[Matchett-PI]

"I looked up Ghiselin's book, and it seems at first glance to be a philosophical work, not a biology text. The quote by Darwin in question was written down in a pocket notebook. ."

Yeah ... one of his "secret" notebooks, too. LOL

And how hard was it for you "to look up" Ghiselin's book -- especially since I linked you to it.

And do you actually think he would quote Darwin if he thought Darwin was referring to biology/science instead of the supernatural (metaphysics)???

Read the quote again:

"Origion of man now proved. -- Metaphysics must flourish. - He who understands baboon would do more toward Metaphysics than Locke." --- Darwin, Notebook M, August 16, 1838

And then look at the Encyclopedia Britannica:

"...At this time, however, Darwin began to lead something of a double life. To the world he was busy preparing his Journal of Researches into the Geology and Natural History of the Various Countries Visited by H.M.S. Beagle, which was published in 1839. ... Privately Darwin had begun a remarkable series of notebooks in which he initiated a set of questions and answers about "the species problem."

[zeeba neighba]

Secret little notebooks. how fascinating!

[js1138]

I'm kind of curious about your obsession with Darwin quotes. What in particular makes you think you've found something worthy of all the attention?

[b_sharp]

""Origion of man now proved. -- Metaphysics must flourish. - He who understands baboon would do more toward Metaphysics than Locke." --- Darwin, Notebook M, August 16, 1838"

Hmmm....I wonder what the word 'metaphysics' meant in Darwin's day.

"Privately Darwin had begun a remarkable series of notebooks in which he initiated a set of questions and answers about "the species problem.""

Such damning evidence against the ToE. No wait, maybe it isn't.. did I see that he was actually formulating answers to his own questions?