Science on Trial: The Case for Evolution [Hardcover]

Douglas J. Futuyma (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1982 | ISBN-10: 0394523717 | ISBN-13: 978-0394523712 | Edition: 1st

The author strikes a telling blow for biology in the ongoing war of words with the 'creationists'. He provides a convincing explanation of the evolutionary process and at the same time an insight into the nature of scientific inquiry. "...can be read for pleasure and profit by people at all levels of biological sophistication ...a first-class book." The Quarterly Review of Biology

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 251 pages
• Publisher: Pantheon Books; 1st edition (December 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394523717
• ISBN-13: 978-0394523712
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,497,320 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Is DJF Going Bald?, February 22, 2000

By 

Robert Derenthal "bucherwurm" (California United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Science on Trial: The Case for Evolution (Paperback)

Dr. Futuyma certainly does enough figurative hair pulling and garment rending in this book whenever the thought of creationists comes to his mind. A SUNY professor, and author of a well-known textbook on Evolutionary Biology, DJF writes this most interesting book for the layman interested in learning more about the case for evolution. While there are numerous books of this type in print today, Futuyma emphasizes topics not stressed in some of the others. He discusses the history of evolution from early times up to the neo-Darwinism of today. Interesting chapters follow on the fossil record - including a good section on the evolution of the horse -, natural selection, chance and mutation, and the basic concepts of scientific knowledge.

The author presents many of the creationist arguments, and spends time refuting them. As I mentioned above, he really gets irate when he considers their criticisms of evolutionary theory. "Abysmally ignorant", "nonsense", and "absurd" are some of the modifiers he uses when discussing them. His main points are that creationists perform no original research of their own, but instead try to discredit evolution by such means as: quoting scientists out of context; using disagreements between scientists as evidence that evolution is in trouble; conveniently disregarding evidence that they cannot explain; and promoting arguments inappropriately such as the second law of thermodynamics.

There are other excellent books to read on this subject. My favorites are The Blind Watchmaker by R. Dawkins, and Abusing Science by Philip Kitcher. This one deservedly belongs on the same bookshelf, unless of course, you are a creationist.

23 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful articulation of evolutionary theory..., March 28, 2001

By 

John Rummel (Madison, WI) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Science on Trial: The Case for Evolution (Paperback)

It's rare, but not unheard of, that I know by the 50th page of a book that I need to a) read this book again, and b) purchase a copy for my own library. "Science on Trial" is such a book. A remarkable book presenting arguments in favor of evolution as a counter to the rise of creationism. Written in 1983, Futuyma's arguments are perhaps even more relevant today, in light of recent developments in Kansas, Michigan, and other states. Futuyma's writing style is exceptionally clear and he presents science as it really operates and exposes the gaping factual and philosophical holes in the creationist movement. Obviously no book can ever change the mind of a committed, dogmatic creationist, but this book should be required reading for any school board candidate.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even the Appendix has a lot in it!, October 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Science on Trial: The Case for Evolution (Paperback)

This is a great book; I read the 1983 edition and it has just about everything that's required to refute any creationist tirade that you might come across. In fact, the Appendix "Some Creationist Arguments, and Some Appropriate Responses" would make a great informational pamphlet in itself- perhaps something to distribute in Kansas ;)