Perplexed in Peoria wrote:
> "John Edser"  wrote in message
news:ccueda$sk5$1{at}darwin.ediacara.org...
> 
>>JE:-
>>The exchange speaks for itself because
>>it contains no ambiguity. Here
>>it is again:
>>
>>--------------quote----------------------
>>
>>1) 22/01/2004:
>>
>>JE:-
>>What is the difference between
>>a reduced positive c and a negative c?
>>If c was an abolute measure of fitness
>>then yes, a real difference exists. However
>>c is only a relative fitness cost and not
>>an absolute fitness cost, so what is the
>>difference?
>>
>>BOH:-
>>
>>As far as the rule is concerned, none.
>>
>>----------- end quote --------------------
>>
>>Rather than just me (JE) endlessly
>>repeating myself I propose
>>you give your interpretation
>>of the above exchange.
> 
> 
> My interpretation, based in part on the fact that
> you think that this exchange is somehow significant,
> is that two intelligent people were talking past
> each other.
> 
> I have no idea what you really meant by your question
> to BOH.  However, I do have a theory as to what he
> thought you meant, and as to what his response means
> to him.
> 
> My interpretation is that he thought you asked: "Does the
> rule discriminate between altruism and mutualism?  That
> is, is there some hidden mechanism in the rule that
> "notices" a difference between a positive c (i.e. a
> decrease in absolute fitness, indicating altruism)
> and a negative c (i.e. an increase in absolute
> fitness, indicating mutualism)?"
> 
> My interpretation is that he answered: "No, there
> is no discrimination between these two situations
> within the rule.  The rule handles both cases without
> discriminating.  Of course, the answer you get may
> well be different in the two cases, but you are using
> the same rule in either case."
> 
This is indeed what I meant, and is also my interpretation of John's 
question (he had asked it more explicitly elsewhere - probably in the 
same thread).

Bob

-- 
Bob O'Hara

Dept. of Mathematics and Statistics
P.O. Box 4 (Yliopistonkatu 5)
FIN-00014 University of Helsinki
Finland
Telephone: +358-9-191 23743
Mobile: +358 50 599 0540
Fax:  +358-9-191 22 779
WWW:  http://www.RNI.Helsinki.FI/~boh/
Journal of Negative Results - EEB: http://www.jnr-eeb.org
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