Further Evidence for Welfare-Induced Personality Mis-Development

Abstract

Theories that are unsuitable for testing by laboratory experiments require corroboration via circumstantial evidence. This is a less satisfactory form of corroboration but it is still valuable, as Charles Darwin demonstrated by his use of circumstantial evidence to convince the scientific establishment of the validity of his theory of evolution by natural selection. Much has been made of Darwin’s use of what could be dubbed ‘positive’ circumstantial evidence; that is, chance observations that fit the theory of evolution by natural selection (for example, the Galapagos finches). But less attention has been paid to Darwin’s use of what could be dubbed ‘negative’ circumstantial evidence; that is, the lack of chance evidence that contradicts evolution by natural selection. For example, in the first edition of the Origin of Species Darwin dealt with the issue thus: ‘If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed, which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break down. But I can find out no such case’ (Darwin, 1859, p. 219).