Philip Skell

Why Do We Invoke Darwin? Evolutionary Theory Contributes Little to Experimental Biology

"Darwinian evolution - whatever its other virtues- does not provide a fruitful heuristic in experimental biology. This becoomes especially clear when we compare it with a heuristic framework such as the atomic model, which opens up structural chemistry and leads to advances in the synthesis of a multitude of new molecules of practical benefit. None of this demonstrates that Darwinism is false. It does, however, mean that the claim that it is the cornerstone of modern experimental biology will be met with quiet skepticism from a growing number of scientists in fields where theories actually do serve as cornerstones for tangible breakthroughs."