Non-Darwinian Theories

List of others voicing alternatives to Darwinism

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People merely criticizing the modern synthesis appear in "Critiques of Darwinism."
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Rupert Sheldrake for his morphogenic fields. A New Science of Life and more recent books – claims a process known as morphic resonance: the past forms and behaviors of organisms, influence organisms in the present through direct connections across time and space. Strong critic of reductionism, materialism and neo-Darwinism.

Brian Goodwin

Stuart Pivar for the Urform hypothesis , a factor primarily in embryogenesis. Rejects natural selection, instead complex biological forms arise through self-organization of embryological processes. Pivar’s theory is mechanist but strongly opposes natural selection

Rhawn Joseph has the most radical non-Darwinian evolution theory going?

Creative Evolution: A Physicist's Resolution Between Darwinism and Intelligent Design Monist idealism

Bruce Lipton author of The Biology of Belief  – he claims that genes and DNA do not control biology, instead DNA is controlled by signals from outside the cell, he has a mass of evidence that it is consciousness

Antonio Lima-de-Faria author of Evolution without Selection, Form and Function by Autoevolution and more recent books. – Claims evolution occurs due to internal physico-chemical factors and not natural selection. Mentioned in the The Altenberg 16: An Exposé of the Evolution Industry

Guy Murchie, the earth is not only alive, but also conscious and sentient superorganism

Richard Milton for book Shattering the Myths of Darwinism

Francis Hitching The Neck of the Giraffe or Where Darwin Went Wrong

James Le Fanu 2009 released attack on Darwinism

Robert Wesson, Beyond natural selection, hundreds of examples of organisms in nature that defy natural selection

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IntelligentAnimation
Of Pebbles and Cats
Only a materialist would look at a pebble and a cat and conclude they are the same, or that any perceived difference is an "illusion" but fail to provide any reasoning as to how that could be. This guy Steve takes the dodging approcah of not knowing what free will is, or consciouness. You don't need to explain what you cant see with your head in the sand.Darwinists attempt to distract from the failures of materialism by using tautological terms such as adaptation and selection, which provide us with nothing that actually causes anything.As long as the Darwinist admits that they have absolutely no idea how evolution happens, then the words selection or adaptation are not used tautologically.However (as they so often do until pinned into a corner)say evolution is "by" selection, they are reversing cause and effect, or intertwining them as one to avoid providing a cause. When asked how living things got the ability to adapt, I usually get "They adapted it." which is comically circular illogic.Darwinism is a farce and the worst disgrace in the history of science.
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IntelligentAnimation
Of Pebbles and Cats
Only a materialist would look at a pebble and a cat and conclude they are the same, or that any perceived difference is an "illusion" but fail to provide any reasoning as to how that could be. This guy Steve takes the dodging approcah of not knowing what free will is, or consciouness. You don't need to explain what you cant see with your head in the sand.Darwinists attempt to distract from the failures of materialism by using tautological terms such as adaptation and selection, which provide us with nothing that actually causes anything.As long as the Darwinist admits that they have absolutely no idea how evolution happens, then the words selection or adaptation are not used tautologically.However (as they so often do until pinned into a corner)say evolution is "by" selection, they are reversing cause and effect, or intertwining them as one to avoid providing a cause. When asked how living things got the ability to adapt, I usually get "They adapted it." which is comically circular illogic.Darwinism is a farce and the worst disgrace in the history of science.
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Heresiarch
Adaptautology
to quote from the Fodor book, "to say that phenotypes are adapted to their environment is just to say that there are such phenotypes."Adaptation and fitness are non sequitors. All we observe are differing amounts of reproductive success among creatures and the corresponding gene distributions in subsequent generations. The theory of natural selection pretends to provide a cause for this effect. But NS theory can never separate the cause from the effect. It is a tautology.
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Heresiarch
Adaptautology
to quote from the Fodor book, "to say that phenotypes are adapted to their environment is just to say that there are such phenotypes."Adaptation and fitness are non sequitors. All we observe are differing amounts of reproductive success among creatures and the corresponding gene distributions in subsequent generations. The theory of natural selection pretends to provide a cause for this effect. But NS theory can never separate the cause from the effect. It is a tautology.
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Forests
eh
what evidence does steve have that a pebble does not have life?!
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Forests
eh
what evidence does steve have that a pebble does not have life?!
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shaun
Response to Steve
"(1) An adaptation in biology is a trait . . ." Either, in talking about evolution, “adaptatio n” is used in a non-technical sense, as when we speak of an “adapter,” or it is used in a technical sense, in which case it can mean anything you like. If the latter, as you prefer, then when evolutionist point out how well-adapted living creatures are they are uttering a tautology: living creatures are adapted as only living creatures can be. My agreement with you is then assured. I’ve never read any evolutionist of repute using the word “adapt” in the limited sense you claim, though."(2) By environment, evolutionary theory means the niche . . ."I think “niche” and “environme nt” are not identical. A creature can participate in more than one niche within its environment. How “specializ ed” a species is said to be refers to how restricted is its access to various niches within its environment. Both cats and humans are fairly non-specialized, right? If you agree so far, now read your point number 2. It is such an irrelevant straw man l can see it only as meant to add bulk to your attack, not point. "(3) Nothing is "independent" of its environment..."“Independe nt” is like “specializ ed.” Both are relative terms. Supposing I meant independent in an absolute sense is another straw man."(4) If being conscious and having "free will"..." You’ve right, but not by mutation-and-selection. With consciousness and free will creatures in a line of inheritance can create and choose to inherit habits which, by the Baldwin Effect, eventually assume genetic form. This is a legitimate way acquired characteristics can be inherited. Agree to that, and we’ve no need of natural selection."(5) Nobody "needs" natural selection..."Inevitably, less fit creatures will be less likely to pass on their genes. That says nothing about how creatures evolve. It could be a negligible factor. Inevitably, your car is buffeted unequally on front and back by molecular collisions but that isn’t what drives it. Just so, the contribution to evolution of natural selection could be negligible. "(6) Adaptation is NOT a tautology..." Adaptation is a tautology. Bats having wings precludes them having arms like ours. That can as easily be said to be an adaptation as not. Without some accommodation to its niche a creature can’t exist. To say of those that exist that they’re “adapted” while those that don’t exist (became extinct or were born defective) is to utter a tautology. Whatever the mechanism of evolution, those creatures that do exist will display adaptations."Sorry, I don't have time to correct any more of your misunderstandin gs. However, if you seriously want to understand evolutionary theory you need to read something by real biologists. I would suggest Douglas Futyma's textbook EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY. If it is too advanced then try Ernst Mayr's WHAT EVOLUTION IS first then go back to Futyma." Actually, read through my responses and you’ll perhaps conclude you are the one who could benefit more from some reading.. Try the Himmelfarb item, first in the "Critiques of Darwin" sectionIt’s a common ploy for Darwinist believers to loftily declare that believers automatically know more than their critics. I never let pass an opportunity to point out how presumptuous that is."IF on the other hand you are only interested in spouting nonsense in the hopes of convincing someone else that evolution is a theory in crisis, then I suggest you spend a long hard time at the mirror examining your motives."I appreciate a contribution to the “Bulldog sightings” section of the forum of this site, where I collect examples of personal abuse from Darwinist believers.I am actually very appreciative of your posting, the first I've received in over a year. I've been challenging in response as a matter of principle. I hope I haven't deterred you, or anyone else, from contributing.
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shaun
Response to Steve
"(1) An adaptation in biology is a trait . . ." Either, in talking about evolution, “adaptatio n” is used in a non-technical sense, as when we speak of an “adapter,” or it is used in a technical sense, in which case it can mean anything you like. If the latter, as you prefer, then when evolutionist point out how well-adapted living creatures are they are uttering a tautology: living creatures are adapted as only living creatures can be. My agreement with you is then assured. I’ve never read any evolutionist of repute using the word “adapt” in the limited sense you claim, though."(2) By environment, evolutionary theory means the niche . . ."I think “niche” and “environme nt” are not identical. A creature can participate in more than one niche within its environment. How “specializ ed” a species is said to be refers to how restricted is its access to various niches within its environment. Both cats and humans are fairly non-specialized, right? If you agree so far, now read your point number 2. It is such an irrelevant straw man l can see it only as meant to add bulk to your attack, not point. "(3) Nothing is "independent" of its environment..."“Independe nt” is like “specializ ed.” Both are relative terms. Supposing I meant independent in an absolute sense is another straw man."(4) If being conscious and having "free will"..." You’ve right, but not by mutation-and-selection. With consciousness and free will creatures in a line of inheritance can create and choose to inherit habits which, by the Baldwin Effect, eventually assume genetic form. This is a legitimate way acquired characteristics can be inherited. Agree to that, and we’ve no need of natural selection."(5) Nobody "needs" natural selection..."Inevitably, less fit creatures will be less likely to pass on their genes. That says nothing about how creatures evolve. It could be a negligible factor. Inevitably, your car is buffeted unequally on front and back by molecular collisions but that isn’t what drives it. Just so, the contribution to evolution of natural selection could be negligible. "(6) Adaptation is NOT a tautology..." Adaptation is a tautology. Bats having wings precludes them having arms like ours. That can as easily be said to be an adaptation as not. Without some accommodation to its niche a creature can’t exist. To say of those that exist that they’re “adapted” while those that don’t exist (became extinct or were born defective) is to utter a tautology. Whatever the mechanism of evolution, those creatures that do exist will display adaptations."Sorry, I don't have time to correct any more of your misunderstandin gs. However, if you seriously want to understand evolutionary theory you need to read something by real biologists. I would suggest Douglas Futyma's textbook EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY. If it is too advanced then try Ernst Mayr's WHAT EVOLUTION IS first then go back to Futyma." Actually, read through my responses and you’ll perhaps conclude you are the one who could benefit more from some reading.. Try the Himmelfarb item, first in the "Critiques of Darwin" sectionIt’s a common ploy for Darwinist believers to loftily declare that believers automatically know more than their critics. I never let pass an opportunity to point out how presumptuous that is."IF on the other hand you are only interested in spouting nonsense in the hopes of convincing someone else that evolution is a theory in crisis, then I suggest you spend a long hard time at the mirror examining your motives."I appreciate a contribution to the “Bulldog sightings” section of the forum of this site, where I collect examples of personal abuse from Darwinist believers.I am actually very appreciative of your posting, the first I've received in over a year. I've been challenging in response as a matter of principle. I hope I haven't deterred you, or anyone else, from contributing.
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steve shope
Are you serious?
I certainly hope this is a poor joke, but I think you are serious.(1) An adaptation in biology is a trait with a current functional role in the life history of an organism. Since a pebble does not have a life history it isn't adapted to anything.(2) By environment evolutionary theory means the niche the organism occupies. Thus, a cat is poorly adapted to occupy the same niche as a human. That is why you don't see many cats as CEO's of their own companies. On the other hand humans are poorly adapted to niche occupied by cats. That is why you don't see many humans sniffing around the floor to track mice.(3) Nothing is "independent" of its environment. Adaptations can be effective in several different locales so it is not surprising that so many organisms aren't limited to the square foot of land they presently occupy.(4) If being conscious and having "free will" (whatever that actually is) were to grant humans a better chance to reproduce, then there is no reason to think that evolutinary theory cannot account for it.(5) Nobody "needs" natural selection. You get it anyway. You are either going to produce below the average number of offspring (in which case your genome is selected against); an average number of offspring (in which case you will be selectively neutral); or you will produce a larger than average number of offspring (in which your genome will be selected for). There is no way to avoid it. By the way, I have chosen to have a single offspring so my genome is selected against. I don't see that as a bad thing.(6) Adaptation is NOT a tautology. It is not a tautology to say that a bat's wing is better adapted to flight while a dolphin's pectoral fin is better adapted to swimming. The interesting thing is that the bones in a bat's wing are the same as the bones in dolphin's pectoral fin.Sorry, I don't have time to correct any more of your misunderstandin gs. However, if you seriously want to understand evolutionary theory you need to read something by real biologists.I would suggest Douglas Futyma's textbook EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY. If it is too advanced then try Ernst Mayr's WHAT EVOLUTION IS first then go back to Futyma.IF on the other hand you are only interested in spouting nonsense in the hopes of convincing someone else that evolution is a theory in crisis, then I suggest you spend a long hard time at the mirror examining your motives.Good Luck,Steve
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steve shope
Are you serious?
I certainly hope this is a poor joke, but I think you are serious.(1) An adaptation in biology is a trait with a current functional role in the life history of an organism. Since a pebble does not have a life history it isn't adapted to anything.(2) By environment evolutionary theory means the niche the organism occupies. Thus, a cat is poorly adapted to occupy the same niche as a human. That is why you don't see many cats as CEO's of their own companies. On the other hand humans are poorly adapted to niche occupied by cats. That is why you don't see many humans sniffing around the floor to track mice.(3) Nothing is "independent" of its environment. Adaptations can be effective in several different locales so it is not surprising that so many organisms aren't limited to the square foot of land they presently occupy.(4) If being conscious and having "free will" (whatever that actually is) were to grant humans a better chance to reproduce, then there is no reason to think that evolutinary theory cannot account for it.(5) Nobody "needs" natural selection. You get it anyway. You are either going to produce below the average number of offspring (in which case your genome is selected against); an average number of offspring (in which case you will be selectively neutral); or you will produce a larger than average number of offspring (in which your genome will be selected for). There is no way to avoid it. By the way, I have chosen to have a single offspring so my genome is selected against. I don't see that as a bad thing.(6) Adaptation is NOT a tautology. It is not a tautology to say that a bat's wing is better adapted to flight while a dolphin's pectoral fin is better adapted to swimming. The interesting thing is that the bones in a bat's wing are the same as the bones in dolphin's pectoral fin.Sorry, I don't have time to correct any more of your misunderstandin gs. However, if you seriously want to understand evolutionary theory you need to read something by real biologists.I would suggest Douglas Futyma's textbook EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY. If it is too advanced then try Ernst Mayr's WHAT EVOLUTION IS first then go back to Futyma.IF on the other hand you are only interested in spouting nonsense in the hopes of convincing someone else that evolution is a theory in crisis, then I suggest you spend a long hard time at the mirror examining your motives.Good Luck,Steve
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