Darwin’s theory of biological evolution seen from the point of view of modern physics

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1689-4286.23.04

Abstract

This paper aims to show the influence of 20th century quantum mechanics and the theory of relativity on the philosophical problems of Darwin’s theory of biological evolution. Evolution as a non-relativistic being can be attributed only to the process as a whole. Quantum mechanics and the theory of relativity are not compatible with the evolution process of separate elements of the system. It seems to be in contradiction to Darwin’s theory of evolution as a slow and gradual process of separate elements in the biological system. According to many scientists and philosophers of science the Darwin’s theory does not explain the whole Universe evolution as well as does not explain the origin of life. Explanation of events and processes, reliance on concepts not laws, refutation of typology by Darwin theory of evolution are not established by standards of scientific reasoning. Many scientific facts from modern physics indicate that Darwin’s theory of evolution is in crisis.

References

Ahuja, Aman, 2001, I have heard that humans have a wavelength: Is this true?, Ask an Expert, PhysLink.com.
View in Google Scholar

Badii, R. and Politi, A., 1997, Complexity: Hierarchical Structures and Scaling in Physics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511524691

Behe, M. J., 1996, Darwin’s Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution, New York: The Free Press, 70-71.
View in Google Scholar

Bridgham, J. T., Carroll, S. M., Thornton, J. W., 2006, Evolution of Hormone-ReceptorComplexity by Molecular Exploitation, [w:] Nature 312, 97-101, (2006).
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1123348

Chaitin, G. J., 1987, Algorithmic Information Theory. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511608858

Cosner, L., Sarfati J., 2009, Galápagos Conservation Trust, Galápagos giant tortoise, Tortoises of the Galápagos gct.org/tortoise.html, accessed 17 August 2009.
View in Google Scholar

Cuvier, G., 1812, Sur un rapprochement à établir entre les differentes classes des animaux, Paris.
View in Google Scholar

Darwin, Ch., 1859, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, London, 162.
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.82303

Darwin, C., 1839, Voyages of the Adventure and Beagle, Henry Colburn, London, darwin-online.org.uk.
View in Google Scholar

Denton, M., 1985, Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, Adler & Adler.
View in Google Scholar

Descartes, R., 1644, Principia Philosophia, Amsterdam: Fischer G Verlag, 146.
View in Google Scholar

Heisenberg, W., 1959, Physik und Philosphie, Ullstein Bucher Berlin.
View in Google Scholar

Hartle, J. and Hawking, S., 1983, Wave function of the Universe, [w:] Physical Review D 28 (12) 2960-2975 (1983).
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.28.2960

Hawking, S., and Penrose, R., 1996, The Nature of Space and Time. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/scientificamerican0796-60

Inyushin, G. U., Iliasov, I. A., 1992, Nepomniashtchih. Bioenergeticzeskije struktury —teoria i praktika, Almaty, Kazachstan, 191.
View in Google Scholar

Joos, E. et al., 2003, Decoherence and the Appearance of a Classical World in Quantum Theory, Springer.
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-05328-7

Kellert, S., 1993, In the Wake of Chaos: Unpredictable Order in Dynamical Systems, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226429823.001.0001

Kuhn, T., 1962, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, 1st. ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
View in Google Scholar

Lenski, R. E., Ofria, Ch., Pennock, R. T. and Adami, Ch., 2003, The evolutionary origin of complex features, [w:] Nature 423, 139-143, (2003).
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature01568

Lloyd, S., 2009, [w:] Nature Physics 5,164-166, (2009).
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys1208

Meyer-Abich, A., 1963, Geistesgeschichtliche Grundlagen der Biologie, Stuttgart, Fischer.
View in Google Scholar

Newton, I., 1686, Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, London.
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.5479/sil.52126.39088015628399

Pigliucci, M., 2006, Making Sense of Evolution: Toward a Coherent Picture of Evolutionary, Chicago: Theory Chicago Press.
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226668352.001.0001

Rohde, R. A. and Muller, R. A., 2005, Cycles in fossils diversity, [w:] Nature 434, (2005)
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature03339

Schrödinger, E., 1926, An Undulatory Theory of the Mechanics of Atoms and Molecules, [w:] Physical Review 28 (6): 1049-1070 (1926).
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.28.1049

Schrödinger, E., 1944,What Is Life? The Physical Aspect of the Living Cell, Dublin.
View in Google Scholar

Smith, Maynard, J. & Szathmáry, E., 1995, The Major Transitions in Evolution, Oxford University Press
View in Google Scholar

Szathmary and Smith, 1995, [w:] Nature 374, 227-232, (1995).
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/374227a0

Unlocking the Mystery of Life, 2002, Documentary by Illustra Media.
View in Google Scholar

Wheeler, J., 1989, The Cosmic, New York-Boston, 225.
View in Google Scholar

Verhulst, P. F., 1845, Recherches mathématiques sur la loi d’accroissement de la population [Mathematical Researches into the Law of Population Growth Increase], [w:] Nouveaux Mémoires de l’Académie Royale des Sciences et Belles-Lettres de Bruxelles 18 1–42 (1845) http://gdz.sub.unigoettingen.de/dms/load/img/?PPN=PPN129323640_0018&DMDID=dmdlog7
View in Google Scholar

Żurek, W. H., 2009, [w:] Nature Physics 5, 181-188, (1980).
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys1202

Żurek, W. H., 2003, Decoherence, einselection, and the quantum origins of the classical, [w:] Rev. Mod. Phys. 75:715-775.
View in Google Scholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.75.715

Downloads

Published

2013-12-30

How to Cite

Krupska, A. (2013). Darwin’s theory of biological evolution seen from the point of view of modern physics. Hybris, 23(4), 56–77. https://doi.org/10.18778/1689-4286.23.04

Issue

Section

Articles