Darwinists and Dissenters - 1535 Words

Did God create the universe or did the universe create itself? Ever since Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species was first published in 1859, the debate between those that believe life was brought into existence by supernatural means and those who believe in Darwin’s theory of evolution has been fierce. Each side presents compelling arguments that may sway any uneducated reader to agree with their position based solely on the confidence they portray in their writings. However, because of the vastness and strength of evidence presented by the proponents of modern evolutionary theory, Darwinists have proved their point much greater than those who argue in favor of Intelligent Design. In this essay, four arguments will be presented; two†¦show more content†¦In other words, the complexity of life and its organisms could not have arisen slowly over time because if one part of a whole is not present then it cannot function, survive, and therefore possess the abili ty to reproduce and evolve. Behe explains this theory using a mousetrap as an example. He writes that â€Å"if any one of the components of the mousetrap (the base, hammer, spring, catch, or holding bar) is removed, then the trap does not function† and that â€Å"because the mousetrap is necessarily composed of several parts, it is irreducibly complex†¦ thus [proving] irreducibly complex systems exist† (5). Although Behe’s theory seems reasonable, Jerry Coyne points out in his book, Why Evolution Is True, that â€Å"the†¦ designs [observed] make sense only if they evolved from features of earlier ancestors† and that an Intelligent Designer would not have made it a motive to have organisms appear as though they evolved (Coyne, 85). Coyne’s critique of Behe’s theory of irreducible complexity further solidifies the Darwinists’ claim, especially in regard to his point that an Intelligent DesignerShow MoreRelatedEssay about Buck versus Bell3633 Words   |  15 Pagesintentions as those of the European immigrants. The presence of these minority groups generated both racial and class fears within white middle and upper class Americans. The fervent ethnocentrism resulting from these fears, coupled with the Social Darwinist concepts of Herbert Spencer, would ultimately spur the American eugenics movement. Originating from the theories of Sir Francis Galton, the cousin of Charles Darwin, eugenics is the study of human heredity and genetic principles for the purposesRead MoreHerbert Spencer Essay13142 Words   |  53 Pagessociocultural evolution amounted to, in Spencers phrase, the survival of the fittest. The free market system, without interference by governments, would weed out the weak and unfit. His controversial laissez-faire philosophy was praised by social Darwinists such as William Graham Sumner and opposed by sociologists such as Lester Frank Ward. Liked or loathed, Spencer was one of the most discu ssed Victorian thinkers. For more information on Herbert Spencer, visit Britannica.com.    |British History: Herbert