March 2012 45 : pp 29-56
Copyright © British Society for the History of Science 2011
Charles Darwin's use of theology in the Origin of Species
STEPHEN DILLEY a1
a1 Department of Philosophy, St Edward's University, Austin, TX 78704, USA.
Email: stephend@stedwards.edu.
Abstract
This essay examines Darwin's positiva (or positive) use of theology in the first edition of the Origin of Species in three steps. First, the essay analyses the Origin's theological language about God's accessibility, honesty, methods of creating, relationship to natural laws and lack of responsibility for natural suffering; the essay contends that Darwin utilized positiva theology in order to help justify (and inform) descent with modification and to attack special creation. Second, the essay offers critical analysis of this theology, drawing in part on Darwin's mature ruminations to suggest that, from an epistemic point of view, the Origin's positiva theology manifests several internal tensions. Finally, the essay reflects on the relative epistemic importance of positiva theology in the Origin's overall case for evolution. The essay concludes that this theology served as a handmaiden and accomplice to Darwin's science.
(Online publication May 04 2011)
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Excerpt/Excerto:
I have argued that, in the first edition of the Origin, Darwin drew upon at least the following positiva theological claims in his case for descent with modification (and against special creation):
1. Human begins are not justfied in believing that God creates in ways analogous to the intellectual powers of the human mind.
2. A God who is free to create as He wishes would create new biological limbs de novo rather than from a common pattern.
3. A respectable deity would create biological structures in accord with a human conception of the 'simplest mode' to accomplish the functions of these structures.
4. God would only create the minimum structure required for a given part's function.
5. God does not provide false empirical information about the origins of organisms.
6. God impressed the laws of nature on matter.
7. God directly created the first 'primordial' life.
8. God did not perform miracles within organic history subsequent to the creation of the first life.
9. A 'distant' God is not morally culpable for natural pain and suffering.
10. The God of special creation, who allegedly performed miracles in organic history, is not plausible given the presence of natural pain and suffering.
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NOTA DESTE BLOGGER:
A tese de Antônio Carlos Marques et al sobre o uso inadequado de argumentação teológica em um contexto científico (as seções de agradecimento, dedicatória e epígrafes de mais de 4,8 mil trabalhos de pós-graduação do IB e da Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ), publicados entre 1943 e 2009) caí por terra e caí por mão de ninguém menos famoso do que Darwin na sua magna opus Origem das Espécies.
Se eles não sabiam, agora sabem e dá até para incorporar na sua pesquisa a ser publicada nos Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências para impedir a circulação das ideias inadequadas de Darwin em um assunto estritamente científico. Ah, não se esqueçam de agradecer a informação científica deste blogger sobre a questão!
Se eles não sabiam, agora sabem e dá até para incorporar na sua pesquisa a ser publicada nos Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências para impedir a circulação das ideias inadequadas de Darwin em um assunto estritamente científico. Ah, não se esqueçam de agradecer a informação científica deste blogger sobre a questão!
