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Running Head: Chapter-by–Chapter Critique: Jerry Coyne’s Why Evolution Is True
Chapter-by–Chapter Critique: Jerry Coyne’s Why Evolution Is True
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Chapter-by–Chapter Critique: Jerry Coyne’s Why Evolution Is True
Chapter-by–Chapter Critique: Jerry Coyne’s Why Evolution Is True
Professor Jerry A. Coyne research focuses on evolution genetics and speciation. He
presents a full-scale defense of the modern evolution theory which can be described in one long
sentence. Life on Earth began with a single primitive species that evolved gradually- perhaps a
self-replicating molecule- living more than 3.6 billion years ago; it then branched out with time,
resulting in many new and different species; and the reason for evolutionary change is natural
selection (Coyne, 2009).
This statement breaks down evolution into six components. The idea of gradual changes
taking over many generations that sometimes comes quickly depending on the operational
evolutionary pressures. The fact of evolution where there is genetic change over time; the common
ancestry of various species, new species, usually known as twigs on the expanding branches of life
can be discovered back to a common branch, and finally to one original ancestor. The speciation
phenomenon, where new species diverge from the existing lineages; the phenomenon of natural
selection, where different genes are combined to reproduce more favorable genes because of the
different individual organism abilities to reproduce and survive in a shared environment
peacefully. In addition to natural selection, there are presence processes that contribute to
evolutionary change which is sometimes referred to as “genetic drift”. By stringing the DNA of
different species and measuring how similar these series are, we can refurbish their evolutionary
relationships (Gould, 2002).
By arguing that “evolution is true,” Coyne means that: first, all the central propositions
relating to the six components are correct; secondly, because of increasingly decisive evidence
from many lines of research that has become available, the six elements should be accepted as true
since they form the mainstream of science. When evolutionary biologists use the word theory, it
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Chapter-by–Chapter Critique: Jerry Coyne’s Why Evolution Is True
does not mean that the evolutionary account of life diversity is a mere conjecture or speculation:
according to the scientists, the term describes a well thought from a group of propositions to
explain the real facts about the universe (Coyne, 2009). A point arrives at where such a body of
components has been so thoroughly tested, and so strongly supports the evidence, meaning it is
not a theory as defined earlier, but should be acknowledged as a set of facts. These group of
propositions can be proved to be false by new data since the propositions of science are accepted
temporarily. In the case of the heliocentric description of local astronomical bodies and their orbits,
it is most unlikely that that other scientist will ever falsify the central propositions. According to
Coyne’s central claim, the main propositions of modern Darwinian Theory have developed to
“fact-hood” in this sense. Evolution is a designer who cannot design a building from a scrape, but
must build every new structure by adapting a pre-existing building, keeping the structure
tenantable all the while (Freeman & Herron, 2007).
The evidence presented by Coyne is ultimately overwhelming and fascinating. He gathers
information from different fields such as biogeography, embryology, the presence of vestigial
structures in modern organisms, the records of fossils, and the nature of suboptimal design to
demonstrate that plants have evolved and natural selection is the primary cause of vast diversity
of apparent design. Evolutionary theory has made scores of successful predictions, explained data
that could not make sense without evidence, and never been falsified by anomalous observations.
In addition to these propositions, Darwinism can also be reinforced by data and facts that are not
necessarily anticipated by the theory of evolution but make sense only in light of the theory of
evolution (Gould, 2002).
Coyne’s ability to assemble evidence from all the lines of inquiry and demonstrate how the
chains of interference converge is a great strength as to Why Evolution is True. He can convince
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Chapter-by–Chapter Critique: Jerry Coyne’s Why Evolution Is True
serious biologist’s doubts about the central propositions of modern evolutionary theory, for
example, the claims that lineages split into different species, that organisms evolved over time,
and that the main engine of adaptation is natural selection (Williams, 2008). Natural selection,
among other processes with separate populations, is a mechanism for change, but in bringing about
the modification it also results in reduced genetic difference, and the reduced genetic difference is
the contradiction of what is needed for evolution to continue. Although evolutionary biology is
one of the vast areas of study, and its professional journal contains excellent discussions of the
details of the process, the main components are entirely uncontroversial within science, mostly
because they powerfully support massive amounts of collected data.
There are no scientific researches in contrary with the status of modern evolutionary there,
but there are social controversies in the way that many people reject the evolutionary theory. Wellresourced organizations such as America’s Notorious Discovery Institute have concentrated their
efforts to resist evolutionary theory. In a special way, evolutionary theory is unique: no one has
ever engaged in aggressive, high-profile campaign to raise public doubts about Einsteinian physics
or plate tectonics or complain that micro-organism causes most diseases. One of the areas where
resistance is approaching high strength seen in the science relating to climate change, but this is
seldom change compared with equal ferocity despite the practical importance and it is an
underlying world image of modern science.
Showing native ancestry of two groups, then, does not require that we assemble fossils of
the single definite species that was their common ancestor, or even species on the direct line of
degenerating from an ancestor to descendant. Rather, we need only generate fossils having the
types of attributes that link two groups together, almost importantly, we must also have the dating
evidence showing that those fossils occur at the right time in the topographical record. A
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Chapter-by–Chapter Critique: Jerry Coyne’s Why Evolution Is True
“transitional species” is not corresponding to “an ancestral species”; it is merely a species showing
a mixture of characteristics from organisms that lived both before and after it (Freeman & Herron,
2007).
Coyne examines the motivations that might underline resistance to the theory of evolution
in the final chapter of why Evolution is true. Why is it that a person of greater ordinary intelligence
can be provided with a convincing evidence of evolution, understands it, but still cannot accept
the central propositions that it supports? However, Coyne does not emphasize that the timeline and
the processes of evolution totally contradict fundamentalists of the Christian religion that have the
idea of young earth creationism.
For the believers of such positions, the age of the land and distinct creation of each kind
living things including human beings ear emo mere add-ons to the evolutionary theory. These ideas
cannot be modified nor discarded to accommodate scientific discoveries to preserve an essential
base of spiritual documentaries. In fact, they are elements of a carefully integrated and
comprehensive theological systems that include a literal fall from grace within a given moment;
Jesus Christ’s sacrificial atonement for sin; ultimate victory of God over Satan; and the historical
introduction of corruption and sin in the world. This final victory will result in a complete cleansing
of all creation resulting into a new life beginning. Such system beliefs do not accept scientific
modifications about world, time, and space lightly. Since this Christian theology retains scores of
faithful’s, many individuals reject the evolutionary theory and strongly holds on their religious
views. The shift to some Theistic Evolution is likely to be greatly painful to die hard Christians
since there will be no more appealing other than abandoning Christianity altogether.
Many other areas of science such as astrophysics and geology also contradict with the
Young Earth Creationism and all doctrines associated with the system. However, there is no
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Chapter-by–Chapter Critique: Jerry Coyne’s Why Evolution Is True
negative nor positive cause of similar anxiety like that of modern evolutionary biology. Coyne is
right to emphasize on more general concerns other than those unique to Christian beliefs. Coyne’s
suggestion is that many people require more than evidence for the evolution of life since most of
them fear development consequences. For the people who are not Young Earth Creationist or
anything else related to this, development brings such profound questions of morality and purpose,
meaning that they can never accept it despite the many evidence provided to them (Coyne, 2016).
These people of good intention are only concerned about what follows psychologically and
logically if evolution is true.
A shred of evidence is evidence, and this has tempted me to give short shrift to such
concerns. The central theories of modern evolutionary theory are completely covered by the
evidence provided and cannot be changed. I might say that I inclined. Thus, there is a need to work
out the implications instead of imagining that the repercussions can control whether or not the
theory is correct. Some of the implications might appear to be unappealing, and it is intellectually
or irrational dishonest to allow that to decide on what we believe. Instead, we should face the music
and accept the bona fide implications of the evolution theory, regardless of what they might turn
out to be.
Possibly, Coyne takes a more gentle approach to evolution theory.
He expresses
compassion with the widespread fear that realization of the truth about evolutionary theory could
dissipate whatever inhibitions stop us from acting in unethical and selfish ways. If we are at the
heart of animals, the thought goes, why not give full curb to the animal within? What reasonable
basis might there be to control our most destructive incentives?
This questions can provide the theme for the entire Coyne’s book, or for other many books.
Coyne answer is that we are not dancing marionettes on the strings of evolution (Coyne, 2009).
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Chapter-by–Chapter Critique: Jerry Coyne’s Why Evolution Is True
Some of our behaviors might be inherited genetically, but our genes are categorized in different
ways under many distinct circumstances. Although there are human cruelty and selfishness,
likewise, there is also much altruism and kindness. We make our choice, and it is clear that our
genetic inheritance doesn’t take a form that makes us have the so-called animal behavior. Coyne
points out that we have been able to make a change on moral progress within the recorded history
of humankind. Vicious activities such as contentious combat and human sacrifice have been
increasing ruled out increasingly while expanding our circles of consideration and sympathy. This
kind of progress can not explicitly prevent nor caused by our genes in any simple way. It is a
simple misconception to think that accepting the truth of evolution will in any way wedge apart
our society, set us in motion to act like beasts, spoil our morality, and give rise to the new
generation of “Stalin's” and “Hitler’s” (Freeman & Herron, 2007).
As far as this analysis goes, I agree entirely with it, but there is another point made for the
people who have the concern on evolutionary theory and might feel less pleasant. However, this
point is undeviating with Coyne’s approach, and it belongs to another book, and Coyne can be
excused for not mentioning it. Indeed, it is a summary of discussion journal like this. Finally, the
point is that morality based on a modern scientific understanding of the universe and our position
in it will be entirely different from the old, familiar moral lessons, handed down through cultural
and religious traditions. Thus, if some people opposes the evolutionary theory especially in a
materialistic and naturalistic understanding of the world, and sob that their morality cannot become
perpetuated, in its aggregate, they are doubtless right. Much of the old rights and wrongs cannot
be supported from the view of philosophical naturalism and materialism. However, what has to be
added is that this is not a worse thing.
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Chapter-by–Chapter Critique: Jerry Coyne’s Why Evolution Is True
The old ethics, especially those related to Christianity, with its long tradition of embarrassment
about the body and sex, its hardline advocacy of human exceptionalism including human dignity
and its apotheosis of saintliness, asceticism, and self-abnegation, only lacks reasonable support.
Sexual selection may describe some very odd traits of living things, but it does nothing whatever
to develop the idea of evolution beyond "microevolution." (Coyne, 2016). We can admit that much
thinking needs to be done about what social institutions of morality and what it should take; which
ethical concepts reins should we accept or which morality should we aspire to and why.
Furthermore, it is unlikely that any reasonable approach will enable the old virtue to be constructed
again without any change. Certainly, it is already under challenge and has been there for many
years.
As a first approximation, attributes serves purposes such as contributing to social survival,
amending the suffering in the world, and enhancing individual flourishing. There is nothing
concerning evolutionary theory which requires us to cease valuing that kind of objectives.
Otherwise, a virtue system aimed at such targets have little room for supposed morals such as piety
or chastity, or for the traditional prohibition of various more or less harmless gratifications. A
reasonably revised virtue is likely to have a small effect to say for example stem cell research,
abortion, same-sex marriage, or technologies of human enhancement or assisted reproduction.
However, much of the old virtue’s content is miserable and illogical, when viewed for various
purposes that can acceptably be assigned to virtue itself. We ought to welcome the evolutionary
theory if it teaches us to understand worldview in a naturalistic way instead of sticking our thought
and believes in the sands of tradition.
However, since Jerry Coyne does not adopt anything to deal with something like an original
line, this takes me far away from his magnificent book, whether or not he might sympathize with
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Chapter-by–Chapter Critique: Jerry Coyne’s Why Evolution Is True
it. His accomplishment is an all-inclusive and truly captivating synthesis of the evidence in support
of strongly established science. If you are passionate about scientific discoveries and
advancements, and in that case you are looking for a book that explains evolution with strength,
elegance, clarity, and verve, Why Evolution Is True is the best book to purchase from your
bookshop.
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Chapter-by–Chapter Critique: Jerry Coyne’s Why Evolution Is True
References
Coyne, J. A. (2016). Faith versus fact: Why science and religion are incompatible. Penguin.
Coyne, J. A. (2009). Why evolution is true. Penguin.
Williams, G. C. (2008). Adaptation and natural selection: a critique of some current
evolutionary thought. Princeton University Press.
Freeman, S., & Herron, J. C. (2007). Evolutionary analysis (No. QH 366.2. F73 2007). Upper
Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Gould, S. J. (2002). The structure of evolutionary theory. Harvard University Press.
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