Taking Darwin Seriously

Kenneth V. Kardong
Washington State University

As an evolutionary biologist, I have experienced at least two kinds of skepticism. One is constructive; the other obstructive. Constructive skepticism is one I use myself, and couple it with expectations for discovered knowledge, systems of logic, and sorting of arguments through critical thinking emancipated from “gut feelings”.  More generally in public discourse on Darwinian evolution, skepticism takes the form of dogmatic doubt denying any method for gaining useful knowledge except through application of pre-accepted dogma; such skepticism is obstructive, turned in on itself, without a system to verify or advance knowledge, and hence without a system to improve understanding that comes with advancing knowledge.  Such obstructive skepticism of Darwin has overshadowed evolution’s significance to modern society.  For example, as products of the evolutionary experience, humans have evolved ethical systems that are derivatives of the environments in which such systems originally served. Many human psychological preconditions dispose us to certain aesthetic values in art, architecture, and personal pleasures, heirlooms of our evolutionary past. In practical ways, Darwinian natural selection informs us about the reasons we have and suggests strategies to combat evolving pathological diseases.