What Darwin Got Wrong

What Darwin Got Wrong is a 2010 philosophical critique of Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection by Jerry Fodor and cognitive scientist Massimo Piattelli-Palmarini. The book expands on Fodor's earlier article "Why Pigs Don't Have Wings" from the London Review of Books. The authors present logical and empirical arguments against natural selection as the primary mechanism of evolution. They focus on issues with adaptationism and examine whether selection operates on individual organisms or specific traits. The text draws heavily on concepts like evolutionary free-riders and spandrels, building on work by biologists Stephen Jay Gould and Richard Lewontin. The authors also explore alternative evolutionary mechanisms like evo-devo (evolutionary developmental biology). This controversial work challenges fundamental assumptions about evolutionary theory and raises philosophical questions about causation and scientific explanation in biology.

Readers found this book frustrating and difficult to follow, with many noting that the authors seemed to misunderstand or misrepresent natural selection. Professional biologists and laypeople alike criticized the book's dense philosophical arguments and convoluted writing style. What readers liked: - Raises valid questions about certain aspects of evolutionary theory - Thorough examination of philosophical implications - Willingness to challenge established ideas What readers disliked: - Unnecessarily complex writing - Poor grasp of basic evolutionary concepts - Circular and repetitive arguments - Limited scientific evidence for claims Ratings: Goodreads: 2.4/5 (77 ratings) Amazon: 2.3/5 (34 ratings) Sample reader comment: "The authors seem more interested in showing off their philosophical prowess than making a clear argument" - Goodreads reviewer Another reader noted: "They attack a straw man version of natural selection that no modern biologist actually believes in" - Amazon reviewer

Mind and Cosmos by Thomas Nagel A philosophical challenge to neo-Darwinian theory that questions whether natural selection can explain consciousness and cognition.

Darwin's Black Box by Michael Behe An examination of molecular biology that argues certain cellular systems are too complex to have evolved through natural selection.

Not By Chance by Lee Spetner A mathematical and genetic analysis that proposes non-random evolutionary mechanisms as alternatives to the neo-Darwinian model.

Evolution: A View from the 21st Century by James A. Shapiro A cellular biologist's perspective on how natural genetic engineering, rather than selection, drives evolutionary innovation.

The Origins of Order by Stuart Kauffman A theoretical exploration of self-organization as a fundamental principle in biology that operates alongside natural selection.

🧬 Fodor's 1990 article "Why Pigs Don't Have Wings" in the London Review of Books became a foundational text for modern critiques of natural selection theory. 🎓 Jerry Fodor was a celebrated philosopher at Rutgers University and considered one of the pioneers of cognitive science, helping establish it as a distinct field. 📚 The book sparked intense debate in academic circles, with over 30 prominent scientists and philosophers publishing formal responses within two years of its release. 🔍 While critiquing natural selection, the authors draw significantly from "evo-devo" (evolutionary developmental biology), a field that emerged in the 1980s combining embryology and genetics. 🎯 The central argument about "selection of" versus "selection for" builds on philosophical work about mental representation that Fodor developed over his 40-year academic career.