Social Evolution

Michael Ruse. Mystery of Mysteries: Is Evolution a Social Construction? Harvard University Press, 1999
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Philosopher Michael Ruse explores the debate between objectivist and constructionist accounts of science. Basically, do scientists neutrally discover an existing world, or do they construct models of the world, informed by a variety of personal, social and ideological agendas?. He uses his example the rise of evolutionary theory, from the pre-scientific speculations of Erasmus Darwin, to the works of his grandson Charles, through to such controversial modem figures as Richard Dawkins, Edward O. Wilson and Stephen J. Gould. Intriguing for anyone interested in the history of science. -- Peter Rogerson. Magonia 69, December 1999.