Greatest Show on Earth the Evidence for Evolution Richard Dawkins

¶ … Evolution

In the book The Greatest Shown on Earth: the Evidence for Evolution author Richard Dawkins (2009) attempts to explain how it is impossible for evolution to be logically denied if people look at the scientific evidence behind the theory. In the book, he in fact states that evolution should not still be considered as just a scientific theory. Rather, he believes that evolution should be considered an established fact regardless of people's religious teachings and subsequent beliefs. His attitude is one of an expert in the field who is talking down to those who do not agree with him, a perspective that makes his book believable but unlikely to convince people who do not agree with him on the subject.

In Dawkins' book, he uses many specific examples to further prove his assertion that evolution is far more than a theory, but proven fact. Among the many things that he speaks of specifically include the various versions of certain animals as they learn to change and adapt to better suit their surroundings. He also talks about creatures which seem to be in the middle of a genetic adaptation, such as those with vestigial appendages who no longer have need of certain body parts but have them all the same. A flightless cormorant is one such example that he talks about, a bird which has vestigial wings as it is more closely related to its ancestral parents than other birds. All living things are capable of evolution and adaptation. All that is required is a new challenge to the survival of the species and the ability to change that will lead to something more probable to live.

The target of much of Dawkins' perceived antagonism is the people who believe in Creationism. This theory, also called "Intelligent Design," is the compilation of the opinions of some people that do not agree with Evolution. Instead, they believe in the creation of the world as it is explained in the Bible. According to this idea, God created man and then women out of Adam's rib. There is no scientific proof behind this viewpoint because it is not based on any scientific evidence. It is instead a theory based on the religious teachings of people.

Not just animals are prone to evolution and adaptation, but so is the larger world on the whole. Humans of course can evolve and have done so from millennia. In addition plants can survive if they are attempting to be grown in an area which has proven to inhospitable to them. A cactus, for example, is grown in the desert but has needed to adapt to drink less water in order to survive in this hash climate. If the plant did not have the ability to do this, then it would very quickly die.