Noach: selection
Creation is followed by selection. From the very beginning, the good light is selected from the non-descript, pre-existent darkeness, the land is selected from the water, and the species select themselves. Finally, Noah and his family are selected to regenerate humanity. Selection seems quite natural.
In The Origin of Species, Charles Darwin reports that he came to understand the force of genetic selection from his observations of the results of dog breeders (p17, 1859ed.). He saw the power of the arbitrary decisions of breeders, based upon fashion and whim , upon the biology of previously feral animals. He then, famously, extrapolated that force to the demands of the ecologic niche, theorizing that incidental variations in plants and animals would make them more or less likely to thrive in any particular environment, hence natural selection. Darwin, living in civilized London, where food and shelter are exchanged for pieces of paper, was far enough from the untamed so that he was able to see its workings from the outside.
Selection implies that the few are chosen from the many. We have sympathy for the rejected. They are brothers and sisters and friends. We could have been them. We question the criteria. The process is designated cruel
The logical assumption for any individual entering into a selective process is that she will not be chosen ( with the possible exception of the selective service [draft]). The process is frightening. It maximizes hope.
Selection looks like a great crime. Its not fair! At the entrance to the concentration camp, there is a pretense of selection. Most will go directly to the gas chamber. A few will be chosen to work...but they will probably also die very soon. The observable selection is not the point of decision, it was much earlier. It was the definition of the niche, the place in society that the victims would occupy.
Noah begins with : קֵ֤ץ כָּל־בָּשָׂר֙ בָּ֣א לְפָנַ֔י, the end of all flesh has come before me. It sounds like the the current patterns of behavior will necessarily destroy all life. The deluge was a a way to save a remnant of creation.
We are all the children of the selected survivors.
Choose wisely
In The Origin of Species, Charles Darwin reports that he came to understand the force of genetic selection from his observations of the results of dog breeders (p17, 1859ed.). He saw the power of the arbitrary decisions of breeders, based upon fashion and whim , upon the biology of previously feral animals. He then, famously, extrapolated that force to the demands of the ecologic niche, theorizing that incidental variations in plants and animals would make them more or less likely to thrive in any particular environment, hence natural selection. Darwin, living in civilized London, where food and shelter are exchanged for pieces of paper, was far enough from the untamed so that he was able to see its workings from the outside.
Selection implies that the few are chosen from the many. We have sympathy for the rejected. They are brothers and sisters and friends. We could have been them. We question the criteria. The process is designated cruel
The logical assumption for any individual entering into a selective process is that she will not be chosen ( with the possible exception of the selective service [draft]). The process is frightening. It maximizes hope.
Selection looks like a great crime. Its not fair! At the entrance to the concentration camp, there is a pretense of selection. Most will go directly to the gas chamber. A few will be chosen to work...but they will probably also die very soon. The observable selection is not the point of decision, it was much earlier. It was the definition of the niche, the place in society that the victims would occupy.
Noah begins with : קֵ֤ץ כָּל־בָּשָׂר֙ בָּ֣א לְפָנַ֔י, the end of all flesh has come before me. It sounds like the the current patterns of behavior will necessarily destroy all life. The deluge was a a way to save a remnant of creation.
We are all the children of the selected survivors.
Choose wisely
posted by Sheldon Goldberg at 3:01 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home