1. Introduction.
Ernst Mayr identifies the ‘One Long Argument’ in The Origin of Species (“Origin’) as a compound theory of two independent activities: modification over time and diversification in geographical space (Mayr 86). This paper will focus on the second element of Darwin’s compound theory, species diversification in geographical space as argued by Jerry Coyne in Why Evolution is True.
My thesis is twofold: First, Coyne incorporates Darwin’s geographical space theory into four biogeographical inductive arguments and includes a fifth argument using a theory of convergent evolution. This hybrid five-part inductive argument allows Coyne to explain some attributes of island species that remained puzzles for Darwin. Secondly, this hybrid argument is successful in overcoming objection raised by rival Creationist Theories and passes William Whewell’s three tests of a successful Consilience of Inductions. For each of the five inductive claims made by Coyne, I will trace their genesis back to Darwin, identify and assess Darwin’s observational evidence, consider any creationist objections, and test its stand-alone strength as an inductive argument. 2. William Whewell’s Consilience of Inductions. In Origin, Darwin uses a particular type of induction to argue for his geographical distribution theory in Chapters 12 and 13; it is a Consilience of Inductions (CI). CI uses evidence from multiple, independent, unrelated sources and converges to a defensible conclusion. It was developed by William Whewell. The Consilience of Inductions takes place when an Induction obtained from one class of facts, coincides with an Induction, obtained from another different class. This Consilience is a test of the truth of the Theory in which it occurs. (Whewell 1857, 469) According to Whewell, we can have macro and micro CI arguments. Darwin’s ‘One Long Argument’ is a macro-CI while his focused geographical arguments are micro-CI. 3. The Inductive Island Argument of Why Evolution is True. In chapter four of Why Evolution is True, Jerry Coyne presents a micro CI argument. This argument originates in Origin and he calls it his ‘island’ argument, “The evidence for evolution from patterns of life on continents is strong, but that from life on islands is, as we shall see, even stronger” (Coyne 107). For each observation introduced by Coyne, I will assess its strength, trace its heritage back to Darwin’s Origin and test it against the creationist rival argument. 3.1 Observation 1- Oceanic Islands are Unique Coyne starts his argument with the simple observation, “…oceanic islands are missing many types of native species that we see on both continents and continental islands” (Coyne 108). This observation mirrors the start of Darwin’s argument in Origin in chapter 12 – Geographical Distribution and the third of his three great facts: A third great fact, partly included in the foregoing statement, is the affinity of the productions of the same continent or of the same sea, though the species themselves are distinct at different points and stations. (Darwin 377) Darwin cites bird notes and songs, bird …show more content…
Coyne develops the inductive argument for each of the species he cited and Darwin completed a number of experiments to test the theory that plants could survive an ocean voyage. Birds and insects can fly to an isolated island and carry plant seeds with them either internally or externally. In contrast most land mammals and the other creatures cited could not swim to an isolated island or they would be killed by the salt water. However, there are certain mammals which have been noted on these oceanic island: flying mammals and aquatic mammals. Both examples would have ready paths to colonize these …show more content…
Secondarily, there is no reason that certain species of mammals be found on these islands while their related but functionally different species are not. This is a very strong observation.
3.4 Observation 4 – Species on Oceanic Islands are Similar to Nearby Mainland Species Coyne introduces the final Origin observation, “…with few exceptions, the animals and plants on oceanic islands are most similar to species found on the nearest mainland” (Coyne 115). This is a close paraphrase of Darwin’s original observation in Origin.
…it is obvious that the Galápagos Islands would be likely to receive colonists from America, whether by occasional means of transport or (though I do not believe in this doctrine) by formerly continuous land ...such colonists would be liable to modification,—the principle of inheritance still betraying their original birthplace. (Darwin
Ernst Mayr identifies the ‘One Long Argument’ in The Origin of Species (“Origin’) as a compound theory of two independent activities: modification over time and diversification in geographical space (Mayr 86). This paper will focus on the second element of Darwin’s compound theory, species diversification in geographical space as argued by Jerry Coyne in Why Evolution is True.
My thesis is twofold: First, Coyne incorporates Darwin’s geographical space theory into four biogeographical inductive arguments and includes a fifth argument using a theory of convergent evolution. This hybrid five-part inductive argument allows Coyne to explain some attributes of island species that remained puzzles for Darwin. Secondly, this hybrid argument is successful in overcoming objection raised by rival Creationist Theories and passes William Whewell’s three tests of a successful Consilience of Inductions. For each of the five inductive claims made by Coyne, I will trace their genesis back to Darwin, identify and assess Darwin’s observational evidence, consider any creationist objections, and test its stand-alone strength as an inductive argument. 2. William Whewell’s Consilience of Inductions. In Origin, Darwin uses a particular type of induction to argue for his geographical distribution theory in Chapters 12 and 13; it is a Consilience of Inductions (CI). CI uses evidence from multiple, independent, unrelated sources and converges to a defensible conclusion. It was developed by William Whewell. The Consilience of Inductions takes place when an Induction obtained from one class of facts, coincides with an Induction, obtained from another different class. This Consilience is a test of the truth of the Theory in which it occurs. (Whewell 1857, 469) According to Whewell, we can have macro and micro CI arguments. Darwin’s ‘One Long Argument’ is a macro-CI while his focused geographical arguments are micro-CI. 3. The Inductive Island Argument of Why Evolution is True. In chapter four of Why Evolution is True, Jerry Coyne presents a micro CI argument. This argument originates in Origin and he calls it his ‘island’ argument, “The evidence for evolution from patterns of life on continents is strong, but that from life on islands is, as we shall see, even stronger” (Coyne 107). For each observation introduced by Coyne, I will assess its strength, trace its heritage back to Darwin’s Origin and test it against the creationist rival argument. 3.1 Observation 1- Oceanic Islands are Unique Coyne starts his argument with the simple observation, “…oceanic islands are missing many types of native species that we see on both continents and continental islands” (Coyne 108). This observation mirrors the start of Darwin’s argument in Origin in chapter 12 – Geographical Distribution and the third of his three great facts: A third great fact, partly included in the foregoing statement, is the affinity of the productions of the same continent or of the same sea, though the species themselves are distinct at different points and stations. (Darwin 377) Darwin cites bird notes and songs, bird …show more content…
Coyne develops the inductive argument for each of the species he cited and Darwin completed a number of experiments to test the theory that plants could survive an ocean voyage. Birds and insects can fly to an isolated island and carry plant seeds with them either internally or externally. In contrast most land mammals and the other creatures cited could not swim to an isolated island or they would be killed by the salt water. However, there are certain mammals which have been noted on these oceanic island: flying mammals and aquatic mammals. Both examples would have ready paths to colonize these …show more content…
Secondarily, there is no reason that certain species of mammals be found on these islands while their related but functionally different species are not. This is a very strong observation.
3.4 Observation 4 – Species on Oceanic Islands are Similar to Nearby Mainland Species Coyne introduces the final Origin observation, “…with few exceptions, the animals and plants on oceanic islands are most similar to species found on the nearest mainland” (Coyne 115). This is a close paraphrase of Darwin’s original observation in Origin.
…it is obvious that the Galápagos Islands would be likely to receive colonists from America, whether by occasional means of transport or (though I do not believe in this doctrine) by formerly continuous land ...such colonists would be liable to modification,—the principle of inheritance still betraying their original birthplace. (Darwin