Vanessa Davenport
Book: Explaining Life Through Evolution
Author: Prosanta Chakrabarty
Publisher: MIT Press
Prosanta Chakrabarty’s book delves into the intricacies of evolution, but its primary focus is on the disparity between the theory itself and how it is received and politically manipulated. Having spent most of his career in the US, a scientific superpower where resistance to scientific ideas has persisted since the famous Scopes ‘monkey trial’ in 1925, which centered around the teaching of Darwinism, Chakrabarty highlights the ongoing challenges to scientific understanding, including the current legal threats to abortion rights.
The book opens in Louisiana in 2008, where Bobby Jindal advocates the teaching of biblical scripture in schools as an alternative to evolutionary theory. It culminates with Narendra Modi’s discussion of advanced medical technologies like stem-cell research and plastic surgery in the contemporary era. The local news also adds to the concern, with politicians proposing contentious ideas such as “partial eugenics” involving genetic screening of embryos, raising questions about who would define the genetic disorders and how the powerful might misuse CRISPR gene editing technology.
One of the core problems is the misuse of evolutionary theory due to widespread misunderstandings. A particularly dangerous misinterpretation is of Darwin’s phrase “survival of the fittest,” which is often taken to mean the most deserving or eminent individuals rather than the most successful procreators. This misunderstanding reinforces social hierarchies, keeping certain groups in positions of power while marginalizing others. In England, Darwinism disrupted the hierarchical “Great Chain of Being” from the Elizabethan era, yet its misinterpretation paradoxically seemed to justify social hierarchies.
Anti-evolutionists often ridicule the idea that humans are descended from monkeys, even though evolutionary theory proposes a common ancestor. However, this nuanced perspective is often overshadowed by identity politics, leading to the weaponization of misunderstandings. Chakrabarty mentions the example of blue eyes, which were later found to have emerged relatively recently, but believers in certain supremacist theories remain undeterred.
The book also explores why anti-science sentiments find traction in political circles, whether it’s in Bobby Jindal’s or Narendra Modi’s realms or among anti-vaxxers. Chakrabarty attributes this to the erosion of trust in science. As complex scientific knowledge becomes increasingly specialized, the layperson must rely on experts’ opinions. However, right-wing political operators exploit this trust gap by offering simplistic explanations and manipulating public perception for their gain.
While Chakrabarty is deeply concerned about the trust problem in science, he surprisingly omits the immense betrayal of trust during the pandemic years, which occurred while he was writing the book. The pandemic highlighted the importance of trust in international organizations and scientific institutions like the WHO. However, certain protocols and guidelines, like the efficacy of masks and sanitizers, were later found to be misconstrued, leading to a further loss of trust.
Despite this omission, the book covers various fascinating aspects of evolution and biology. It could have explored viruses as potential precursors to life forms, but it primarily focuses on unique and intriguing aspects of life science, such as the fact that kangaroos have three vaginas. While other authors may offer more literary takes on genetic studies, these extraordinary trivia are best brought to light by biologists like Chakrabarty.
Vanessa Davenport is a graduate assistant at CAD University. With an insatiable curiosity for the mysteries of the natural world, Vanessa’s academic journey is marked by a relentless pursuit of knowledge and a passion for research. As a graduate assistant, she actively engages in cutting-edge scientific projects, collaborating with esteemed professors and researchers to contribute to the advancement of their field. Beyond her scientific pursuits, Sarah finds solace in nature, often spending her free time hiking through the trails in her hometown and observing wildlife. An avid reader, she is equally at home with science fiction novels that ignite her imagination.
