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Does evolutionary theory contradict the principles of Objectivism?

I am new to atheism and Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism, and I embrace both wholeheartedly. However, I take issue with the theory of evolution. Atheism seems to imply evolution, but evolution seems to clash with Objectivism. Evolution holds that man is an insignificant piece of the larger, grander picture of the randomness that is life, that man is just one small insignificant step in the collective evolution of the earth, and that man is one with Mother Earth, not superior to it. In contrast, Objectivism holds that man has a purpose and that man is the most significant being, supreme over all other life. Also, Objectivism holds that "A is A" and that "Existence exists." Evolution, in contrast, claims that life came from non-life, fish came from non-fish, and man came from non-man -- meaning that A came from non-A. Am I correct in my criticisms? Might some theory other than evolution be more compatible with Objectivism?

i_amjohngalt, 18.08.2012, 13:45
Idea status: completed

Comments

Marc, 18.04.2013, 15:38
Evolution is a scientific theory that describes the diversity of life. It does not state that life came from non-life. In fact it is quite the contrary. It says nothing about non-life. The theory of the beginning of life is called theory of abiogenesis. Scientists do not know everything about abiogenesis, although they know some of it. Nevertheless, A is A means right here and right now. As I look outside my window in Redlands, California the sky is blue. It may rain tomorrow and be gray, but as I write this it is blue. 10,000 great grandparents ago, my ancestors may have looked more similar to fish than they do me, but right here, right now I am a man. This is not to say that fish came from non-fish or that man came from non-man. Over time, we have developed into what we are today via very small changes. There was never a fish that gave birth to a toad or a chimp that gave birth to a man. Chimps and humans have a common ancestor that lived 6 million years ago that does not exist today.

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