Scientific Inaccuracies In Evolutionary Theory example essay topic

The proponents and opponents of Evolutionary Theory have subjected it to scrutiny resulting in its emergence as a cornerstone for biological science. It has endured a trial-and-error process originating in philosophical inquiry over a thousand years ago, to scientific validity today. Evolutionary Theory's impact in science, education, and even religion moves our nation toward more rational explanations for humankind's origins and current state of being. Charles Darwin, a British naturalist, is credited with formalizing Evolutionary Theory with his book "The Origin of Species", published in 1859. However, the scientific principle related to Evolutionary Theory has existed for thousands of years. An ancient Greek philosopher named Anaximander (611-547 BC) offered a philosophical and physical explanation for our existence and development.

Anaximander believed humankind arose from sea dwelling fish-like creatures, changing over time and in response to environmental changes. During Anaximander's time, Greek mythology supplied explanations for life, existence, and other areas of ignorance. Philosophy was still a developing area of inquiry into nature. As philosophy and science gained popularity, materialistic explanations fueled by empirical evidences for human origins and development began to surface. Thousands of years after Anaximander philosophized about human origins, Leonardo de Vinci 1452-1519 made scientific observations supporting Evolutionary Theory in Zoology, Geology and Paleontology. A specific example is Leonardo's refutation of the Biblical flood account for fossils inside rocks on mountaintops.

Doubting a great flood was responsible for washing fossils and shells to the mountaintops, Leonardo said, .".. if the shells had been carried by the muddy deluge they would have been mixed up, and separated from each other amidst the mud, and not in regular steps and layers -- as we see them now in our time" (qty in Waggoner). Observations made by scientists in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries gathered further evidence that distinguished species of animals from each other. Darwin hypothesizes, in "The Origin of Species", that species change over time. This 'evolution by Natural Selection's uggested that species' changes results from environmental changes. Darwin's notion of Natural Selection held that variations in a species are favorable, injurious, or neither to the species's survival under its environmental conditions. In addition, the favorable variations serve to assist the species in survival and successful procreation while the injurious variations would ultimately cause members of the species with the injurious variation to die out.

Since Darwin's time, the evidence accumulated supporting evolutionary theory is overwhelming. A clich'e' defense for Evolutionary Theory claims it is as much a theory as gravitational theory. This defense is useful whenever a detractor of Evolutionary Theory presupposes the term 'theory' indicates a lack of valid evidence. Despite the catchy defense and scientific support for the principles involved in Evolution Theory, Creationists continue to invest in their supernatural explanations.

The Creationists adhere to the literal account of creation in the Bible. They introduce their intolerant adherence to biblical text in politics, education, and even scientific arenas. Often, their contribution to the discussion never acknowledges that their creation account has nothing to do with how a species changes after the alleged creation. For other theists, it is becoming popular to reconcile their religious dogma with the scientific evidence for evolution.

A fine example is the Roman-Catholic Church (RCC) controversial position on evolution. The RCC accepts that if human evolution from lesser biological organism occurred, it has done so under the God's guidance. Further, that God's responsibility for the creation of all biological existences and the souls of humans does not preclude the occurrence of evolution. A growing number of Judeo-Christian leaders say that Evolutionary Theory is not only scientifically valid, but does not conflict with their religious dogma. Others acknowledge the growing acceptance of Evolutionary Theory by their religion's adherents. They maintain their religious tenets can coexist with, but not be superseded by Evolutionary Theory.

As recently as 1950, Pope Pius XII said, .".. the Teaching Authority of the Church does not forbid that, in conformity with the present state of human sciences and sacred theology, research and discussions... take place with regard to the doctrine of evolution, in as far as it inquires into the origin of the human body as coming from pre-existent and living matter - for the Catholic faith obliges us to hold that souls are immediately created by God" (Pope Pius XII, par. 36). Even so, controversy still surrounds evolutionary theory in educational programs across the nation. In 2003, the state of Oklahoma adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 346, a disclaimer for textbooks that discussed evolution.

The disclaimer, which warned of scientific inaccuracies in Evolutionary Theory, misrepresents the definition of the term 'theory' as scientists use it. Suggesting that evolution is a theory and not fact, the disclaimer only serves to confuse students and disrupt scientific education. The entire bill failed to pass the Senate twice in 2003 by a marginal number of votes. South Carolina's legislature adjourned this year prior to voting on a proposed bill that sought to determine alternatives to teaching evolution in the state's school system. In Texas, similar anti-evolution bills 'died by adjournment' when the Texas legislature failed to vote on them. These bills, HB 1172 and HB 1447, might have allowed anti-evolution factions in the state more influence over textbooks discussing evolution.

Trivial legislative setbacks like these have consistently plagued anti-evolutionary factions in educational programs since the Scopes Trial in 1925. It is understandable why Evolutionary Theory frightens people who find comfort in the biblical account of creation. Embracing evolution means discarding long held beliefs that humans are universally special, and more than marginally distinct from lesser animals. While an overwhelming number of the scientific community agrees on the validity of Evolutionary Theory, the American public still prefers sentimentality to tested scientific facts. Despite the overall lack of acceptance by the non-scientific community, Evolutionary Theory has evolved into a well-established principle in science. Survival of the most rational explanation best describes Evolutionary Theory's impact in science, religion, and education.

Bibliography

Pope Pius XII. "Human Generi". Encyclicals of Pope Pius XII (1950): 44 pars.
15 July 2003 Waggoner, Ben.
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) " University of California, Berkeley Museum of Paleontology: A History of Evolutionary Thought (1996).
15 July 2003.