Comments on: what to make of the new ‘missing link’ fossil http://robertcargill.com/2009/05/19/what-to-make-of-the-new-missing-link-fossil/ the official blog of the ever searching soul, Dr. Robert R. Cargill, Assistant Professor of Classics and Religious Studies at The University of Iowa Mon, 28 May 2012 02:24:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Daniel Mantell http://robertcargill.com/2009/05/19/what-to-make-of-the-new-missing-link-fossil/#comment-54 Sun, 24 May 2009 21:45:50 +0000 http://bobcargill.wordpress.com/?p=204#comment-54 I am not a colleague, so I apologize if it is out of line for me to comment.

That being said, it is my understanding that in both the theory and practice of scientific inquiry, process is as, if not more, important than progress – if for no other reason than for the repetition and independent discovery so necessary for ultimate confirmation and acceptance from the wider community.

This is not to say that discoveries always have to follow a comprehensive path – but in the event of this deus ex machina discovery, the community will be best served if they use this fossil’s history to find other, less suspect fossils ASAP.

]]> By: Duane http://robertcargill.com/2009/05/19/what-to-make-of-the-new-missing-link-fossil/#comment-52 Tue, 19 May 2009 23:19:03 +0000 http://bobcargill.wordpress.com/?p=204#comment-52 Actually, it was first reveled in PLOS.

]]> By: Emily http://robertcargill.com/2009/05/19/what-to-make-of-the-new-missing-link-fossil/#comment-51 Tue, 19 May 2009 23:04:55 +0000 http://bobcargill.wordpress.com/?p=204#comment-51 I think the answer to all of your questions is “yes.” Yes, the findings and research should be published, but yes, it is the job of scholars to be skeptical about an artifact of any kind that is found under less than legitimate circumstances.
I think no matter what scientific “proof” is found, creationists may never accept evolution, that’s why they believe in creation.
While this is an interesting find, I’m not sure I’d mark it as a win in the evolution category.

]]> By: Drew http://robertcargill.com/2009/05/19/what-to-make-of-the-new-missing-link-fossil/#comment-50 Tue, 19 May 2009 18:31:21 +0000 http://bobcargill.wordpress.com/?p=204#comment-50 I’m skeptical of the way this was kept under wraps and then released to the media in a big push, rather than being debated out openly by scientists first. The evidence so far looks on the up and up, but there’s no question that the claims being made in breathless headlines “THE missing link,” “Our most recent common ancestor!” (uh… common ancestor WITH WHAT???) are way overdoing it, and confusing the public to boot.

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