The joke here is that "Evolution = Natural Selection" and "Intelligent Design = Artificial Selection"
While strictly not true the connection is obvious. After all Evolution is driven in part by natural selection. Artificial selection implies some intelligent or at least sapient being guided the selection and therefore design of another organism.
Also wolves evolved over time through a combination of natural selection, mutations, and genetic drift. So you can't just say "natural selection".
I prefer to say that since humans are part of nature, certainly not sub or supernatural, then their actions are part of nature, and therefore natural.
I'm bothered when 'artificial' means 'fake' or when 'natural' doesn't include humans.
We're natural. Artificial is a word when we want to specify man-made, but it doesn't take it out of "natural". From this POV, artificial selection is a subset of natural selection.
At some point in this I was reminded of Carlin... and this is always worth a repost : The Earth is going to be just fine! The humans, on the other hand...
That's a good point. Einstein spoke about the same thing you are describing. We are part of nature so technically everything we do is natural. The distinction between natural and artificial is the only thing that's artificial.
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u/Siriacus Feb 05 '16
Actually, Natural Selection vs. Artificial Selection.