Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
already had an evolutionary character but not a scientific ethos. As I have
suggested already, it is this aspect of evolutionism that Michael Ruse did not
consider in his important study. Ruse and I agree that evolutionism draws
from evolutionary science; what I am unable to accept is his supposition
that it is merely a personal belief. Once we recognize that evolutionism is
vitally a public phenomenon, it becomes a matter of far greater seriousness
than even Ruse seems to suppose. My claim that evolutionary myth and
evolutionary science coincide is certainly not likely to ease public skepti-
cism about evolutionary science, but I do believe that it is in the interest of
evolutionary science to recognize this tendency. Scrutiny of these mythic
temptations is consistent with the spirit of scientific inquiry and is likely to
make public consumers better able to discern where science leaves off and
ideology begins.
