re: #42 Obdicut

Though it should be noted that Dawkins and Dennett have mostly superceded Gould’s work, at least in demonstrating that Gould and Lewontin in no way showed a mechanism for non-Darwinian evolution.

But you’re entirely right about things proceeding with a large degree of randomness— especially when you add in the Neutral Theory.

I haven’t read Dawkins et al on the subject, but Simon Conway Morris has had quite a bit to say in adjusting Gould’s ideas where he gets a bit carried away. I think Gould get more right than wrong.