Gould

["Ralph Chapman" <Chapman.Ralph@NMNH.SI.EDU>]

Let me first mention that my post was not at all a shot at
Sherry's post - I agreed with her in that at times it can be
tough for the well-informed to sit through a Gould lecture
if Steve is talking to a much less well-informed audience. I
tend to go listen to Steve these days based on when I think
he'll think he has a good audience.

Next - there is a big difference between being wrong about
something and playing fast and loose with the facts. SJG
makes mistakes and lacks knowledge in areas like all of us
do. So what? Also sometimes being totally  wrong about
something is just a matter of opinion. i.e. he doesn't agree
with me so he is totally wrong. If you have to write a
monthly column, you're going to expose your knowledge gaps
for all to see - do it more than 20 years and there will be
some big ones.

I often disagree with SJG on all sorts of matters but that
does not reduce the level of his real contributions. Of
course there was the time (and Niles may not remember this
but I do) that I was standing next to Eldredge and heard
someone ask him what he thought of Gould's theory of
punctuated equilibrium (ouch!) .

Anyway, there is lots to enjoy there and lots to say
Bulls... to. I very much disagree with his thoughts on
adaptation, for example but it's his job to stir the pot and
he does that well, so well many need to get in feuds over
stuff. Shame, life's too short for that

Anyway, respect much of the work and I suspect even the
naysayers may reflect back in ten years and realize they
miss his monthly stirring of the pot. Hope he uses the time
to do more research now, although I suspect he is smart of
enough to travel and have fun more now that he has the
means.

Ralph Chapman



Ralph E. Chapman
Applied Morphometrics Laboratory
National Museum of Natural history
ADP, EG-15  NHB, 10th & Constitution, NW
Smithsonian Institution
Washington, DC 20560-0136
(202) 786-2293, Fax: (202) 357-4122
Chapman.Ralph@nmnh.si.edu