Doubting Darwin?: Creationist Designs on Evolution

by Sahotra Sakar

Overview

Noted biologist and philosopher Sahotra Sarkar exposes the frauds and fallacies of Intelligent Design Theory, and its claim to be 'good science'.

• A scientific and philosophical exploration of the debate between evolutionary theory and Intelligent Design in the classroom
• Puts the debate into its scientific and historical context
• Looks at a variety of topics, including the relation between Darwinism and modern evolutionary theory, the use of computer science and information theory by the creationists, and the idea of metaphysical naturalism
• Rejects Intelligent Design's claim to legitimacy, showing clearly how and why it is an unsuitable alternative to evolutionary biology in the classroom
• A thought-provoking book for those seeking to understand an intellectual debate that is shaping our education policies
• Forms part of the provocative and timely Blackwell Public Philosophy series

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781405154918
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	04/16/2007
Series:	Blackwell Public Philosophy Series , #8
Pages:	214
Product dimensions:	6.05(w) x 9.05(h) x 0.51(d)

About the Author

Sahotra Sarkar is Professor of Integrative Biology and of Philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin. He is author of Genetics and Reductionism: A Primer (1998), Molecular Models of Life (2004), and Biodiversity and Environmental Philosophy (2005); editor of several books, including The Philosophy and History of Molecular Biology (1996), the six-volume Science and the Philosophy in the Twentieth Century: Basic Works of Logical Empiricism (1996), and co-editor of the two-volume The Philosophy of Science: An Encyclopedia (2005).

Table of Contents

List of Figures.

Preface.

Acknowledgements.

1. Introduction.

a. The Central Argument.

b. The Evidence for Evolution.

c. Rejecting Theories.

d. Plan of the Book.

2. The Legacy of Darwin and Wallace.

a. The Theory of Natural Selection.

b. “Absurd in the Highest Possible Degree”.

c. Darwin’s Unfortunate Retreat.

d. Wallace and Weisman.

e. The Decline of Darwinism.

f. Mind and Culture.

g. Contemporary Implications.

3. The Argument from Design.

a. Adaptation and Design.

b. Function, Design, and Selection.

c. Blind Variation.

d. Dembski’s Resurrection.

4. Mere Evolution.

a. Mendel’s Legacy.

b. The Modern Framework for Evolutionary Theory.

c. Selectionism and Neutralism.

d. Reconstructing the Past.

e. Contemporary Debates.

f. Terminological Choices.

5. The Cost of Lunch.

a. Evolutionary Algorithms.

b. The “No Free Lunch” Theorems.

c. Dembski’s Excitement.

d. Utter Irrelevance.

e. Adaptationism.

f. Final Assessment.

6. Complexity is Complicated.

a. Irreducible Complexity?.

b. Pathways to ICSs.

c. The Citric Acid Cycle.

d. The Blood Clotting System.

e. The Bacterial Flagellum.

f. Protein Evolution.

g. Irreducibility and Design.

7. Questions of Information.

a. What is Biological Information?.

b. Information and Evolution.

c. Specified Complexity.

d. The Law of Conservation of Information.

e. The Cambrian “Explosion”.

f. Taking Leave of Creation Biology.

8. Cosmic Coincidences.

a. Physics and Biology.

b. Anthropic Principles?.

c. The Force of Improbability.

d. A Cosmological Design Argument.

e. Is Fine-Tuning Surprising?.

f. A Concluding Note.

9. Naturalism and Its Discontents.

a. What Naturalism Is.

b. Nagel’s Legacy.

c. The Problem of Normativity.

d. Creationist Critiques.

e. Metaphysical Naturalism.

10 Conclusions.

a. Critiques of Evolutionary Theory.

b. Is ID Science?.

c. Back to the Classroom.

Notes.

References.

Index

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"This is a splendid discussion of the whole question of ID. Get this book and read it."
–Michael Ruse, review for National Center for Science Education

“Sarkar’s scientific expositions and dissections of Dembski’s specious arguments and Behe’s lack of imagination are clear, surgical, and authoritative. For those who would fear a return to the middle ages, this is the best critique of ID now available.”
–William Wimsatt, University of Chicago

“Part history, part science, and part philosophy, Doubting Darwin? is a deft critique of the new creationism. Sahotra Sarkar hits all the main points with economy and the broad knowledge of a scientist-philosopher.”
–Jeffrey Shallit, University of Waterloo

“The West’s simultaneous loyalty to Christianity and science is a cognitive dissonance in our culture as a whole, most prominently manifested in the Intelligent Design Movement. Sahotra Sarkar’s book is a welcome attempt to apply cognitive therapy to our culture, by talking us through the contradictions in intelligent design.”
–David Wolpert, Senior Computer Scientist at NASA

“Sahotra Sarkar lucidly and comprehensively dismantles Intelligent Design creationism in the most powerful way: by explaining the biology. This book summarizes the theory and philosophy of evolution with depth and insight, and in a way that sharply refutes the objections of creationism.”
–P. Z. Myers, PhD, University of Minnesota, Morris, and author of Pharyngula Blog

Editorial Reviews

"This is a splendid discussion of the whole question of ID. Get this book and read it." Michael Ruse, review for National Center for Science Education

“This is a clear and judicious book … Sarkar is to be praised for his nuanced and balanced presentation of the arguments and issues he discusses.” Kaleidoscope

“Sarkar’s scientific expositions and dissections of Dembski’s specious arguments and Behe’s lack of imagination are clear, surgical, and authoritative. For those who would fear a return to the middle ages, this is the best critique of ID now available.”
William Wimsatt, University of Chicago

“Part history, part science, and part philosophy, Doubting Darwin? is a deft critique of the new creationism. Sahotra Sarkar hits all the main points with economy and the broad knowledge of a scientist-philosopher.”
Jeffrey Shallit, University of Waterloo

“The West’s simultaneous loyalty to Christianity and science is a cognitive dissonance in our culture as a whole, most prominently manifested in the Intelligent Design Movement. Sahotra Sarkar’s book is a welcome attempt to apply cognitive therapy to our culture, by talking us through the contradictions in intelligent design.”
David Wolpert, Senior Computer Scientist at NASA

“Sahotra Sarkar lucidly and comprehensively dismantles Intelligent Design creationism in the most powerful way: by explaining the biology. This book summarizes the theory and philosophy of evolution with depth and insight, and in a way that sharply refutes the objections of creationism.”
P. Z. Myers, PhD, University of Minnesota, Morris, and author of Pharyngula Blog

“Sarkar’s concise, elegant prose allows him to enlighten and engage readers on every topic…a must read for anyone interested in following the debate...”
Choice

From the Publisher