Darwin's Legacy: What Evolution Means Today

by John Dupré

The theory of evolution has fundamentally changed our view of the universe and our place in it. By providing a radically new vision of the origin of human beings, it challenged long-held assumptions about our own significance and undermined the major arguments for the existence of God. But almost 150 years after the publication of Darwin's Origin of Species these implications are still not properly understood, and in some sectors of society they are actively resisted.
The last decade has also seen the rise of a new field, evolutionary psychology, which takes the theory of evolution to provide insight into aspects of human culture and behaviour as diverse as language, morality, sexuality, and art.
This book shows that although there are particular aspects of the theory of evolution which remain controversial, and issues still to be settled, there can no longer be any doubt that the basis of the theory is true. It examines the consequences for our view of human nature, religion, and non-human animals. John Dupré then investigates the appropriation of evolutionary biology by psychologists, and argues that their claims are largely despite its status as one of the most important scientific ideas of all time, the theory of evolution has very little to tell us about the details of human nature and human behavior.

Genres: Science, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Evolution

150 pages, Paperback

First published December 18, 2003

Reviews

[Braden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book but Dupre has better stuff out there. Chapters on evolutionary theory in general, and the chapters on evolutionary psychology and race and gender were very good. Some of his remarks on theism were pretty weak and rushed however. I also feel like this was pretty all over the place as a monograph. Could’ve been more focused. And this was pretty sparsely cited, which was disappointing. Neat little book but like I said, Dupre has better contributions out there.

[Valentín Serrano García · Rating 4 out of 5]

Resulta siempre muy agradable leer al que probablemente sea el biólogo (y filósofo de la biología) académico más sensato, cauto, escéptico y reflexivo.

No obstante, y pese a que he disfrutado de la lectura de este breve opúsculo, debo decir que no me ha parecido lo más brillante de su producción. Empero, para aquellos que quieran abordar una primera reflexión sobre la teoría de Darwin o que quieran analizar los límites y excesos a los que se ve sometida, no dudaría en recomendar este ensayo. Es fácil de leer, además.

Qué considere "flojo" cierto contenido se debe a que (1) esta obra tiene un objetivo introductorio ya conocido para quienes hayan leído previamente a Dupre y a que (2) "pierde" el tiempo en un capítulo echando a pelear la "religión" (en realidad, el monoteísmo occidental) con Darwin. Digo "pierde" porque aunque el asunto puede ser interesante, reitera análisis un tanto superfluos que tantos científicos desvelan con un manía un tanto personal. Echo en falta, por ejemplo, hacer un paralelismo entre otras teorías "espirituales", como el apofatismo o el taoísmo con la evolución silente y ciega del universo (por poner un ejemplo de cómo ofrecer mayor estatura a este topico tan manido).

Con todo, la exposición es clara y diáfana, siendo muy sabrosa la crítica directa que Dupre hace a la psicología evolutiva, a la sociobiología, al genocentrismo y a la darwinitis. El modo en que Dupre huye del cientifismo reduccionista (algo cada vez más extraño entre el colectivo académico-cientifico) es de aplaudir. No es de extrañar que Dupre sea un sobresaliente ejemplo de científico empírico y escéptico.

[Nic Mörkötarha · Rating 4 out of 5]

It can be a bit dry at times but it's an interesting approach to what evolution means for us today. If you're interested in evolution and philosophy, this is a good book to read.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting review of a touchy subject...but brace yourself for some dense terminology!

[Facu Rome · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una visión no genocentrica de la evolución.

[Arun · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Darwin's Legacy" was meant to portray what evolution is, and what it isn't. The author sees things from a philosophical point of view as is his expertise for he's a philosopher of Science. He makes really solid points from a philosophical point of view: for instance, he argues that Science can only 'explain' things but not necessarily 'understand' it.
However, the subject is presented in too dry a format with least amount of examples/analogies. The author launches some personal attacks on well-known researchers like Richard Dawkins. The author claims that the field of evolutionary psychology is totally unscientific without substantiating his argument.
In total, a book that will put people to sleep.

[Lihuen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Suscribe al escepticismo y empirismo (Hume) ningunea todo lo que vino desp (!) quizás por eso plantea que lo específicamente humano es el lenguaje (Engels postula siguiendo a Hegel el trabajo).
Explica qué es y que no es la teoría de la evolución y por qué implicó una revolución. Imposibilidad de conciliación con la fe (distinto de Gould). Lo más destacado: la exposición de que no infiere la evolución, discusión importante con la sociobiologìa y la psicología evolutiva, la falacia genocéntrica (contra Dawkins), evolución cultural vs reduccionismo.

[Chris Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short and sharp critique of the contemporary use of evolutionary theory, especially by evolutionary psychologists.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really should be 3.5, but what can you do?

[Tycoon · Rating 1 out of 5]

A philosopher of science who does not like genetics. I would not recommended to anyone interested in how evolutionary theory impacts the world today.