Difference between revisions of "Darwinism"

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==Overview==
 
==Overview==
 
[[category:isms]][[category:working definitions]][[Darwinism]] is a philosophical position which holds that the [[scientific theory]] of [[evolution by natural selection]] (EbNS), which was first published by [[Charles Darwin]] in his book ''[[The Origin of Species]]'' in 1859, is [[scientific truth|scientifically "true"]] – i.e. that it is the explanation of [[species origins]] which best fits all the available [[evidence]]. Generally, those who agree with the Darwinian position hold that it is not only the best explanation but ''by far'' the best explanation, with no other explanation even coming close (excepting minor variations of EbNS itself).
 
[[category:isms]][[category:working definitions]][[Darwinism]] is a philosophical position which holds that the [[scientific theory]] of [[evolution by natural selection]] (EbNS), which was first published by [[Charles Darwin]] in his book ''[[The Origin of Species]]'' in 1859, is [[scientific truth|scientifically "true"]] – i.e. that it is the explanation of [[species origins]] which best fits all the available [[evidence]]. Generally, those who agree with the Darwinian position hold that it is not only the best explanation but ''by far'' the best explanation, with no other explanation even coming close (excepting minor variations of EbNS itself).
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Those who hold this position generally do not describe themselves as "Darwinists"; the term was invented as an attack on the theory of [[evolution by natural selection]]. The term is intended to make it seem (at least, to an uninformed audience) that this position – which is based on mountains of [[scientific evidence]] and has been ruthlessly scrutinized for over a century – with a term that makes it seem like just another [[ideology]] (just another "[[:category:isms|ism]]").
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Correspondingly, those who attack EbNS – by working to prevent schools from teaching it (or at least working to require that their own pseudo-theories should be [[teach the controversy|taught as equally valid]]), and generally undermining its credibility – by [[intellectual dishonesty|intellectually dishonest]] means (and frequently just flat-out [[lying]]) are probably best described as [[anti-Darwinist]]s; they are not attacking the EbNS theory on rational grounds, in a way which might lead to revelation of genuine flaws in the theory, but rather merely as another [[religion]] to be beaten into submission by [[carrot-and-stick negotiation|any means necessary]].
 
===Support===
 
===Support===
 
The Darwinian position (i.e. that [[evolution by natural selection|EbNS]] is most likely true) is overwhelmingly embraced by the [[scientific]] community. It is relentlessly consistent with massive amounts of data collected across multiple scientific disciplines, including anthropology, biology, geology, medicine, and psychology. ''need to collect more on this''
 
The Darwinian position (i.e. that [[evolution by natural selection|EbNS]] is most likely true) is overwhelmingly embraced by the [[scientific]] community. It is relentlessly consistent with massive amounts of data collected across multiple scientific disciplines, including anthropology, biology, geology, medicine, and psychology. ''need to collect more on this''
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"Nothing in biology makes sense except in light of evolution." – [[Daniel Dennett]]
 
"Nothing in biology makes sense except in light of evolution." – [[Daniel Dennett]]
 
===Opposition===
 
===Opposition===
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The terms "Darwinism" and "evolutionism" are often used pejoratively by [[anti-Darwinism|groups opposing Darwinian theory]] (in the sense of holding that it is untrue) in an attempt to [[social framing|frame]] the theory of evolution by natural selection – an extremely well-established scientific theory – as just another "[[:category:isms|ism]]" or [[ideology]], and thereby weaken its apparent credibility.
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See [[anti-Darwinism]].
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To the extent that "Darwinism" is an ideology in the sense of being a set of established beliefs and methodologies, those beliefs and methodologies are nonetheless subject to critical scrutiny and revision in the face of new facts – as is true with any area of [[science]] and generally in sharp contrast with the fixed ideologies of those who most stridently oppose Darwinian ideas.
 
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Darwinism is also often criticized by anti-Darwinian groups for being "immoral". This is based on several misconceptions, which can be cleared up by considering the following facts:
 
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* [[Darwinism]] is not a system of [[ethics]] or [[moral]]s, it is a theory regarding a set of facts; it is neither moral nor immoral. It can be used as a [[worldview]] within which a system of morals can be derived, but it says no more about the necessary nature of those morals than does the heliocentric theory of the solar system.
 
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* [[Darwinism]] is not the same as "survival of the fittest", which is a kind of shorthand phrase for any sort of competition in which only the "fittest" survive.
 
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** Although Darwinian theory argues that the fittest do ''tend'' to survive, survival is generally a combination of fitness, circumstance, and chance. Darwinian theory also argues that the relevant "fitness" traits must be ''heritable'', which is not true of all survival-related traits.
 
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** Even if Darwinian theory claimed that survival was contingent on being the "fittest", this is not the same thing as saying that it is ''right'' that this is so – e.g. that humans should allow "unfit" individuals to die, or (even more absurdly) allocate the most resources to those individuals best equipped for survival. Confusion of these two claims is also known as the [[naturalistic fallacy]].
 
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** Although some have tried to use the "survival of the fittest" misinterpretation of Darwinian theory as justification for [[eugenics]] and other [[pseudoscientific]] ideas, Darwinian theory does not actually support such ideas.
 
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** Even if belief in some supposedly inescapable moral consequence of Darwinian theory led to undesirable results, this has no effect on whether or not the theory itself is true. The idea that if something must be false if belief in it would lead to undesirable consequences is an example of an [[appeal to consequences]], which is a [[logical fallacy]].
 
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In [[creationist]] circles, Darwinism is often blamed for [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]]'s [[Holocaust]]. Aside from the historical inaccuracy ([[anti-semitism]] in Germany predates Darwin by several centuries – see [[wikipedia:On the Jews and Their Lies|this]] and [[wikipedia:Luther and antisemitism|this]]), this is like blaming [[Isaac Newton|Newton]] for ballistic missiles. [http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/03/the_simple_falsehood_at_the_he.php]
 
  
 
==Related Pages==
 
==Related Pages==

Revision as of 13:02, 18 May 2008

Overview

Darwinism is a philosophical position which holds that the scientific theory of evolution by natural selection (EbNS), which was first published by Charles Darwin in his book The Origin of Species in 1859, is scientifically "true" – i.e. that it is the explanation of species origins which best fits all the available evidence. Generally, those who agree with the Darwinian position hold that it is not only the best explanation but by far the best explanation, with no other explanation even coming close (excepting minor variations of EbNS itself).

Those who hold this position generally do not describe themselves as "Darwinists"; the term was invented as an attack on the theory of evolution by natural selection. The term is intended to make it seem (at least, to an uninformed audience) that this position – which is based on mountains of scientific evidence and has been ruthlessly scrutinized for over a century – with a term that makes it seem like just another ideology (just another "ism").

Correspondingly, those who attack EbNS – by working to prevent schools from teaching it (or at least working to require that their own pseudo-theories should be taught as equally valid), and generally undermining its credibility – by intellectually dishonest means (and frequently just flat-out lying) are probably best described as anti-Darwinists; they are not attacking the EbNS theory on rational grounds, in a way which might lead to revelation of genuine flaws in the theory, but rather merely as another religion to be beaten into submission by any means necessary.

Support

The Darwinian position (i.e. that EbNS is most likely true) is overwhelmingly embraced by the scientific community. It is relentlessly consistent with massive amounts of data collected across multiple scientific disciplines, including anthropology, biology, geology, medicine, and psychology. need to collect more on this

"Nothing in biology makes sense except in light of evolution." – Daniel Dennett

Opposition

See anti-Darwinism.

Related Pages

Related Terms

The ideas behind Darwinism are often confused with other seemingly-similar concepts:

Links

Reference

Editorials / Opinion

Projects

  • The Journal of Evolutionary Philosophy: "Dedicated to promoting the theory of evolution as a solid foundation upon which to build a meaningful philosophy of human life" (thus helping to counter the religionist claim that there can be no meaning to life without God/religion)

Filed Links

  1. redirect template:links/smw
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