Answer: What Creature Evolves from No Feet to Four Feet to Two Feet?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers around the riddle that describes the evolution of man, stating that humans evolve from a swimming organism to quadrupedal animals and finally to bipedal beings. The riddle metaphorically compares this evolutionary journey to the progression of a day, with "morning" representing no feet, "afternoon" representing four feet, and "night" representing two feet. Participants emphasize the distinction between an individual's finite lifetime and the infinite nature of evolution, drawing parallels to the riddle of the Sphinx.

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This discussion is beneficial for evolutionary biologists, philosophers, linguists, and anyone interested in the interplay between language, time, and human development.

Loren Booda
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What moves without feet in the morning, travels on four feet in the afternoon,
and walks on two feet at night?

Answer: Man - in evolution from swimming organism to quadrupedal animals to bipedal people.[/color]
 
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Wait wasn't there a cane in there somewhere?
 
That was the story of Cane and Able.
 
jimmysnyder said:
Wait wasn't there a cane in there somewhere?
You are thinking of:
What walks on four feet in the morning, two at noon, and three in the afternoon.
 
Loren Booda said:
What moves without feet in the morning, travels on four feet in the afternoon,
and walks on two feet at night?

Answer: Man - in evolution from swimming organism to quadrupedal animals to bipedal people.[/color]

What makes you think it's nighttime? With any luck it could be half past 7 on a sunny morning, and we'll be back to no-feet soon.
 
Last edited:
This riddle is in analogy to that of the Sphinx - however, here it describes not a lifetime, but evolution over the eons.
 
Phrak said:
What makes you think it's nighttime? With any luck it could be half past 7 on a sunny morning, and we'll be back to no-feet soon.

He's got a point. A man's lifetime is finite, like the day, but evolution over eons is not finite. Metaphorically, it could be only half past 7.

Or merely 12:01AM... :wink:
 

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