Evolutionism as Interesting
One of the first facts someone wishes to know about a thing is: where did it come from? It is no wonder, then, that biological
evolution, with over one hundred years of publicity behind it, has become a household word.5 This general and lively
public interest has been nurtured by continual scientific discoveries that confirm or critique evolution.6
Biological evolution has also become an issue of research for leaders in science, and an object of debate in politics,
education, and religion from the time of Darwin’s work. There has been sharp debate, necessary and unnecessary public
discussion about the consequences of Darwin’s idea of common descent, especially as his theory touched upon the origin
of man, at which point the term "evolution" began to take on rhetorical overtones.7
In reaction to contemporary discoveries in science, there has been a demand for new texts in philosophy. The Neo-Scholastic
treatment of the philosophy of nature and its relation to the old Scholastic traditions and principles in view of contemporary
natural science have created new discussions and a need for a new presentation.8
Evolutionism as Current
The topic of the evolution of man has been current in debate over the whole last century. The general public been very
interested in the topic, and Darwin himself.9 Educators have sought direction about what to teach.10
Accordingly, in the United States the civil courts have been involved.11
Continued scientific discoveries have made evolution a frontier subject for scientists of various types, not only in biology
but also in physics, mathematics, geology, anthropology, paleontology and genetics.12 Evolutionism has become a
frontier subject for philosophers and theologians.13
Evolutionism as Complex
The treatment of Evolutionism is made more difficult due to its complexity. Even if we are directly concerned with the
philosophy of evolution, the object of our study must be the reality of evolution. However, the kind of evolution must be
clarified. Total evolution involves the emergence of life from inorganic matter.14 Partial evolution would demand
involve less transformation. But does this diminished consideration of evolution involve a single ancestor, monophyletic evolution
(like the growth to the Biosphere of Teilhard de Chardin), or several ancestors, polyphyletic evolution?15 Does
evolution stay within a given species, between species, or extend up the ladder of taxonomy to classes, to phyla, and to kingdoms
of living things?16 And just what is the scientific mechanism that powers evolution, since not all scientists today
agree with Darwin’s natural selection and survival of the fittest?17 Further, theories of evolution are changing,
so where some were weak, now they may be strong.18 The complexity of Evolutionism is not just an interesting fact,
but leads even some Neo-Scholastics to add a chapter on the role of the expert to their more direct arguments.19