It seems evolutionary scientists (Michael Ruse, Richard Dawkins) are still trying to set up an ontology - the way the universe really is. What they're missing is that the universe isn't an ontology (which Barry Allen gets). To say that God stepped into history to move evolution forward, or to say that the blind uncaring watchmaker (Dawkins) was the cause, is not the question. Those who advocate blind selection are missing out on the mystery, creativity and joy of the universe. Those who say God did it are setting up a mythology, because the mythology has a purpose, allowing for better living in the present and for the future. It's poetry, not machinery that is being emphasised. Creativity, not fate. Although the evolutionists will not believe in pre-destination, every possibility has been set in the past, and the train track of the future is determined by what has been (although we may be creating it as we go). There's no room for change, for radical difference from what evolution/DNA(/psychology) determines that I/we will do. Determinism is the end of ontology in science, just as it is in theology.
"First of all, it would be a commitment to the principles that Christ espoused. We worship Him as the Prince of Peace, not the Prince of Pre-emptive War. And I have noticed how many leading Christians - I presume many of them call themselves evangelicals - have been among the most militant and warlike members of our society. Even before President Bush decided to invade Iraq, he had strong public support from a number of more conservative Christians.
The second things is justice - that is, the commitment of individual beings and their governments to utilise the power, the strength, the riches, the influence of a government to alleviate suffering among those who are mist in need - to give them food, shelter, water."
-- Jimmy Carter, from Idea magasine in discussing how the (evangelical) church could get back on track. Sadly the Evangelical Alliance responded negatively.
minor point - it's dawkins not darkins. Not sure who barry allen is... the one i know is the flash!.
ReplyDeleteDoes evolution necessarily imply true determinism? Surely evolution and quantum theory can sit side by side. Evolution only requires things to be deterministic at the macro-scopic level.
-Iain
You would have thought a philosopher addressing evolution would have been an X-man, really, wouldn't you?
ReplyDeleteFunny how things work out..
Thanks for pointing out the errors - corrected.
ReplyDeleteBarry Allen is also a Canadian philosopher who studied somewhat under Richard Rorty (the great US pragmatist). However, his work (Knowledge and Civilisation) appears to me to be continental post-structuralism from an analytical North American perspective.
I do believe evolution and quantum theory can sit side by side, which is what I perceive in the work of Brian Swimme and Thomas Berry. However, Dawkins and Ruse seem to have an attitude which closes down possibility and the universe, as they preach their alternative/'scientific' religion to the world. It just seems to be a lifeless dead end, I don't find anything to be excited about in their work. In fact, I get the feeling that they are both men with too much of the (masculine?) desire to 'win', to beat the other side, which rarely does anyone any good.
It almost seems anyone but the flash would be the one. :)