Is evolution progressive? with Richard Dawkins

2014

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Summary

In setting out to answer his central question "Is evolution progressive?", Dawkins illustrates the human biases that continue to muddle our understanding of just what evolutionary 'progress' means; from early Victorian influences, to contemporary scientific texts which uncritically invoke 'evolutionary scales' and notions of 'higher' and 'lower' organisms. In turn, Dawkins demonstrates the 'human chauvinistic' definition of progress, and why, if progress is defined from this point of view, it becomes easy to deny any progressive elements to evolution. In response, Dawkins argues that if we use a more biologically sensible definition of progress, evolution can indeed be shown to be progressive in a very important sense. Instructor's package included free! Your order is accompanied by a comprehensive Instructor's Package. This package includes material outline, section synopses, suggested excersises and discussion questions, as well as relevant articles written by Richard Dawkins which may be duplicated and assigned as outside reading. Bonus companion video (save over 50%!) Richard Dawkins : the selfish meme is the optional 50 minute companion program to Is evolution progressive?. In this bonus presentation, Richard Dawkins goes in-depth to address key implications, criticisms, and the most commonly asked questions raised by the main program.