John Edser wrote:
>>>>>JE:-
>>>>>Please replace the number "0" with a new 
>>>>>defined term, within Hamilton's rule.
> 
> 
>>>>BOH:-
>>>>Why?  Zero is zero in Hamilton's rule.  It's a constant.  
> 
> 
>>>>JE:-
>>>>This is _not_ a difficult ask. If you really
>>>>think you understand what zero represents
>>>>within the rule, then go ahead and replace it with 
>>>>an actual algebraic term that represents something 
>>>>within the science of biology! 
> 
> 
>>>BOH:-
>>>Why?  The zero does represent something biological.
>>>It's the point in the b/c tradeoff where there is no 
>>>difference in fitness between the 
>>>altruistic and non-altruistic phenotypes.
> 
> 
>>>JE:-
>>>No, it only represents a zero state of some biological
>>>_unknown_. 
> 
> 
>>BOH:-
>>Would you care to demostrate why my statement is wrong, rather than just 
>>ignoring the content of what I wrote?  I can't accept your statements 
>>without you persuading me that my ideas are wrong.  And I can't do that 
>>  if you don't try and say what are wrng with my ideas.
> 
> 
>>JE:-
>>When rb-c=0 what is left?
> 
> 
> BOH:-
> What is left from what?
> 
> JE:-
> Hamilton's rule is supposed
> to be a fitness road map. Suddenly 
> no road map exists, i.e. we have gone 
> off the map because zero fitness is
> represented. However a real fitness 
> still remains. What biological fitness 
> actually remains when rb-c=0?
> 
The fitnesses of the two behaviours.  But now they're equal.

If I want to find out if I'm taller than you, I do it by measuring my 
height and your height, and taking the difference.  IF we're both 188cm 
tall, then the difference is zero.  But that doesn't mean that neither 
of us has no height at all.

Bob

-- 
Bob O'Hara

Rolf Nevanlinna Institute
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/
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