Re: [Marxism] What Science Books Accessibly Present Evolutionary Theor y?

["Ian Angus" <ian@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>Might I suggest a look at the other side of Darwinism?
>Darwin's Black Box
>Michael Behe

Excuse me while I choke. Behe is an intelligent-design creationist,
and "Darwin's Black Box" is an idealist attack on evolution, a
marginally disguised religious tract. It's an extended case of
the "argument from ignorance" -- i.e., since we don't yet know exactly
how some changes occurred, (or at least since Behe can't figure it out)
god must have done it. See
http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/behe/review.html

Passing on to serious books, I want to second the recommendation of
Richard Dawkins. I too knew of him only through Gould's criticisms, and
reading his books for myself was a revelation. He is an excellent
writer, a materialist, and an expert in Darwinian theory. He's also a
militant atheist, and thus very critical of Gould's "two magisteria"
views.

Dawkin's "Climbing Mount Improbable" and "The Blind Watchmaker" are two
of best general books I have read on evolution -- clear, accessible
accounts that thoroughly explode nonsense of the Behe type and explain
what evolution is and how it works.

A somewhat more difficult book, but still readable by a non-biologist
(like me) is Ernst Mayr's "What Evolution Is."

If the Gould-Dawkins debate interests you, look for "Dawkins vs. Gould:
Survival of the Fittest" by Kim Sterelny.

And the website www.talkorigins.com contains a wealth of material.

--
Ian Angus
Socialist History Project
www.socialisthistory.ca

_______________________________________________
Marxism mailing list
Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism