Evolution and Fundamentalism

Abstract

THE illegitimate use of the minor discussions of scientific workers to cast doubt upon the whole question of evolution is well known and can be guarded against only by extreme caution in our words. This is illustrated in an article in the Catholic review, America (Nov. 10, 1928), entitled “Neanderthal—a Slippery Ancestor.” The writer pits against each other the views of Hrdlicka and Elliot Smith (with quotations from NATURE) regarding the significance of Neanderthal man in human evolution, and because a divergence of opinion exists, he suggests that science should be looked on askance. “Draw up to the curb of commonsense and Revelation,” he says, … “because very often ‘scientists’ are but a ‘We-Too’ gathering, all, despite their protestations of independent thinking, following some leader in beating the tomtom of Evolution.” But, of course, on the fundamental question of evolution or non-evolution amongst all living things, including man, the two distinguished scientific workers named are in agreement.