Optimal designs, rugged fitness landscapes and the Texas sharpshooter fallacy

[Dan_Eastwood]

@Giltil

What is remarkable is that (according to Burgess source paper), the vertebrate limb pattern is so versatile that it is actually highly optimal not just for arms and legs but also for flippers and wings. If true, under the common descent paradigm, this would certainly suggest that foresight, ie., intelligence, has been involved when the vertebrate layout first appeared in the history of life.

I think by that same argument we should credit the first hominid to use (invent) fire with rocket engines and spaceflight. Likewise the wheel and its numerous applications.
This isn’t foresight, it’s simply a good idea.