Evolution without evidence: Charles Darwin and The origin of species

by Barry G. Gale

In 1859, when Charles Darwin published The Origin of Species, he had no more evidence in support of his theory than did the Creationists, whose view of the world he was attempting to overthrow. Darwin's argument had so many theoretical weak spots that he was forced, in large parts of the Origin, to argue not so much the correct theory as the least objectionable one. Far from delaying publication of his ideas, as earlier scholars have suggested, given the quality of Darwin's evidence and the nature of his theory, he was probably forced to publish his ideas too soon. These are but a few of the conclusions of this innovative study of Charles Darwin and his work on evolution.

238 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1982

About the author

For decades controversy has surrounded the exact nature of Freud's relationship with his sister-in-law. The idea that they had a 20-years affair was first mentioned by Carl Gustav Jung, an early supporter of Freud's and later a critic. He said Minna had revealed the affair in private conversations with him. Freudians denied the allegations but recently a German scholar, who is also a trained Freudian psychoanalyst, found evidence to support the contention. In a Swiss hotel registration book from the late 19th Century he found the notation, Herr Doktor Sigm. Freud und Frau, written in Freud's handwriting. This was a holiday that Freud and Minna took alone. Barry G. Gale's background with regard to Freud and psychoanalysis began with two years of study under Dr. Bruno Bettelheim, a Vienna-trained Freudian psychoanalyst who was a professor of psychiatry at the University of Chicago where Gale received his Masters and Ph.D. degrees. He spent an additional eight years doing research on Freud, his family and the fin de siècle period in Austria. His publications include poems, short stories and a major biography of Charles Darwin, which appeared as a university press book in the United States and a prominent trade title in Great Britain. It was widely reviewed, most favorably. Richard Lewontin, in the New York Review of Books, writes: Barry Gale has changed all that . . . [the traditional view of Darwin] . . . What is appealing in Gale's work is a picture of a life in the social community of science that corresponds to our everyday experience of how careers are built" Other reviews appeared in the New Scientist, Times Literary Supplement, Isis, and the London Review of Books. Gale taught at Cambridge University (where he was a National Science Foundation Dissertation Fellow) and Johns Hopkins (at the Paul H. Nitze School for Advanced International Studies).

Reviews

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

DID DARWIN HAVE SUBSTANTIAL DOUBTS/CONCERNS ABOUT HIS THEORY?

Author Barry Gale wrote in the first chapter of this 1982 book, “My initial questions are: What exactly did Darwin possess, in terms of a theory of evolution, by the end of 1838? [1838 is when Darwin read Malthus’s 'An Essay on the Principal of Population'] How did he view that theory? And what did he do with it?... I want to look at Darwin’s theory … as if the Origin did not follow---or, better still, with no idea at all as to what was to follow…

"We now ask: … Was it important to him at the time? Was he convinced that it was true? Did he think he could prove it to other people? … What relative importance did he assign to his evolutionary work vis-à-vis his work in other natural history areas---for example, geology?... Exploring questions such as these will lead, as I hope to demonstrate in the course of this book, to several conclusions quite different from those now generally held regarding Darwin and his work.” (Pg. 4-5)

He states, “The problem confronting Darwin at the end of 1838 was not so much the fact that if he communicated his ideas he would be severely criticized, but rather the fact that he did not have very much to communicate. His theory had, in essence, preceded his knowledge---that is, he had hit upon a novel and evocative theory of evolution with limited knowledge at hand to satisfy either himself or others that the theory was true. He could neither accept it himself nor prove it to others. He simply did not know enough concerning the several natural history fields upon which his theory would have to be based. Also, I think that from Darwin’s perspective at the time, his theory qua theory was rudimentary and weak. It was not something he would have liked to defend, even if he had to. It was the sort of theory one puts in a desk drawer---to be looked at much later, to be written later still.” (Pg. 8)

He suggests, “The notebooks provide yet another indication of the limited state of Darwin’s knowledge and experience at this time… The notebooks seem as much a research agenda and bibliography as a focus for the discussion of species issues… They reveal Darwin in the process of learning---of questioning, of collecting facts, of testing ideas. They reveal a mind with limited knowledge seeking greater knowledge. In effect, they stand as an important prelude to Darwin’s research on the species question.” (Pg. 31) He adds, “I have found no evidence to suggest that Darwin realized the state of his knowledge at the end of 1838 and sat down and devised a master plan to acquire the needed background in natural history. If Darwin did have a master plan, it was a poor one; his path to knowledge was, at best, meandering. Darwin sought knowledge when specific programme needs required it. If he had a plan, it consisted of nothing more than a desire to read everything and collect all the facts he could about the question of species.” (Pg. 33)

He states, “There were certain aspects of Darwin’s species work, however, that seemed unaffected by his considerable organizational and management abilities. One of these was an underlying doubt he seemed to feel about the value of this theory. Early in Darwin’s work on species, he seemed determined to present arguments both for and against the view of the common descent of species.” (Pg. 89-90)

He adds, “Yet another problem was Darwin’s extreme personal sensitivity to negative public reaction that might greet his theories and, he feared, diminish his status within his profession. From the beginning of his work on species, he was particularly concerned with what other people might think of this ideas.” (Pg. 96)

He observes, “Another problem confronted Darwin that must have added to his anxiety concerning publication of his ideas. This problem went beyond his failure to communicate his theory clearly, or his concern over the overwhelming scope of his work, or his inability to provide scholarly references, or his lack of adherents; it concerned the argument of the Origin itself. Though often brilliantly and ingeniously composed, his argument was based, in many instances, on new and often unsubstantiated hypotheses, sometimes fuzzy analogies and metaphors, the repudiation of competing explanations, and a frequent plea to complexity and general ignorance, rather than on compelling, clearly incontrovertible evidence in its own support; and it is clear that Darwin knew this.” (Pg. 101)

He notes, “Darwin felt that the only proper basis for understanding the natural world was a view of nature deeply grounded in the law-like nature of the universe. He felt that this emphasis on law distinguished his theory from the Creationist view, and he believed it was an important criterion by which one should judge the usefulness of this theory.” (Pg. 107)

He argues, “Simply because Darwin’s theory can explain certain natural phenomena better than the Creationist viewpoint does not mean that Darwin’s theory is correct. It merely accords better with these particular phenomena. In such instances Darwin’s theory is not necessarily the correct theory but only the least objectionable one. I realize that Darwin need only present a less objectionable theory in order to have a better theory… What I want to stress is that, given the relative paucity of evidence then available to Darwin, he was forced to rely heavily on the least objectionable form of argument… And the argument was not one about which Darwin felt very comfortable. A least objectionable theory was not what Darwin had hoped to communicate to the world.” (Pg. 140)

He asks, “Why did Darwin feel compelled to rush an abstract into publication? The Linnean joint paper certainly assured him co-priority with Wallace for discovery of the natural selection theory. Did Darwin feel that Wallace was about to publish substantial work …? I do not know. I assume that Darwin wanted to bolster his priority for the theory and was willing to sacrifice some degree of quality for quickness of publication.” (Pg. 149)

He concludes, “Regarding Darwin’s doubt and uncertainty about his theory, we have seen the difficulty he had clearly explaining his ideas to others; the difficulty he had at times grasping his own ideas; the often overwhelming nature of his subject; his inability to provide scholarly references; his fear of negative public reaction and resulting loss of stature in his profession, and his concern about his failure to convert many of his contemporaries to his ideas… only [Alfred Russel] Wallace… and Hooker, a recent convert after many years of skepticism, could be counted as standing firmly on Darwin’s side… In sum, if Darwin did not have a finished theory in 1838, he had only an interim product by 1859… 1859 did not mark an end either, but rather an important mid-point. Succeeding editions of the Origin and the publication of several other species-related works by Darwin… were needed to present Darwin’s theory in a more finished form before the public for review.” (Pg. 145-146)

This book presents some interesting and provocative (if not 100% persuasive) ideas; this book, whether one agrees with it or not, will be of keen interest to those studying Darwin’s life and the development of his thought.