The Unbounded Optimism of Evolution
Evolutionary theory (specifically, the idea that life arose from non-living matter through purely natural, unintelligent causes) is surely the poster child of optimism. Second only to the belief that a government can mend all of a society's ills, little tends to suspend critical thought than the belief that life's ubiquitous and tenacious nature is evidence that life would almost certainly arise spontaneously given the right conditions (Read: "Just add water"). Corollary to this belief is the almost universal feeling that the conditions for life to exist are in plentiful supply throughout our bleak universe, and that many habitable planets must exist. Today it has been reported that a 'Goldilocks' planet has been found; that is, a planet where conditions are "just right" to support life. Are scientists basing this conclusion on empirical data, or has unbounded evolutionary optimism crept into this latest proclamation by scientific journalism? Has f...