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Evolution Under the Microscope: A Scientific Critique of the Theory of Evolution
This book is sure to make a distinctive and valuable contribution to the debate about evolution. For too long the debate has been polarized between those trying to defend a traditional creationist position that species were made with little or no capacity for change, and those advocating that all forms of life have evolved from a common source. David Swift examines the evidence from molecular biology, genetics, the operation of natural selection and the fossil record, and concludes that neither position faces up to the facts. Whilst it is evident that some significant changes can occur, which may legitimately be described as evolutionary, he explains why these do not substantiate the supposition that higher organisms evolved from simpler forms. That is, although some facts support an evolutionary scenario, it is clear that many others do not. Indeed, his analysis exposes fundamental flaws in the overall theory of evolution.He calls upon biologists to take a fresh, objective look at all the facts. And this book is not only for it will be of value for its clear exposition of the history and science of evolution which make the subject accessible to many others. Whatever your current view, be prepared to rethink your ideas on this emotive subject.
423 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2002
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October 6, 2020
Evolution; it’s a fact, right? It’s taught in schools and accepted by every right thinking, sane and balanced human being on the planet. Since 1859 when Charles Darwin published his book, ‘On the Origin of Species’ only full-on religious fruit loops have believed in creation – especially the “all done in six days” kind. So just as the title of Ooolon Cullophid’s book declares in Douglas Adams’ ‘The Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy’, Well, That About Wraps It Up for God!
Or does it?
The theory of evolution in itself is not – and never has been – the seamless and unanimous scientific doctrine we laymen (laypeople?) have been led to believe. There has always been bitter infighting between adherents to the different processes by which evolutionary biologists propose life on Earth began and has developed over the past thousands of millennia. And nor do people realise that Darwin’s original theory of natural selection was pretty much holed below the water line not long after the turn of the century to be replaced in the nineteen-thirties by Neo-Darwinism. But when it was, that was it; job done, yes? And the more we learn about life itself – especially now we have the ability to map genomes – the more certain and concrete that new theory has become. Well not according to David Swift and (allegedly) many others scientists. He claims that the more we learn about DNA, the more the current ideas about evolution are falling apart.
Controversial views, to say the least; but how well do they stack up? In Evolution Under the Microscope, Swift does a surprisingly impressive job of doing just that. Although much of the science went somewhat over my head, whether by the biology or the mathematics, he had me convinced.
Swift starts the book with a brief but impressive history of science itself, which leads us nicely up to Darwin. He then takes us through the evolution of the theory of evolution (do you like what I did there?) from Darwin’s revolutionary book to modern day biology. It seems that all the way through that time there were big problems with the theory that were pretty much swept under the carpet; but putting those aside, the real elephant in the room is now our deepening understanding of exactly how the biology of life at the cellular level works.
Whether Neo-Darwinism should be replaced by some other purely scientific theory or by God himself is up to the reader. Swift ends with a very good point though: Neo-Darwinism is a scientific paradigm, and no paradigm – no matter how flawed – will be abandoned unless and until there is an alternative to take its place. And since at the moment the only alternative is a Creator that science and scientists will absolutely never accept, we are stuck with a theory that according to Swift (and apparently a growing number of his colleagues) is pretty much nonsense. Of course, most reputable evolutionary biologists disagree with him (them?) but his argument is undeniably compelling.
If this is the sort of subject that interests you, I wholeheartedly recommend this book. Agree with him or not, it’s certainly a compelling read. If you can wade through the more complicated science sections, all the better, but it doesn’t matter if (like me) they’re a bit too much for you, if you have to skip through them somewhat, it doesn’t spoil the outcome in the end.
Or does it?
The theory of evolution in itself is not – and never has been – the seamless and unanimous scientific doctrine we laymen (laypeople?) have been led to believe. There has always been bitter infighting between adherents to the different processes by which evolutionary biologists propose life on Earth began and has developed over the past thousands of millennia. And nor do people realise that Darwin’s original theory of natural selection was pretty much holed below the water line not long after the turn of the century to be replaced in the nineteen-thirties by Neo-Darwinism. But when it was, that was it; job done, yes? And the more we learn about life itself – especially now we have the ability to map genomes – the more certain and concrete that new theory has become. Well not according to David Swift and (allegedly) many others scientists. He claims that the more we learn about DNA, the more the current ideas about evolution are falling apart.
Controversial views, to say the least; but how well do they stack up? In Evolution Under the Microscope, Swift does a surprisingly impressive job of doing just that. Although much of the science went somewhat over my head, whether by the biology or the mathematics, he had me convinced.
Swift starts the book with a brief but impressive history of science itself, which leads us nicely up to Darwin. He then takes us through the evolution of the theory of evolution (do you like what I did there?) from Darwin’s revolutionary book to modern day biology. It seems that all the way through that time there were big problems with the theory that were pretty much swept under the carpet; but putting those aside, the real elephant in the room is now our deepening understanding of exactly how the biology of life at the cellular level works.
Whether Neo-Darwinism should be replaced by some other purely scientific theory or by God himself is up to the reader. Swift ends with a very good point though: Neo-Darwinism is a scientific paradigm, and no paradigm – no matter how flawed – will be abandoned unless and until there is an alternative to take its place. And since at the moment the only alternative is a Creator that science and scientists will absolutely never accept, we are stuck with a theory that according to Swift (and apparently a growing number of his colleagues) is pretty much nonsense. Of course, most reputable evolutionary biologists disagree with him (them?) but his argument is undeniably compelling.
If this is the sort of subject that interests you, I wholeheartedly recommend this book. Agree with him or not, it’s certainly a compelling read. If you can wade through the more complicated science sections, all the better, but it doesn’t matter if (like me) they’re a bit too much for you, if you have to skip through them somewhat, it doesn’t spoil the outcome in the end.
Displaying 1 of 1 review