Victor Fet: [ ]All these are wonderful questions, which I would be happy to discuss. However, NABOKOV-L must stay focused on Nabokov, and I think we cannot really open a broad discussion on natural sciences, evolution, Darwin and Chekhov here.[ ]One word on evolution. In my humble opinion, naturalistic (biological) definition of evolution is inherited change (of anything an organism has) over time (generations). Darwin defined this in old-fashioned words as "descent with modification", clear enough to understand for us today.[ ]"Progress" may be included, depending on definition and situation. "Improvement" (of function and structure) is often observed, but again depends on viewpoint. Worm does not always strive to be a man: from human position, tapeworm's evolution is degradation compared even to its free-living worm ancestors. Yes, it lost guts completely--but why do you need guts if you live inside someone's ? Very often terms are confused, and they have many meanings. There is no denying wonderful evolution of human sentience, although I have seen opinions that primates are a dead-end due to their herd/leader mentality (cf. Russia).And other species (not only closest primates but especially birds and octopi; don't count out your dog and my cat) have glimpses of sentience, or alternative path to it (ants!!). Evolution tends to acquire complexity over time. But be careful with shallow time we live in (thrones and kings and powers): a living cell is 2 billion year old, and more complex than any novel.
Jansy Mello: Thank you, Victor, for another challenging post, describing primates as “a dead-end due to their herd/leader mentality”, our need to heed “shallow time” (Yes, “terms are confused”… Nabokov used thrones and powers under a different meaning/guise) and a living cell with its two billion old age: the urge to live overpowering transient biostructures and functions (wonderful observation about the tapeworm’s guts! ). There’s even a place here for VN’s ADA (initially planned as “The Texture of Time”), mainly because in it the “mind” and “human consciousness” and “sentience” have a specific role to play. I hope you answer me back here!
Btw: Let’s not rule out your review of Chekhov, which I thought you’d included in connection to your science link [ <<...>> ]
Your quote is apt in its relation to VN’s optimistic vision, added to Darwinian theories ( Man has need of that life and if it doesn't yet exist, he must sense it, wait for it and dream of it, prepare to receive it, and to achieve that he must see and know more than our grandfathers and fathers saw or knew.”)