Synopses & Reviews
Introduced in 1859, Charles Darwins theory of evolution generated hot debate and controversy. Today, nearly all reputable scientists agree: evolution did happen and natural selection was its main driving force. And yet, a century and a half after Darwin, the theory of evolution is still being fought over with a ferocity that has rarely been equaled in the annals of science. What are scientists arguing about? And why are their exchanges sometimes so bitter?
In The Evolutionists, Richard Morris vividly portrays the controversies raging today in the field of evolutionary biology. With a clear and unbiased eye, he explores the fundamental questions about the evolutionary process that have provoked such vehement disagreement among some of the worlds most prominent scientists, including Stephen Jay Gould, fellow paleontologist Niles Eldredge, geneticist John Maynard Smith, and zoologist Richard Dawkins.
As he elucidates the issues of contention, Morris also positions them within the broader context of evolutionary thought as a whole. He explains the theory of evolution in detail, reviews the main trends of evolutionary science since Darwin, and assesses how the field is changing today—from ground-breaking new research to the emergence of scientific disciplines like complexity theory and evolutionary psychology.
A vibrant account of contemporary evolutionary biology, The Evolutionists is a fascinating look at how controversy and debate shape the scientific process.
Review
"Richard Morris outlines where the real action is—not whether evolution happened, but how it happened and what the implications are for our lives. After you read this book you will be compelled to continue watching the drama unfold.
—Michael Shermer, publisher, Skeptic Magazine, author of Why People Believe Weird Things and How We Believe
Review
" . . . Morris outlines where the real action is -- not whether evolution happened, but how it happened and what the implications are . . ."
--Michael Shermer, Skeptic magazine
"Clarity and conciseness distinguish this evolution primer."
--Discover
"Morris's engaging style makes the history, politics and political motivations fun to read."
--Nature
Synopsis
A vibrant account of contemporary evolutionary biology,
The Evolutionists is a fascinating look at how controversy and debate shape the scientific process.
Synopsis
Introduced in 1859, Charles Darwins theory of evolution generated hot debate and controversy. Today, nearly all reputable scientists agree: evolution did happen and natural selection was its main driving force. And yet, a century and a half after Darwin, the theory of evolution is still being fought over with a ferocity that has rarely been equaled in the annals of science. What are scientists arguing about? And why are their exchanges sometimes so bitter?
In The Evolutionists, Richard Morris vividly portrays the controversies raging today in the field of evolutionary biology. With a clear and unbiased eye, he explores the fundamental questions about the evolutionary process that have provoked such vehement disagreement among some of the worlds most prominent scientists, including Stephen Jay Gould, fellow paleontologist Niles Eldredge, geneticist John Maynard Smith, and zoologist Richard Dawkins.
As he elucidates the issues of contention, Morris also positions them within the broader context of evolutionary thought as a whole. He explains the theory of evolution in detail, reviews the main trends of evolutionary science since Darwin, and assesses how the field is changing today—from ground-breaking new research to the emergence of scientific disciplines like complexity theory and evolutionary psychology.
A vibrant account of contemporary evolutionary biology, The Evolutionists is a fascinating look at how controversy and debate shape the scientific process.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 239-244) and index.
About the Author
Richard Morris, Ph.D., is the author of over a dozen books explaining the wonders and intricacies of the scientific world. Among these are
Artificial Worlds,
Achilles in the Quantum Universe,
Cosmic Questions,
The Edges of Science,
The Nature of Reality, and
Times Arrows. He lives in San Francisco, California.