Here we present a more complete and technical discussion of several key Neo-Darwinian arguments and positions. First we examine the basic argument behind Darwinian evolution, often taken to be so inevitable as to be "like logic". This is not the case, however, as the discussion reveals. We also examine the problem of the Fossil Record and the Cambrian Explosion and its ramifications, and a possible way around the difficulty that it represents. Then we look at the problem of the top-down architecture that emerges from the history of life, compared to the bottom-up emergence that is the prediction of any type of Darwinian scheme. Finally we examine the difficulties associated with the type of optimization that evolution requires. These discussions tend to be rather technical, but are included here in order to make the treatment of Neo-Darwinism and its problems more complete. They will be updated as necessary to reflect comments and modifications to the arguments. The goal, as always, is to present the arguments and their difficulties in as fair and objective a way as possible. While these discussions are in general critical of Neo-Darwinism, nothing said here precludes ultimate resolution in favor of that theory. In fact, in all cases a possible way out of the difficulty is at least sketched out. There is, however, no guarantee that this proposed resolution (or any other) will ultimately defuse the problem.
