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Letter: Letter: Falsifying Darwin

Published 30 June 1990

From ROBIN OAKLEY-HILL

I wish to point out that Karl Popper’s exclusion of Darwinism as a true
scientific theory is now obsolete. It is generally accepted that this exclusion
was a result of Popper’s refusal to admit Marxism as a true falsifiable
theory, and he did not see how he could differentiate it from Darwinism.

Marxism has now been shown to be a true falsifiable theory – indeed,
Havel and Walesa have both received doctorates for their part in disproving
it. Since Popper found himself obliged to place Marxism and Darwinism in
the same class, there should now be no further controversy over the latter.
Darwinism should forthwith be upgraded from ‘metaphysical research programme’
to ‘falsifiable scientific theory’.

Robin Oakley-Hill Sevenoaks, Kent

Issue no. 1723 published 30 June 1990

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