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This article is correct in being cautious about "why" questions, but for the wrong reason. On science topics, people often ask "why" when they should ask "how".
by NautilusWave 4y ago
This article is correct in being cautious about "why" questions, but for the wrong reason. On science topics, people often ask "why" when they should ask "how". Things don't happen for reasons; they happen via mechanisms. Asking "why" tends to lead to answers that imply human-like intentionality where it doesn't exist.
- WalterBright 4y agoThe "why" for this sort of question is there must be some evolutionary advantage, what is it?
- smt88 4y agoNo, there doesn't have to be an evolutionary advantage. Some things just exert no significant selective pressure and are incidental.
- WalterBright 4y agoDoesn't have to be, but if it's significant (death is significant) an evolutionary advantage is highly likely to be there somewhere.