SOME MISGIVINGS ABOUT EVOLUTIONARY THEORY: A COMMENT ON PROFESSOR STEBBING' PAPER.

The article focuses on paper of Stebbins J. Gould on evolution theory. It does not offer to on to order existent species into a single sequence of stages, say from simple to complex. It has other, and better, explanations for cross-sectional diversity-diversity that was always embarrassing to cultural evolutionists who sought to fit lateral differentiation into a scheme of sequences. Second, evolutionary theory is not concerned with structural differences among individuals, save as these are of demonstrable significance either in terms of genetic drift or in terms of differential adaptation. On a third point, the experts are not agreed, namely, whether there are clear and anthropomorphically neutral tests of progress, that is, of relative degrees of development or advancement Stebbins chooses his language with care when he says that supporters of the synthetic theory of organic evolution are reluctant to speculate on the course of evolution, or phylogeny, on the basis of the supposed primitiveness or advancement of modern forms of life. Evolutionary theory does not attempt organic and social comparison.