Ron Braithwaite 2008-08-19
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Darwin's thoughts, as documented in 'Origin of Species', are the pivotal moment of biology and, arguably, the most powerful scientific insight ever. 'Origin' is not the brilliant flash of insight in the mind of the young Darwin of the Beagle. It is the compilation and distillation of years of observation and research. As such, 'Origins' doesn't have the fast pace of a popular mystery novel. Instead, it is the steady and progressive development of evidence leading to the conclusion that life is constantly and progressively changing...and here is where Darwin shook the world...that the direction of this change is shaped by the agency of natural selection.
Natural Selection is precisely the sword that Darwin voluntarily fell on. Many people of the time, scientists and some theologians, had no particular problem with concepts of evolution over great expanses of time. Granted, evolutionary concepts were never popular with fundamentalist believers but others, more observant and more open about God's methods, reckoned that God could create life and advance life any way he wished.
Natural Selection threw a monkey wrench into the mechanism of Divine Direction of evolution. With Natural Selection, evolutionary 'progress' became a machine that ran quite well all by itself. It didn't need the Divine Direction of an All Merciful God. All life, including man, could be a celestial accident pushed forward by the inevitable forces of selection.
Was Darwin correct? Evidence of its basic validity is well documented in 'Origins". Besides, it makes imminent good sense, which is exactly why the concept took off like a rocket. It was logical and rational that more favored forms suceed over less favored forms--life progresses relentlessly forward...BUT...anything that makes such obvious sense should be suspect in principle. There is no reason whatsoever to believe that natural selection is the primary directive force behind evolution. It is a force, to be certain, but is it the PRIMARY force?
My guess is 'no'. Evolution over eons involving countless species of bacteria, molds, plants and animals is an extraordinarily complex process. Natural Selection is one motivator but it won't be the only one. It may not even be the most important one. There has been a tendency in some circles to almost deify Darwin. I believe Darwin would have been appalled. Cannonization is a sure way of stifling scientific discussion and progress. Darwin was a man...an intelligent man, an extremely insightful man...but just a man. Just as Newtonian physics has been found lacking in some areas, 'Darwinism' will also prove to be a less than perfect philosophy. Even so, Darwin is, in my opinion, the most important scientific mind ever.
Ron Braithwaite author of novels--'Skull Rack' and 'Hummingbird God'--on the Spanish Conquest of Mexico