creation–evolution controversy

Even before the publication of The Origin of Species, the idea that life had evolved was a source of debate and evolution is still a contentious concept. Debate has generally centered on the philosophical, social and religious implications of evolution, not on the science itself; the proposition that biological evolution occurs through the mechanism of natural selection is standard in the scientific literature.

As Darwin recognized early on, the most controversial aspect of evolutionary thought is its implications to humans. Specifically, some people believe that the origin of humans involved supernatural intervention, rather than natural processes. Although many religions and denominations have reconciled their beliefs with evolution through theistic evolution, several denominations contain creationists who object to evolution, as it contradicts their literal interpretation of origin beliefs. In some countries – notably the United States – these tensions between scientific and religious teachings have fueled the ongoing creation–evolution controversy, a religious conflict focusing on politics and public education. While other scientific fields such as cosmology and earth science also conflict with literal interpretations of many religious texts, evolutionary biology has strong oppositions from believers of religion.

Evolution has been used to support philosophical positions that promote discrimination and racism. For example, the eugenic ideas of Francis Galton were developed to argue that the human gene pool should be improved by selective breeding policies, including incentives for those considered "good stock" to reproduce, and the compulsory sterilization, prenatal testing, birth control, and even killing, of those considered bad stock. Another example of an extension of evolutionary theory that is now widely regarded as unwarranted is "Social Darwinism," a term given to the 19th century Whig Malthusian theory developed by Herbert Spencer into ideas about "survival of the fittest" in commerce and human societies as a whole, and by others into claims that social inequality, racism, and imperialism were justified. However, contemporary scientists and philosophers consider these ideas to have been neither mandated by evolutionary theory nor supported by data.