Abstract

Combining an appreciation of recent analyses of "types" of scientific explanation with a detailed knowledge of contemporary biological investigations, Goudge examines the theory of evolution since Darwin. He argues that twentieth century evolutionary theory gives rise to philosophical questions whose importance rivals anything that physics has to offer. After showing how "modern selectionist theory" differs from Darwin's view of evolution, he asks: "Has evolutionary theory metaphysical implications?" The answer--a tentative "yes"--is so carefully qualified that one wonders whether new contributions to the theory of evolution have the philosophic import that Goudge claims for them.--J. M. W.