Evolutionists

by Richard Morris

Book Overview

Introduced in 1859, Charles Darwin's theory of evolution generated hot debate and controversy. Today nearly all reputable scientists agree: evolution did happen and natural selection was its main driving force. Yet a century and a half after Darwin, the theory of evolution is still being fought over with a ferocity that has rarely been equaled in the annals of science. What are scientists arguing about? And why are their exchanges sometimes so bitter?...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805071377
• ISBN13: 9780805071375
• Release Date: May 2002
• Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.49 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

A searchlight in the night

I found this book to be a godsend. I have read extensively (30 + books) in the areas of complexity and chaos theory, evolutionary psychology,evolutionary theory, genetic programming, evolutionary history, genetic mutation, and other related areas and frequently felt lost in the forest of ideas, though increasingly familiar with each tree, twig, and type of bark (to extend the analogy). Richard Morris does an admirable job of describing the forest, and helped give me a context to understand the (frequently high-decibel!) arguements between the advocates of different positions. Right from the start, Morris categorizes thinkers into broad schools -- for example, among evolutionary theorists he groups the disputatants into two broad schools: pluralists and reductionists. He clearly explains the differences between these, and does so without himself becoming polemical. He even devotes space to very recent studies (1999 & 2000) casting light on 'which way the evidence points.' Morris sidesteps the creationists (thank you!) and examines differences within the scientific community itself. Many familiar names appear within this book: John Maynard Smith, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Steven Pinker, Niles Eldridge, Steven Jay Gould (of course!), Richard Lewontin, Charles Darwin himself and others. I was surprised at a few names that did NOT appear: Jared Diamond, Benoit Mandelbrot, Brian Fagan, John Koza and Terrence W. Deacon, just to name a few.... But my gratitude for Morris's very clear guide overwhelms my quibbles. Those of us who stumble from book to book trying to understand the issues and the reasons for disagreements (not to mention the development of various lines of thought!) have long needed an overview like this one!

Evolution and what the top scientists think

The struggle for Darwin's soul is an enlightening volume of the thinking surrounding top scientist in the field of evolutionary biology and the controversies encompassed within. Darwinism is presented here in this text in all its glory. The ideas of natural selection are put forth along with the ideas of the various 'players' in the field of evolution such as Niles Eldridge and John Maynard-Smith This is not a book focusing on the tired debate between creationist and evolutionists, but instead on the known facts and the actual process of evolution.

Evolution did happen and how is explained here

I find this book to be fascinating. It captured my interest from the very beginning and kept it throughout. The controversies surrounding the subject of evolution were explained in an unbiased fashion. I like that the book focused not on the question, if evolution happened, but on how it happened. This book unravels the current debates, and explains the views of many of the top experts in the field of evolution. As a biology student I was overwhelmed with the information and the presentation in this outstanding book. I recommend it for anyone who adores the sciences like myself.

Great book on Evolution

I have read many books on the evolution theory and this is by far the best written and the most easily understandable. This book is food for the hungry curious mind if one wants to learn how evolution has evolved since Darwin's theory in 1859. It introduces us to the world of scientists and their way of expressing skepticism about claims made by other scientists. As Richard Morris said that is the only way that science can progress. I really enjoyed the details concerning the herd of elephant overrunning the world in no more than a few thousand years if all of the offspring lived to maturity. Or better the story of the brainworm, a parasite infecting sheeps, eaten by snails, whose mucus worm larvae is eaten by ants, who then crawl up a stem of grass, and wait there patiently until a sheep makes a feast with it. What about the species of ants which makes slaves, others maintain fungus farms and some other "milk" their owns. Why do you help your neighbor or give money to the homeless, why does the house sparrow have a different wingspan depending on where they live, What about the story of Mendel and his peas? Did you know that Mendel was an Austrian monk who discovered the genetic inheritance before Darwin?Richard Morris introduces us slowly to the evolution theory' scientific terms, which for a layman are very inspiring: Do you know what a spandrel is? What is the Wason Selection Task? The Cambrian era? What is Dr. Kettelwell experiment with moths and his findings? Who are the parents of the mule? What is a hinny and who are its parents? What is a tetrapod? Why are the same bones seen in the leg of a frog, in the wing of a bat and in the arm and hand of a human being? How new scientific disciplines like complexity theory and evolutionary psychology have emerged? Everything about the fossils creation, the radioactive dating and all the function of DNA and much more are explained. As Richard Morris said: "The essence of science, after all is questioning, not the creation of rigid theories that have hardened into dogma." We, all of us are part of the Evolution, if you want to see where it stands now, read this book. I am not going to give you all the answers, they are or sometimes are not in this book and you better see for yourself, and buy it!I almost forgot I have only one little problem with this book, I am French and had to run to my dictionary for many words! I hope it will be translated into French very soon.Yvette Lemoine

The Struggle for Darwin's Soul

I find this book to be fascinating. It captured my interest from the very beginning and kept it throughout. The controversies surrounding the subject of evolution were explained in an unbiased fashion. I like that the book focused not on the question, if evolution happened, but on how it happened. This book unravels the current debates, and explains the views of many of the top experts in the field of evolution. As a biology student I was overwhelmed with the information and the presentation in this outstanding book. I recommend it for anyone who adores the sciences like myself.