Deconstructing the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis: Do We Need a New Theory of Evolution?

This chapter deconstructs the framework of the so-called Extended Evolutionary Synthesis—in the sense of separating and analyzing its fundamental assumptions—to highlight its shortcomings. In so doing, I promote new representations of evolution not characterized by “extending” or “expanding” the Modern Synthesis framework. To emphasize the shortcomings of the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis, I propose a hypothetical new theory of evolution—which I call the “Unmodern Synthesis”—whose structure is incompatible with the “core” assumptions of the Modern Synthesis. Historically, this model builds upon anti-Darwinian models and is based on the epistemological data of contemporary Evo-Devo. By considering the Unmodern Synthesis, we come to realize that integrating some Evo-Devo notions into the Modern Synthesis framework is not possible. This discrepancy suggests a complete replacement of such a model rather than adding to its content. Likewise, this chapter shows that the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis does not imply a significant change to the theory of evolution, since it is not much different from the Modern Synthesis in its most fundamental parts: it supports natural selection as a creative force, the gene-centered perspective (through the notion of “inheritance”), and the extrapolationist argument. A true challenge to fundamentally modify the theory of evolution involves rejecting these tenets, as the Unmodern Synthesis does. Overall, this work aims to encourage new interpretations beyond the framework of the Modern Synthesis, which could make a fruitful contribution not only to historical and philosophical studies of evolution but also to contemporary evolutionary theory.