Darwin still debated 150 years on
Source: Agencies |
November 25, 2009, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
EVEN 150 years after it first appeared in print, Charles Darwin's "On The Origin of Species" still fuels clashes between scientists convinced of its truth and critics who reject its view of life without a creator.
This "Darwin Year" -- so named because February 12 was the 200th anniversary of the British naturalist's birth and November 24 the 150th anniversary of his book -- has seen a flood of books, articles and conferences debating his theory of evolution.
While many covered well-trodden ground, some have taken new paths. But no consensus is in sight, probably because Darwinian evolution is both a powerful scientific theory describing how life forms develop through natural selection and a basis for philosophies and social views that often include atheism.
"People are encountering and rejecting evolution not so much as a science but as a philosophy," said Nick Spencer, director of studies at the public theology think-tank Theos in London.
"Today's most eloquent Darwinians often associate evolution with atheism ... amorality (and) the idea there is no design or purpose in the universe."
He said many people had embraced anti-evolution views in the United States and Britain in recent decades "not so much because they are rejecting evolution as a science, although that is often how that sentiment is articulated, but because they're rejecting it as a philosophy about life."
"It's quite possible to be an evolutionist and not to hold that philosophy about life, to be an evolutionist and still believe in God and purpose and design," he said.
In Paris on Monday, a conference at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization heard several scientists who accept evolution argue Darwin could not explain underlying order and patterns found in nature.
"We have to differentiate between evolution and Darwinism," said French science philosopher Jean Staune, author of the new book "Au-dela de Darwin" (Beyond Darwin).
"Of course there is adaptation. But like physics and chemistry, biology is also subject to its own laws."
This "Darwin Year" -- so named because February 12 was the 200th anniversary of the British naturalist's birth and November 24 the 150th anniversary of his book -- has seen a flood of books, articles and conferences debating his theory of evolution.
While many covered well-trodden ground, some have taken new paths. But no consensus is in sight, probably because Darwinian evolution is both a powerful scientific theory describing how life forms develop through natural selection and a basis for philosophies and social views that often include atheism.
"People are encountering and rejecting evolution not so much as a science but as a philosophy," said Nick Spencer, director of studies at the public theology think-tank Theos in London.
"Today's most eloquent Darwinians often associate evolution with atheism ... amorality (and) the idea there is no design or purpose in the universe."
He said many people had embraced anti-evolution views in the United States and Britain in recent decades "not so much because they are rejecting evolution as a science, although that is often how that sentiment is articulated, but because they're rejecting it as a philosophy about life."
"It's quite possible to be an evolutionist and not to hold that philosophy about life, to be an evolutionist and still believe in God and purpose and design," he said.
In Paris on Monday, a conference at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization heard several scientists who accept evolution argue Darwin could not explain underlying order and patterns found in nature.
"We have to differentiate between evolution and Darwinism," said French science philosopher Jean Staune, author of the new book "Au-dela de Darwin" (Beyond Darwin).
"Of course there is adaptation. But like physics and chemistry, biology is also subject to its own laws."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
