"Darwin on Trial"

Paper Summary:

This paper offers an opinionated discussion on the arguments presented in Johnson's book. The paper begins with a general background on Darwin and the controversy surrounding his theory of evolution. It then offers examples from the book, which the author of the paper debates or refutes.

From the Paper:

"Johnson argues over the idea of the "survival of the fittest," though this was not a Darwinian notion in the first place but was added later by Herbert Spencer. Johnson sees this as part of natural selection, though, and argues at length that it is a false argument that assumes the conclusion in the way the question is framed. Johnson again and again raises logical objections to ideas he says are part of the idea of evolution, and often he is seeing a logical fallacy where there is none. At the same time, he makes the same logical errors he attributes to others as, for instance, when he assumes the answer in the way he asks the question. Given that he sees no need for proof of the existence of God, the way he approaches all the issues involved here is based on a clear assumption of certain religious tenets. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Johnson, Philip E. Darwin on Trial. Downers Grove, Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 1993.

More papers on "Darwin on Trial":

• Book Review # 93995 : "Darwin on Trial"
• Term Paper # 93374 : "Darwin's Theory of Evolution"
• Term Paper # 103065 : "Darwinism and the Scopes Monkey Trial"

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