Charles Darwin proposed that individuals within species show variation and that those possessing variations favoring survival reproduce more successfully. The proposition Darwin set forth in his 1859 book, “ On the Origin of Species by Natural Selection” (subtitled “The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life”) does not appear controversial, yet court battles and controversy rages over the teaching of what is called “Darwin’s Theory” to this day.
Belief in Theory of Evolution
According to a 2009 Gallup survey, 200 years after Darwin, only 39 percent of Americans say they “believe in the theory of evolution,” while 25 percent say they do not. Another 36 percent say they have no opinion. (Gallup, February 11, 2009) A similar 2009 survey in the U.K found that half of British adults do not believe in the theory and 22 percent prefer theories of intelligent design or creationism. Half of the British respondents were either in favor of the theory or confused about it. (Riazat Butt, “Half of Britons Do Not Believe in Evolution, Survey Finds,” The Guardian, February 1, 2009.)
What Exactly is the Theory of Evolution?
Part of the confusion may lie in the fact that few people can actually define the theory of evolution. Darwin’s original hypothesis, that species show variation and compete for resources with the best adapted individuals surviving to reproduce, has undergone modifications by other scientists.
The current theory states: All life on earth descended from a single ancestor via undirected mutation and natural selection. The controversy may hinge on the single word, “undirected,” which is a metaphysical judgment and one that critics say science cannot prove.
Creationism versus Intelligent Design
Opponents of the theory may be Creationists, believing the strictly literal account of creation in the Bible, or proponents of Intelligent Design, which “holds that certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection.” The controversy is more philosophical than scientific, though all parties claim to be willing to examine the scientific evidence, and in fact the Intelligent Design proponents seek an open debate.
Evolution: Can Scientists be Biased?
Some view scientists as dispassionate seekers of the truth, unaffected by their own worldviews or politics. According to Ben Stein’s documentary, “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed,” this view of the scientific community is flawed. The political and religious beliefs (or lack thereof) influence not only individual scientists, but also the institutions that provide their income.
Evolution: Darwin’s Debt to Philosophy of Malthus
Darwin himself acknowledged in his autobiography that he was indebted to philosopher Thomas Malthus, stating that Malthus’ view of the struggle for survival in his book “Populations” inspired his own theory. Malthus believed that populations reproduce to excess and struggle for resources. He also believed that poverty and famine were God’s judgment on the lazy and that the family size of poor people should be regulated by the state.
Although Darwin has attained the rank of secular sainthood as the originator of the theory of evolution, he acknowledged that he wasn’t even the first to entertain theories on species variation and natural selection. (On the Origin of Species, Historical Sketch, pages 54-63) Court cases are unlikely to settle the debate, which may be heated on both sides more by opposing worldviews than by pure science.
