Richard Dawkins, Darwin's universal impact, Mon 6 July

Was Darwin the most revolutionary scientist ever? If, by revolutionary, we mean the scientist whose discovery initiated the most seismic overturning of pre-existing science, the honour would at least be contested by Newton, Einstein and the architects of quantum theory. Those same physicists might have outclassed Darwin in sheer intellectual fire power. But Darwin probably did revolutionize the world view of people outside science more comprehensively than any other scientist. I want to recognize four bridges to evolutionary understanding. The first bridge is to natural selection as a force for weeding out the unfit. The second bridge is the recognition that natural selection can drive evolutionary change. Bridge number three leads to the imaginative grasp of the importance of natural selection in explaining all of life, in all its speciose richness. Bridge number four is the bridge to public understanding and appreciation. Darwin crossed it alone, in 1859, by writing On the Origin of Species. The fifth bridge, which Darwin himself never crossed was neo-Darwinism or what I shall rename digital Darwinism because the essence of Mendelian genetics is that it is digital. As crests get longer, or eyes rounder, or tails gaudier, what is really being carved by natural selection is the gene pool. As mutation and sexual recombination enrich the gene pool, the chisels of natural selection carve it into shape, working away through geological time. It is an image that might have seemed strange to Darwin. But I think he would have come to love it.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Cambridge University
• Darwin Festival
• 2009
• Charles Darwin
• Science
• Universal Impact
• Evolution
• God
• Natural Selection
• Change
• Public
• Understanding
• Origin Of Species
• Mendel
• Genetics
• Gene Pool
• Sexual
• Selection
• Geology
• Time

[FSUjonnyD]

check out his tie!!!

It's the Crocoduck!

I wonder if Kirk Cameron even realizes his ridiculous photoshop piece has become the seal of stupidity for creationist nonsense.

You gotta love those fundies!

[AlbertDarwin007]

Long life to Mr.Dawkins.

What a pitiful world would be without poeple like him.

[ep1strophy]

Dawkins oratory is, no doubt deliberately, sermon-like. The discussion is of ideas in science, but I'm reminded of the late Jacques Ellul's thoughts on the "sacred" aspect of modern technology.

[msmith999999]

science Damnit.....oh my science......

according to this, we are the retarded offspring of 4 monkeys and a retared fish frog squirrel......hahaha

[AnneBoleyn]

@ReplyToDawkins LOL!You come from that funny site called askdarwinists right?Did you know that evolution does not equal abiogenesis?Do you know the difference?We're talking about evolution here *wink* Ask about natural selection or something related.We're still working on the subject of abiogenesis.But just because you don't know who broke into your house YET,you're going to randomly blame anyone?If you want to say god created the first rna molecule,you can,but you're making it up with no proof

[oldnorthstate]

@stevegreenham

Cute, Steve Greenham. I'm picturing you saying that with a British accent. :)

[oldnorthstate]

His thoughts flow over one like warm sunshine in early summer. What an incredible gift of intelligence and presence he has.

[GhostofCliffGullett]

The biggest problem with Darwinism is that it makes ruthlessness and reason kissing cousins, when in truth they are mutually exclusive.

[ReplyToDawkins]

Can a protein form by chance?

[anolmec]

A genetic book of the dead. Sounds intriguing. SMELLS like a HOLY BOOK. Contained within is the database (scripture) of information encoded in language of the giver of life (DNA). Translated by scientist (saviors) to provide guidance (dogma) that hold the wisdom (parables) of the survival story from past lives and environments (tribulations). May I suggest the title, The Preservation of Favored Races in The Struggle for life. The bridge we need is one to separate science from the state.

[FOBmuzungu]

Dear Dawkinianz

...Do ur hOm3w0rK!!!

"Think carefully of the successes we arranged for Darwinism, Marxism, Nietzsche-ism. To us Jews, at any rate, it should be plain to see what a disintegrating importance these directives have had upon the minds of the goyim."

(Protocols of the Elders of Zion 2-3. "Us Jews" refers to Cabalist i.e. Illuminati Jews)

[stevegreenham]

I was the camera-man!