All models are wrong, but some are useful. Thinking of evolved features as having a purpose is wrong, but it is also incredibly useful.
Why do we have eyes? In some sense, there is no reason, just a sequence of random coincidences, combined with a slightly non-randon bias refered to as “survival of the fittest” (itself an incorrect model).
However, saying that we have eyes to see has incredible explanatory power, which makes it a useful model. Just like Newton’s law of Universal gravity. We’ve known it that is wrong for a century at this point, but most of the time still talk as if it’s true, because it is useful.
NikkiDimes@lemmy.world 1 month ago
I hear what you’re saying, and you’re 100% correct, but I think most people will realize it’s a figure of speech, and easier to say than “Via the process of gene mutation trial and error over many, many generations of Tigers, spots have developed on their ears that look like eyes, resulting in predation from behind being discourged.”
chicken@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 month ago
One way of thinking of it could be that since all of our intention and decision making originates in such a process, the line between them isn’t that clear.