Is there a point to evolution?

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This question is meant to apply to the process, not the theory, but I'd wouldn't mind reading opinions on both.

Yes, to create creatures that survive and reproduce. Not a very noble point but still a point.

hmm... i am a bit unsure in terms of category.

the process is basically a human reflection on the world perceived. therefore, it sure got a point (as human stories about the world always have), but in how far that point is ontologically there (in the world) is another question.
dividíng between the process and the theory doesnt really work, in my humble opinion.

No, not really. Evolution is more like an observation of what happens than a logical procession. What works stays, what doesn't doesn't, but there's no real build up or end. Nature just likes fiddling with critters--does this work well in this setting? No? That one doesn't survive to pass on that gene, then. How about this? Does it help? Well, that gene gets spread around a lot. But wait! A change in the systems! Now what works...?

I've heard of evolution being a contest between genes, not organisms, which makes a lot of sense to me. Has anyone else read Dawkins' The Blind Watchmaker?

Is there a point to gravity?

Evolution works by survival of species which are well suited to their environment and those which can spread out across as wide an area as possible. Humanity is the ultimate in sentient evolution so far. If you can adapt well and change to suit the circumstances, you have a greater chance of survival. Humanity has, in a sense, opted out of natural selection. Through its sentience, free thought, and unity, our species is capable of adapting to anything given the resources, knowledge, and existing technology.

It is a very deep subject.

Non-human species have to adapt biologically and genetically to their environment. Evidently, if you were to put a woolly mammoth into a desert climate, it would very likely die of the heat and starve.

Evolution isn't a sentient force which plans things out, it takes a very long time. Trial and error possibly. Random mutations can be good or bad, unborn animals which have no hope of surviving or even functioning die. For example, if a baby did not develop lungs, it would become a miscarriage. However, due to the sheer timescale and complex DNA coding developed over millions/billions of years.

Perhaps the Dinosaurs went extinct because they had little ability to adapt as reptiles... they were all the same species, reptiles(I don't think amphibians and fish from the same periods are classified as Dinosaurs). Climate change may have affected them.(reptiles are cold blooded and require heat to survive). It fits together. As the climate cooled down, animals suited to colder climates may have become more dominant. I'm not sure as to the exact details. I may or may not be factually incorrect, but this is just empirical thinking based on my knowledge of the Dinosaurs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geologic_timescale

We are yet to understand many laws of how evolution actually happens, and more also needs to be studied as to patterns of evolution and mutation. As always, there is an explanation for it which has not yet been discovered. People couldn't understand fire, and held it to be magical before, yet now it is no mystery.

Biology is simply amazing.

Yes, or else we wouldn't be here. Evolution is not perfect however.

No, but I should read it.

Isn't it ironic that evolution would eventually lead to a species which is capable of changing its environment knowingly, and harnessing the foundation of all biological organisms? It was inevitable that eventually a species would evolve that could think sentiently and discover the mysteries of the universe eventually. A self-aware species that is superior to all others, and makes use of everything that it knows about. The possibilities are infiniteisimal. This can either be interpreted as more evidence for or against evolution, depending on one's point of view. I shall not comment on that, but I must say that whenever religion finds something that cannot be explained and only speculated on because of lack of explanation and research results so far, it shows it up as proof for religious beliefs in alot of cases. People thought fire was proof for a God, but no, they were proved wrong by Physics and Chemistry. It just brings up the thought that religion has become more and more blind over the progression of the centuries, in my view. Another example? Lightning. People couldn't explain the visually spectacular phenomenon, until it was discovered that it was in fact explainable by science. What of the Aurora lights? The effect when charged particles from the magnetosphere impact with particles in the upper atmosphere.

Interesting. There does seem to be a continuing building-up in fitness. A towardness, to a state better than before.

I don't know. Seems like a fairly beneficial force.

I find that a fascinating concept. That evolution has a point to it.

Evolution having a point to it would mean that the universe has some purpose. That's something I can't accept.

I guess it depends on if you are a nihilist.

Well said.

Thanks.

(Interesting comment, given that you subscribe to a worldview that says there is a purpose to everything. Which is the polar opposite of my own viewpoint.)

Optimization, not to say that true optimization doesn't have all kinds of backlash since conformity always seems to dominate out or destroy out of envy what it feels threatened by but on the whole its mainly brass-tacks economics. The main drive? Mostly wanting to be loved, wanting companionship, wanting kids, and then wanting those kids to do as well if not better than you did (also your success on whether or not you can find a mate). I can't really see any master plan in it, just that we're built with certain urges, we move on generation to generation with em, and sadly its our genes that I think truly betray us in any desire we have to really transcend what we are. Then again society its not considered ok to think of certain things for a reason, they damage that mindless propagation.