his history. In France, in Germany, in Austro-Hungary, in Italy, in the United States, writers of all shades of opinion, for once unanimous, have paid a willing tribute to the worth of our great countryman, ignored in life by the official representatives of the kingdom, but laid in death among his peers in Westminster Abbey by the will of the intelligence of the nation. One could not converse with Darwin without being reminded of Socrates. There was the same desire to find some one wiser than himself; the same belief in sovereignty of reason; the same ready humour; the same sympathetic interest in all the ways and works of men. But instead of turning away from the problems of nature as hopelessly insoluble, our modern philosopher devoted his whole life to attacking them in the spirit of Heraclitus and of Democritus, with results which are as the substance of which their speculations were anticipatory shadows. The due appreciation or even enumeration of these results is neither practicable nor desirable at this moment. There is a time for all things—a time for glorying in our ever extended conquests over the realm of nature, and a time mourning over the heroes who have led us to victory. None have fought better, and none have been more fortunate than Charles Darwin. He found a great truth, trodden under foot, reviled by bigots, and ridiculed by all the world; he lived long enough to see it chiefly by his own efforts, irrefragably established in science, inseparably incorporated with the common thoughts of men, and only hated and feared by those who would revile, but dare not. What shall a man desire more than this? Once more the image of Socrates rises unbidden, and the noble peroration of the 'Apology' rings in our ears as if it were Charles Darwin's farewell:—'The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our ways—I to die and you to live. Which is the better God only knows.'"
We are requested to state that the absence of the Vice-Chancellor and members of the Council of the Senate of the University of Cambridge from the funeral of the late Mr. Darwin was occasioned by the circumstance that it was impossible for them to attend in consequence of the approaching election to the Regius Professorship of Hebrew. By the statute regulating the election it is imperative on the Vice-Chancellor and the members of the Council, who are the electors, to be present during the whole time each of the candidates for the Professorship delivers his exposition on the portions of Hebrew books assigned to him. The times for the delivery of these dissertations had been fixed nearly a month ago, and it was impossible to postpone them and to defer the election. Consequently, much to the regret of the Vice-Chancellor and the members of the Council, none of them could attend as representing the University of Cambridge.
[Photo Credit: Funeral of Charles Darwin: The Complete Works of Charles Darwin Online, Invitation: English Heritage Prints]
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Bill O'Reilly "Discusses" European Paganism
I don't watch Bill O'Reilly's show very often so I missed this segment. I find it extremely interesting that a major television network could air such a discussion in the 21st century. To me, it says something about popular views in American culture. It doesn't say that a majority of Americans agree with these idiots but it does say that their point of view is an acceptable part of the cultural mix. That's shocking.
The priest's comments are interesting from the perspective of the accommodationist wars. He claims that Roman Catholicism conflicts with all kinds of things, including socialism. Who knew?
[I haven't been keeping up with financial news. Is it true that Europe is in much worse economic shape that the USA? I didn't notice that during recent visits to Europe and the USA.]
[Hat Tip: Pharyngula: A priest, a scientist, and a Communist discuss morality]
The "New Creationism"
Jerry Coyne has "coyned" a new term to describe people who accept most of science but still want to have their cake [HuffPo screws up evolution again]. I’m coyneing the term “New Creationism” to describe the body of thought that accepts Darwinian evolution but with the additional caveats that 1) it was all started by God, 2) had God-worshipping humans as its goal, and 3) that the evidence for all this is that life is complex, humans evolved, and the the “fine tuning” of physical constants of the universe testify to the great improbability of our being here—ergo God. New Creationism differs from intelligent design because it rejects God’s constant intervention in the process of evolution in favor of a Big, One-Time Intervention, and because these ideas are espoused by real scientists like Kenneth Miller and Simon Conway Morris. (Note that Miller, though, has floated the possibility that God does sometimes intervene in the physical world by manipulating electrons.) New Creationism is bad because, while operating under the deep cover of real science, it tries to gain traction for dubious claims about the supernatural.This is pretty good but let's not insist that New Creationists have to postulate humans as the only goal of evolution. Some of them do and some of them are content with any kind of sentient being. The common characteristic is that they envisage some kind of purpose to the way the universe has unfolded.
"New Creationism" is a much better term than "Theistic Evolution" and I think I'll use it from now on. It has the advantage of putting the emphasis on "creationism," where it belongs. (Note, this is small-"c" creationism.)
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