Book Review: Origin of the Human Species
Origin
of the Human Species
by Dennis Bonnette. Dr. Bonnette offers a
philosophical analysis of the theory of evolution with particular application to
human origins. Dr. Bonnette presents evolutionary theories (both theistic and
non-theistic), along with creationists' explanations. Dr. Bonnette, being a
Roman Catholic, defends the traditional Roman Catholic interpretation of human
origins from the book of Genesis. Although he does not take an official position
on the superiority of any one theistic model, his book seems most compatible
with an old earth creationist approach. The book describes a "natural" or
"philosophical" species, as a group of biological species that is functionally
similar. This definition is probably closer to the biblical concept of "kinds"
described in Genesis. From the examples given, a "natural species" would seem to
correspond to the biological concept of a taxonomic class (above genera and
orders), with some exceptions. Dr. Bonnette examines the philosophical
possibility of evolution within a "natural species," primarily quoting what
other philosophers and scientists have had to say about the subject. Dr.
Bonnette defends the creation of the human soul as being incompatible with
naturalistic evolutionary theories and requiring divine intervention. Another
chapter examines the possibility of extraterrestrial life, abiogenesis, and
panspermia. The final chapters examine the origin of human beings from
scientific, philosophical, and theological perspectives. Being a biologist, I
would have preferred more science input, although I recognize that philosophy
often has a larger following, especially among non-theists. The book shows that
no matter what major approach to life's origins is taken, the historicity of
Adam and Eve can still be defended. For more information, see Dr. Bonnette's web
site at
drbonnette.com/. A preview of the book's fifth chapter can be found
at A Philosophical Critical Analysis of Recent
Ape-Language Studies.
Related Pages 
- Must Human Evolution Contradict Genesis? by Dennis Bonnette
- Did Darwin Prove Genesis a Fairy Tale? by Dennis Bonnette
- A Philosophical Critical Analysis of Recent Ape-Language Studies by Dennis Bonnette
- The Philosophical Impossibility of Darwinian Naturalistic Evolution by Dennis Bonnette
- How "Creation" Implies God by Dennis Bonnette
http://www.godandscience.org/evolution/origin_human_species.html
Last Modified March 13, 2005
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