Posted by
michael
on from the breaking-new-ground dept.
Egonis writes: "Revisiting Darwin's theories, and why, exactly he chose to research his theories. And the shocking truth is that Charles Darwin was really a gardener. ;)"
Re:Ecosystem diversity
by
pythorlh
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
Darwin's theory was considerably controversial at the time of it's publishing, even more than it is today. With Darwin's name on it, I doubt this research would have made much of an impact, since many of those in power would have dismissed it out of hand.
-- Do not confuse duty with what other people expect of you; they are utterly different.Duty is a debt you owe to yourself.
But productivity = profit
by
Spamalamadingdong
·
· Score: 3, Insightful
I think you underestimate the power of self-interest. If people knew, from controlled studies (or as well-controlled as the methodology was up to at the time; it appears from what little I've seen that the controls on this one were pretty good even by modern standards) that keeping a diverse species mix led to more fodder and crop production, we would have jump-started a whole bunch of movements which are just now getting their momentum in modern agriculture.
There is no better way to make someone take notice of an advance in knowledge than showing them how to make a buck off it. (Well, maybe. Show them how to use it to win against their enemies. But arguably that's the same result, different game.)
Slashdot Mirror
Darwin's theory was considerably controversial at the time of it's publishing, even more than it is today. With Darwin's name on it, I doubt this research would have made much of an impact, since many of those in power would have dismissed it out of hand.
Do not confuse duty with what other people expect of you; they are utterly different.Duty is a debt you owe to yourself.
There is no better way to make someone take notice of an advance in knowledge than showing them how to make a buck off it. (Well, maybe. Show them how to use it to win against their enemies. But arguably that's the same result, different game.)
Scientists restrict study to entire physical universe; creationist