Anti-Darwinist

An anti-Darwinist is an individual or group who rejects or actively opposes the theory of evolution by natural selection, primarily as proposed by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace. This rejection often stems from philosophical, religious, or ideological objections to the concept of natural selection as the primary mechanism driving biological change and diversity. Anti-Darwinists may propose alternative explanations for the origin and development of life, often emphasizing intelligent design, creationism, or other non-evolutionary models. Their opposition can range from academic debate to public campaigns against the teaching of evolutionary theory in schools or its acceptance in scientific research.

Anti-Darwinist meaning with examples

• Despite overwhelming scientific evidence, the school board, comprised largely of anti-Darwinists, voted to remove evolutionary biology from the curriculum, citing concerns about its perceived conflict with their religious beliefs and its potential to undermine moral values, sparking protests from the scientific community and some parents.
• The prominent theologian, known as an anti-Darwinist, frequently published articles criticizing Darwin’s theory, advocating for a literal interpretation of the creation story and arguing against the scientific consensus on the age of the Earth and the origin of species.
• In the public sphere, certain political groups, frequently labelled as anti-Darwinists, actively campaign for legislation mandating the teaching of alternative theories alongside evolution in public schools, arguing for balanced presentation of different perspectives on the origins of life.
• During the legal battle over the teaching of intelligent design, defense attorneys attempted to portray the plaintiffs' scientific experts as overly biased towards evolutionary theory, suggesting they were unduly prejudiced against any viewpoint espoused by anti-Darwinists.