Excerpts from “Evolution of a Scientist”Excerpts from “Evolution of a Scientist”

Newsweek, November 28, 2005Newsweek, November 28, 2005

““He (Darwin) had planned to enter the He (Darwin) had planned to enter the ministry, but his discoveries on a fateful ministry, but his discoveries on a fateful voyage 170 years ago shook his faith and voyage 170 years ago shook his faith and changed our conception of the origins of life.” changed our conception of the origins of life.” (p 50) (p 50)

““..his life exemplifies the painful journey from ..his life exemplifies the painful journey from moral certainty to existential doubt that is the moral certainty to existential doubt that is the defining experience of modernity.” defining experience of modernity.”

(p 53)(p 53)

Excerpts from “Evolution of a Scientist”Excerpts from “Evolution of a Scientist”

Newsweek, November 28, 2005Newsweek, November 28, 2005

Darwin introduced the notion of evolution: Darwin introduced the notion of evolution: that the lineage of living things change, that the lineage of living things change, diverge, and go extinct over time, rather diverge, and go extinct over time, rather than appear suddenly in immutable form as than appear suddenly in immutable form as Genesis would have it.” (p 54)Genesis would have it.” (p 54)

““..he suggested ..an undirected, morally ..he suggested ..an undirected, morally neutral process he called natural selection”neutral process he called natural selection”

(p 55)(p 55)

Excerpts from “Evolution of a Scientist”Excerpts from “Evolution of a Scientist”

Newsweek, November 28, 2005Newsweek, November 28, 2005

““Evolution is driven by the accumulation Evolution is driven by the accumulation of many … small changes, culminating in of many … small changes, culminating in the emergence of an entirely new the emergence of an entirely new species.” (p 55)species.” (p 55)

““There is grandeur in this view of life …There is grandeur in this view of life …from so simple a beginning endless forms from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolvedbeen, and are being, evolved.” (p 58).” (p 58)

Excerpts from “Evolution of a Scientist”Excerpts from “Evolution of a Scientist”

Newsweek, November 28, 2005Newsweek, November 28, 2005

““Darwin was troubled by theodicy, the Darwin was troubled by theodicy, the problem of evil: how could a benevolent problem of evil: how could a benevolent and omnipotent God permit so much and omnipotent God permit so much suffering in the world he created?” (p 56)suffering in the world he created?” (p 56)

Excerpts from “Evolution of a Scientist”Excerpts from “Evolution of a Scientist”

Newsweek, November 28, 2005Newsweek, November 28, 2005

Darwin’s greater and more radical Darwin’s greater and more radical achievement was to suggest a plausible achievement was to suggest a plausible mechanism for evolution. To a world mechanism for evolution. To a world taught to see the hand of God in every taught to see the hand of God in every part of Nature, he suggested a different part of Nature, he suggested a different creative force altogether, an undirected, creative force altogether, an undirected, morally neutral process he called natural morally neutral process he called natural selection” (p 55)selection” (p 55)