clarification on Darwin in God's Philosopher's

[tatterdemalion]

I recently finished God's Philosophers. I purchased it per the recommendation at National Review Online.

I enjoyed it quite a bit and hope to join other conversations on this forum in the future. In addition to its other virtues, the book really helped me to understand the flow of history and the rise of intellectualism in the 19th century. One quick question though.... Something that has been bugging me a little.....

On Page 341, Darwin makes his one and only appearance in the book. The sentence is: "It would take Charles Darwin (1809-82) to prove Newton wrong."

What exactly did Darwin prove wrong? From the context, it appears that Darwin proved wrong the idea that the diversity of life could only arise from God.

Even stipulating a theistic evolutionary system? God is not needed or involved? That seems contrary to the thesis of your book. That's why I am assuming that I don't understand what is being said here.

[James Hannam]

Hi there,

Thank you for your comment and welcome to the forum. I'm glad you enjoyed the book.

Newton wrote:

"Blind metaphysical necessity, which is certainly the same always and everywhere, could produce no variety of things. All that diversity of organisms which we find suited to different times and places could arise from nothing but the ideas and will of a Being necessarily existing."

His comment has to be seen as an early expression of Paley's design argument, that is the adaptations of organisms to their niches are clear evidence of special creation. Darwin proved that such adaptations can be the result of a natural process. Hence Newton's comment was wrong.

I did not intend to claim that Darwin proved God does not exist, only that the specific argument used by Newton and later Paley was invalidated by his work.

I would also mention, though, that nothing in my book is intended to be taken as a theological statement. If I woke up tomorrow as an atheist, I would not change a single word of it. It is a history book and although no one manages to be completely objective, I have tried my best.

Best wishes

James

[tatterdemalion]

thank you!

[barca]

Since we're on the subject of Darwin, what is your opinion of Ben Stein's views on Natural Selection.
Ben Stein is a creationist and he attempts to link survival of the fittest to Nazi Germany and the holocaust.