The Collapse of Darwinism: Or The Rise of a Realist Theory of Life

by Graeme D. Snooks

Overview

In this provocative work, noted social and economic theorist Graeme D. Snooks exposes fatal flaws in the foundations of the Darwinian theory of evolution, which he deems an "artificial algorithm," as well as the neo-Darwinian synthesis adopted by many social scientists. Utilizing the historical method, Snooks develops a remarkable replacement theory of evolution, which he calls the "dynamic-strategy" theory. While the neo-Darwinian position places too great an emphasis on genetic change—giving rise to untenable but popular concepts such as the "selfish gene"—and fails to explain the fluctuating fortunes of life's most successful species (mankind), Snooks' framework starts by systematically observing the broad patterns of life and human society.

The resultant realist theory of life posits life as a strategic pursuit (rather than a game of chance) in which organisms adopt dynamic strategies (only one of which is genetic change) to survive and prosper. Organisms' and species' progress is achieved through "strategic selection"—a concept that displaces the "divine selection" of creationists and the "natural selection" of Darwinists. This new theory reveals the organism as empowered, rather than as the plaything of gods, genes, or blind chance; and it provides a new basis for humanism.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739106136
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	09/10/2003
Pages:	358
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.22(d)

About the Author

Graeme D. Snooks is a Research Professor at Australian National University.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Prologue: "The grandest pile of ruins I ever saw"
Chapter 2 The Rise and Fall of Darwinism
Part 3 Darwin's Dissenting Chapel
Chapter 4 The Chapel of Evolution: Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection
Chapter 5 Flaws in the Foundations: Darwin's Method of Theory-Building and Persuasion
Chapter 6 Stress in the Structure: Darwin's Descent of Man
Part 7 The Collapsing Cathedral of Darwinism
Chapter 8 The Buttress-Builders: Modern Paleontology
Chapter 9 The Cathedral-Reconstructionists: Neo-Darwinism
Chapter 10 The Image-Makers and Evangelists, part 1: Sociobiology and the Animal World
Chapter 11 The Image-Makers and Evangelists, part 2: Sociobiology and Human Society
Part 12 Rising from the Ruins
Chapter 13 A New Story of Life
Chapter 14 The Dynamic-Strategy Theory of Life
Chapter 15 The Driving Force
Chapter 16 Strategic Selection
Chapter 17 Life's Dynamic Mechanisms
Chapter 18 The Dynamics of Social Organization
Chapter 19 The Laws of Life
Chapter 20 The Future of Life on Earth and in the Universe
Chapter 21 Epilogue: A Modern Theory for the Modern World

Editorial Reviews

The Collapse of Darwinism is an important, learned, and strikingly original book that not only challenges the foundations of one of the 'big ideas' of the modern world—natural selection—but also offers a fresh and exciting new perspective on the dynamics of life. A product of its author's years of detailed study of dynamic systems in both the natural and human world, Snooks' new realist theory of life stands as an impressive intellectual achievement. Its many powerful insights will be of great interest not only to biologists, but to philosophers, sociologists, and economists as well.

Gary B. Magee

The Collapse of Darwinism offers not only a thorough review and criticism of the concepts of Darwinism, but also a comprehensive framework that is aimed at replacing them. In my opinion the publication of this book is a timely (and long overdue) step in the study of evolution, for it presents a ground-breaking and highly innovative approach.

Bertrand Roehner

The Collapse of Darwinism offers not only a thorough review and criticism of the concepts of Darwinism, but also a comprehensive framework that is aimed at replacing them. In my opinion the publication of this book is a timely (and long overdue) step in the study of evolution, for it presents a ground-breaking and highly innovative approach.--Bertrand Roehner, Institute for Theoretical and High Energy Physics, University of Paris

The Collapse of Darwinism is an important, learned, and strikingly original book that not only challenges the foundations of one of the 'big ideas' of the modern world--natural selection--but also offers a fresh and exciting new perspective on the dynamics of life. A product of its author's years of detailed study of dynamic systems in both the natural and human world, Snooks' new realist theory of life stands as an impressive intellectual achievement. Its many powerful insights will be of great interest not only to biologists, but to philosophers, sociologists, and economists as well.--Gary B. Magee, University of Melbourne

From the Publisher