Transcript Is Darwinism a scientific theory?

Is Darwinism a scientific
theory?
Nissim Amzallag
Truth and faith in Biology
François Jacob
Nobel Prize (1965)
Biochmistry and Medicine
“Like the other sciences, Biology has lost today its
illusions. It does not look anymore for truth. It
builds its own.”
The logic of life (1970), p. 24
Scientific truth as dialog
Theory
Observed diversity
Common principles
Experience
testability = criterion of scientificity
The birth of Scientific Biology
J.B. Lamarck
(1744-1829)
1802
1809
The Lamarck’s achievements
Theory
Systematics
Evolution
Mechanism
of evolution
Invertebrates and
General systematics
Testability
founded
Existence of an
evolutionary tree of life
Adaptive transformations
become inherited
Comparative anatomy
Embryology,
Molecular Biology
founded
Systematics
Paleontology
Geology
Physiology,
Embryology
Ecology
The Darwin’s flood
Evolution
Molecular Biology
Ethology
Microbiology
Cell differentiation
Ecology
Immunology
Genetics
C. Darwin
(1809-1882)
Darwin’s contribution to Biology
Systematics
Classification of Cirripedae (1854)
Problematic
Evolution
Transformation of species (1859)
Already known
Mechanism
of evolution
Natural selection
Theoretical Novelty
Darwin’s ‘Origin of Species’
the first comments
Auguste Laugel
Scientist, Historian, Philosopher
1830-1914
The main problem of the theory [Evolution by Natural
Selection], the author acknowledges it, is the absence
of evidences justifying it. It is always question of
observations that should be further developed. We
should wait for the detailed treatise that Mr Darwin
promises to publish soon in order to form a definite
opinion about his theory.
(Revue des deux mondes, 1860, 26, p. 667)
The fundamental problem
Verification
Triviality
the most represented
The
pre-adapted
individuals
are
The best reproducers are the most represented
at next
the next
generation
at the
generation
Scientific truth
Theory
The pre-adapted individuals
The best reproducers
Justification 1:
The lack of alternative
Spontaneously
pre-adapted individuals
Physiological adaptation
Environmental
changes
The entire population
overcomes transformations
Testable
Gradual overrepresentation of
the most fertile individuals
Non-testable
Evolutionary transformations
Justification 2:
Fighting obscurantism
Science
Religion
Evolution
Creationism
Darwinism
Obscurantism
Darwinism = Theory about mechanisms of evolution
Justification 3:
Fundaments of “rational biology”
complex
characters
gradual
Blind variations
selection
Complex character = Sum of elementary characters
Completion of Cartesian revolution in Biology
Darwinism as religion
Karl Popper
(1902-1994)
1974
“I intend to argue that the theory of Natural
Selection is not a testable scientific theory but a
metaphysical research program, and although
it is no doubt the best at present available, it can
perhaps be slightly improved.” (Chap 33)
The cultural context of Darwinism
Eugenism: Cultural management of Natural Selection in mankind
First Eugenic laws
1907
USA (Indiana)
1910
Eugenic Record Office (USA)
Eugenic Education Society (GB)
1928
Switzerland (Vaud)
1933
Germany - Denmark
The missing countries
France
Italy
Spain-Portugal
Greece
Poland
1935
Sweden - Norway
Protestant
Russia
Catholic / Orthodox
The Calvinist dimension of Darwinism
Calvinism
Darwinism
God chooses individuals
among the population
Few individuals are
spontaneously pre-adapted
The chosen are a minority
benefiting god's blessing
Pre-adapted individuals multiply
the fastest
The divine criteria for election
is impenetrable
Pre-adaptation emerges
randomly
Election is determined at birth,
and maintained for life
Fitness is genetically determined
from conception
Election is inherited, but may
be silenced for generations
Fitness is inherited but may be
silenced for generations
There is no personal merit in
divine election
Adaptation is entirely
circumstantial
The Darwinian
Dark Age