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Darwinism and its Discontents
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Product Description
This book presents an ardent defence of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution against its many critics by one of the leading experts on this subject. Offering a clear and comprehensive exposition of the thinking of Darwin, Michael Ruse brings the story up to day, examining important issues such as the origins of life, the fossil record, the mechanism of natural selection, and rival theories such as punctuated equilibrium, the story of human evolution (including the recently found "hobbits," Homo floresiensis), fraud in biological science, literary approaches to evolution, and the philosophical and religious implications of Darwinism, notably a discussion of Creationism and its modern day offshoot, Intelligent Design Theory. Ruse draws upon the most recent discoveries, but writes with a minimum of jargon. His book will appeal to many readers, from professional biologists to concerned citizens who worry that Darwinism is a naturalistic religion that is forced on school children in face of their own deeply held Christian convictions. Openly revealing his own beliefs, Ruse 's aim throughout is to present information and critical tools so that the reader can make informed decisions for him or herself.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #683827 in Books
- Published on: 2006-07-31
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Hardcover
- 326 pages
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Ruse, a well-known evolutionary historian and philosopher, defends Darwin from all comers, whether religious critics; those who, like Gertrude Himmelfarb, have accused Darwin of being a second-rate scientist; or postmodernist critics who say science is a social construction and not objective truth. Ruse (Can a Darwinian Be a Christian?) expounds on why he accepts evolution as fact. Though he doesn't buy the argument that all science is merely a social construct, he acknowledges that Darwinism holds a mirror up to the times and reflects contemporary thinking, and he looks at the forms Darwinism has taken in philosophy, literature and popular culture. Some readers may think that Ruse, who freely and frequently admits that he isn't a Christian, doesn't quite provide a level playing field on which to confront some of his intellectual opponents, in particular the Christian philosopher Alvin Plantinga and the atheist scientist Richard Dawkins. Still, Ruse's agnosticism keeps him from being doctrinaire ("Perhaps there is a God on the other side... I do not know"). Some readers will struggle with Ruse's occasional philosophic density. Nevertheless, this should interest fans of the philosophy of science and readers caught up in the contemporary debate about evolution. (Aug.)
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Review
"Anyone who wants to understand evolutionary theory and the fascinating issues that surround it, can find no better place than Michael Ruse's Darwinism and Its Discontents. He discusses the objections raised to evolutionary theory down through the most legitimate to those that are anything but legitimate. His discussions are fair, measured and informed. High school students, undergraduates and the public at large would find this book worth reading."
-David Hull, Northwestern University
"Of all the literally hundreds of books out there that claim to have the true, right or only line on Darwin, Ruse has the beating of them all. He shows the wonder in both the natural world and Darwin's efforts to understand it."
-Allan C. Hutchinson, Toronto Globe and Mail
"Darwinism and Its Discontents is vintage Ruse: clear, incisive, focused on fundamental and controversial topics, written with verve. Michael Ruse is a philosopher, comfortably at home with the biology, and sensitive to the religious controversies."
-Fancisco J. Ayala, University of California, Irvine
"Ruse is unique in his combined knowledge of evolutionary principles, history of science, philosophy, and theology, and he brings them all to bear with clarity and effect in evaluating the present-day status of evolutionary thought."
-Edward O. Wilson, Harvard University
"The enemies of a thorough-going Darwinism are many: fundamentalists who think it a damnable doctrine; social-constructionists who would drain away its blood; and even some evolutionary biologists who balk at taking the last step. Over the years, Michael Ruse has engaged them all with scholarship, intelligence, and wit--his most potent weapon. Now in a more synthetic mode, Darwinism and Its Discontents brilliantly marshals these instruments to disarm the recalcitrant and convince the fair minded. The book displays a humane thinker who yet flexes muscle and moxie."
-Robert J. Richards, University of Chicago
"Ruse, a well-known evolutionary historian and philosopher, defends Darwin from all comers, whether religious critics; those who have accused Darwin of being a second-rate scientist; or postmodernist critics who say science is a social construction and not objective truth...this should interest fans of the philosophy of science and readers caught up in the contemporary debate about evolution."
-Publishers Weekly
"Darwinism and Its Discontents is Ruse's most comprehensive look at Darwinism to date...He negotiates the terrains of history, philosophy, and theology well enough to offer cogent versions of the central issues and their multiple sides...For an introduction to the mainstream Darwinian view and its wider context, one might not find a better entrée than Ruse's account."
-Horace L. Fairlamb, University of Houston-Victoria, symploke
About the Author
Michael Ruse is one of the world's leading authorities on the history and philosophy of Darwinian evolutionary theory. He is the author of many books; his most recent book with Cambridge University Press is The Cambridge Companion to the Philosophy of Biology (2007) with David L. Hull. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, he has been a Herbert Spencer Lecturer at Oxford University and a Gifford Lecturer at Glasgow University, and he has also held Guggenheim and Isaak Walton Killiam fellowships.
Customer Reviews
interesting survey
The book is a survey of people in various walks of life who object to Darwinism. It is interesting overall and brings up a lot of topics. Personally, some of the people mentioned are not of interest. The author knows a lot of presumbably well-respected but mentally confused professors in the academic world who dislike Darwinism, for example, but I really don't care as long as they are safely locked up in schools of "higher learning" where they can't do much harm.
On occasion, I wished that topics would be treated in more depth. But, you have to keep in mind that the book's central topic is "Darwinism's Discontents". There is a fair amount of scientific content, but the main purpose is to dicuss why various people dislike Darwinism, and why their objections are misplaced.
When the book began discussing ideas from sociobiolgy (genetic or evolutionary basis of behavior), I thought it lost some focus. Natural selection can provide a historical explanation of why certain behavior is affected by genes, but the issue of whether behavior is affected by genes in the first place is a separate question.
Quite A Substantive Introduction to Darwinism and its Impact
I found this to be quite a useful discussion of Darwin which gets much more into the underlying scientific and philosophical dimensions than do other introductory books. I can't say I understood all of the points the author was making (despite a rather articulate and cogent writing style), but I absorbed enough to at least understand what some of the various arguments relating to Darwin involve. This is not an attack per se on intelligent design or religion even for that matter--in fact one of the most interesting chapters deals with religion in a most even-handed fashion. Especially well done are the initial overview chapter on "Charles Darwin and His Revolution," followed by very detailed and sometimes challenging chapters on topics such as "Humans," "Literature" and the "Facts," "Path" and "Cause of Evolution." The author's discussion of "Dishonest Science" was particularly helpful since so many scientific claims and counterclaims seem to be flying around relating to evolution--and as usual, the discussion is extremely balanced. The author has written many books on evolution and is quite expert on the topic at all levels of complexity. His ability to explain all these concepts to those less versed is to be commended. His bibliography is of great value, and the book comes in at around 300 pages (including helpful illustrations and diagrams). A valuable addition to the library of anyone interested in getting more deeply into Darwin and his revolution.
Truth Over Ideology
What a satisfying book! For a while it seemed that we were stuck with two extremes: (1) Creationist/ID efforts to discredit Evolution or (2) rabid scientists (like Dawkins & Crew) who sought to imbue Evolution with a religious tone, insisting that those who accept it must also adopt an religion-bashing atheist. Worse, those latter efforts have turned the discussion on its head, moving it out of the scientific world into the culture wars of politics and religion. Besides, someone's position on faith is so scientifically irrelevant in the first place - science rises and falls on evidence, not on belief.
This is a good middle ground that does NOT take arguments from both sides and fuse them in a confusing mush of conflicting ideas. The defense of Evolution is broad, deep and thorough (although it is not textbook complexity). At the same time he gives air time to those from the other side (ID mainly) who cannot accept the fact that life arose from non-life and that natural selection could bring about such complex organisms as worms (you thought I was going to say "people" - LOL). Ruse not only explains the mechanical workings of Evolution (abbrevieated) but is somewhat of an expert on the history of the idea. This part was, in many ways, one of the most satisfying as he traces Darwins's thought process, suppositions and conflicts. One can almost see the great man pondering these things on his way to church or as he putters in his nice English garden. Parenthetically, Darwin was totally against any war on religion and stated this numerous times.
While it is true that there are philosophical and religious implications of Darwinism, troubles immediately rise when it is used outside biology. That old fandango, Social Darwinism, was once widely accepted by "progressives" as a scientific way of measuring societies and individuals. The new emphasis on biosociology and biopsychology follows the same pathway by proposing that social constructs be formed around biological theories.
The most obvious example of conflict - and one he handles well - is religion. He does this however by diluting the underpinnings of many a religious person, treating miracles as allegory, supernatural events as parables and religious history as suspect. What he retains is the most important part in the real world - its ethical tradition. Although I find it difficult to understand how one can continue practicing traditional faith once the stories, miracles and history are removed, it is certaintly their right to do so without being insulted or savaged. Altogether a very good read.
