Unguided evolution

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{{Evolution}}

The concept of '''unguided evolution''' forms part of the scientific theory of [[evolution]] by [[natural selection]]. It involves the ideas:

* that evolution follows one simple principle — living long enough to reproduce
* that neither nature nor the process of evolution and natural selection are partial to ''what'' reproduces or how
* that there is no "ultimate" form of [[life]] that is the "target" of all this reproduction, [[mutation]], and selection

==Lack of a goal==
The idea of unguided evolution implies that [[humans]] are not the "goal" of evolution: just a by-product of billions of years of mutation and [[natural selection]] acting on organisms which have managed to survive long enough to breed. Also, the scientific theory of evolution rejects "magical" or "[[Miracle|miraculous]]" supernatural intervention in the evolutionary process (''{{IdEst}}'', the sort that violates the laws of [[physics]]).

This lack of a goal or plan for evolution causes problems for those who have [[religious]] reasons for believing that there is [[Human exceptionalism|some sort of "line"]] differentiating humans and (other) [[animals]] (or for that matter, other forms of [[life]]), with the former claimed to have immaterial [[soul]]s but the latter not.

==Alternatives to unguided evolution==
===Creationism===
One alternative is [[creationism]], ''i.e.'', the total rejection of the scientific theory of evolution. This involves [[denial]] of any number of scientifically verified facts and their replacement with the dictum, "[[Goddidit|God said it]], [[Blind faith|I believe it]], that settles it."

===Intelligent design===
Some creationists who are otherwise known as "[[cdesign proponentsist]]s" are slightly more selective about the facts they deny. One popular tactic is to avoid mentioning the [[Bible]] but still deny that the processes of [[abiogenesis]] and evolution could have occurred in a universe adhering strictly to [[natural law]]. The proponents of this theory ([[Michael Behe]], for example) usually believe in some form of "[[guided evolution]]", in which evolution was made possible by constant miraculous tweaks by an "[[God|unseen hand]]." This often postulates that [[human]]s are the ultimate goal, placing us all back in that comforting special space of being unique and intentional. This guided evolution incorporates some aspects of natural selection, and may even accept [[common descent]], but arbitrarily limits the power of the unguided process with such concepts as [[irreducible complexity]].

===Theistic evolution, ''etc.''===
{{main|Theistic evolution}}
There are also those people who do not deny the scientific theory of evolution or any of the facts appertaining thereunto, with the exception of the of unguided evolution. These include [[pantheist]]s and [[deist]]s who discount the existence of miracles altogether, as well as some supporters of theistic evolution who believe that a supernatural entity had some role in the evolutionary process, but somehow managed this without using miracles. For example, some people believe that God designed the laws of physics themselves<ref group=note>Some even go further, claiming that God ''necessarily'' designed them; this is a fallacy called the [[Fine-tuned universe|argument from fine-tuning]].</ref> while not believing that God breached those laws in the evolutionary process.

===Alternatives from Discworld===
In ''[[Science of Discworld|Science of Discworld III]]'', an alternative reality develops in which [[Charles Darwin]] writes a book entitled ''Theology of Species'', where "survival of the fittest" is translated to "survival of the worthiest" and that evolution has a goal: to be closer to perfection for God when the world eventually ends (for "when the medals are given out" as one of the wizards puts it). Later in this alternate reality, the [[Richard Dawkins|Rev. Richard Dawkins]] writes ''The Origin of Species'' to put forward an unguided evolutionary premise.

==See also==
*[[De-evolution]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

[[Category:Science]]
[[Category:Evolution]]

Categories: Science, Evolution