The 14 Tenets of Neo-Darwinism (from Evolutionary Theory Conference Summary), Esalen Center for Theory & Research

Evolutionary Theory
An Esalen Invitational Conference
November 14-19, 1999

The 14 Tenets of Neo-Darwinism
David Ray Griffin

David Ray Griffin presented on the topic of the Assumptions of Darwinism and Neo-Darwinian Thought. One of Griffin’s major objectives is to try to get Neo-Darwinists (and the more general scientific establishment) to become aware of their own metaphysical assumptions. Griffin’s belief is that our contemporary culture needs a common worldview that integrates science and religion. To do this, religion will need to give up supernaturalism, while science will need to give up what Griffin calls Naturalism-sam (with “sam” standing for sensationism, atheism, and materialism), in favor of a more open naturalism.

Griffin’s presentation was based upon a handout of the following 14 tenets of Neo-Darwinism (of which he accepts the first four while rejecting the others):

Microevolution occurs.
Descent with Modification.
Evolution is wholly naturalistic.
Ontological Uniformitarianism.
Exclusion of any cosmic guidance (theism).
Positivism and Materialism.
Predictive Determinism.
Macroevolution is reducible to Microevolution.
Random Variations and Natural Selection are the only factors.
Macroevolution proceeds gradually, no jumps (saltations).
Nominalism (no Forms as attractors).
Evolution is wholly atheistic.
Evolution is meaningless and amoral.
Evolution is entirely non-progressive.

One of the major debates within the field of evolutionary theory is whether it is progressive (tenets 13 and 14). Some contemporary scientists, such as Stephen J. Gould, argue that it is not. Neo-Darwinians in agreement with Gould thus hold tightly to tenet 9 above. If all mutations are exclusively random and natural selection is the only factor at work, then evolution would be understood as purposeless. Griffin indicated in his presentation that Darwin, who was a deist, believed that evolution was in fact progressive.

Tenet 7 brings up the issue of freedom vs. determinism. If evolution is entirely deterministic and predictable, then whence human freedom? Griffin’s view is that even God could not have predicted what would unfold during the course of evolution and that determinism is fallacious. Evolution is indeed a creative and unpredictable adventure.

Another issue Griffin brought attention to was tenet 11. Darwin theorized within the worldview of mechanistic science and thus did not postulate any attractive forces, such as the Platonic Forms or something akin to Rupert Sheldrake’s morphogenetic fields. For Darwin, evolution is an entirely mechanical process. Yet today, scientific mechanism is being challenged as we open to different theories of evolution.

Lastly, at issue is the question of what evolution is aiming at (if it is progressive)? Some argue for greater adaptation to the environment. Others, under the influence of the recent complexity sciences, offer that evolution is aiming at greater and greater levels of complex structures. Griffin, however, offers yet another view: evolution is aiming at greater and greater beauty. Evolution’s aim is toward creatures with increasing capacity for experience characterized by “beauty,” with the criteria being some balance of harmony and intensity.

David Deamer pointed out in response to Griffin’s presentation that in some cases evolution loses complexity. For example, for species that live in dark caves, traits have been lost, such as eye sight and skin pigments. So, perhaps there is more than one motivating factor at work in the evolutionary process besides just complexity. Griffin replied that he believes there are many factors involved, with the cosmic aim at increased complexity succeeding only when the other factors allow.