Harvard sociobiologist Edward O. Wilson, who will receive an honorary degree from the University of Guelph this summer. Ruse claims it was not until partway through this century that a change occurred, but not because evolutionists ceased to believe in either social Progress or biological progress. Rather, in an effort to professionalize the field of evolutionary biology, beliefs in progress were deliberately suppressed. Evolutionary biology was made to look more objective. But progressionism can frequently be found lurking in the most professional of publications, he says.
All professional evolutionists start off denying that they believe in biological progress.
But two drinks later, they are all preaching the secular religious belief of upward triumph thanks to evolution. And you can bet that humans come out on top, not viruses. Ruse is also author of The Darwinian Revolution and Taking Darwin Seriously, as well as 12 other books. He is editor of the journal Biology and Philosophy. For media information, call Michael Ruse at Ext.