Why do we have ten fingers?

[Tina]

Why? and ten toes?

[John Roth]

Why? and ten toes?

We don't all have 10 fingers. Some of us have 12.

John Roth

[jk]

Because that is what works for us. Try to imagine your hand with less or more fingers and see if it would still work so well.

[Chiara DB]

I think this is a question for evolutionary biologists, not the MT.

[jk]

Actually someone once asked Michael this precise question before, and I think the context of it was - if our universe is based on number 7, why do we have 5 fingers or five toes on each hand/foot. And they answered something along the line of "whatever works best".

[John Roth]

Because that is what works for us. Try to imagine your hand with less or more fingers and see if it would still work so well.

Octopuses don't have fingers at all, but they can grip things quite well. I've seen some amazing pictures. (Have to resist making a tentacle joke. Whew.)

John Roth

[jk]

Octopuses don't have fingers at all, but they can grip things quite well. I've seen some amazing pictures. (Have to resist making a tentacle joke. Whew.)

Octopuses tend to do slightly different things with their tentacles than people do with their hands, don't they

[Tina]

Why? and ten toes?

We don't all have 10 fingers. Some of us have 12.

John Roth

That is helpful to playing an octave.   

[Tina]

Actually someone once asked Michael this precise question before, and I think the context of it was - if our universe is based on number 7, why do we have 5 fingers or five toes on each hand/foot. And they answered something along the line of "whatever works best".

Ok, but toes are useless to me

[Tina]

I think this is a question for evolutionary biologists, not the MT.

I predict their answer will be predictable.

[Chiara DB]

I think this is a question for evolutionary biologists, not the MT.

I predict their answer will be predictable.

And what is your prediction?

[jk]

That is helpful to playing an octave.

Ah yeah it would be, would it in. Fellow piano player? Unfortunately I think the 6th finger tends to be rather useless and limp (I have seen a picture of it).

Ok, but toes are useless to me

Do you walk/stand?

[Betty]

We have 10 because we have 10.  Does it really matter?

Or, in other words:  Why not have 10?  Some number had to be picked/chosen/evolved.  If we had a different number--any different number, say 13--people would be asking why we had 13.

[Betty]

As far as it being a question for evolutionary biologists, not the MT:  well, my opinion is, Dave will delete it if he thinks it is OT.  Other than that:  if people want to discuss it, that's their choice.

[Dave]

As far as it being a question for evolutionary biologists, not the MT:  well, my opinion is, Dave will delete it if he thinks it is OT.  Other than that:  if people want to discuss it, that's their choice.

You are right, Betty. If something is blatantly off-topic I'll delete it; however, Chiara's comment is valid, too, since I've asked both her and John Roth to watch over the forum and help keep things on topic whenever possible. She wasn't trying to restrict choice, she was simply making a comment based on things I've discussed with her regarding the forum guidelines. No harm no foul, though.

Best,
Dave