There is a large conflict for many between religion and the evolutionary theory. A recent lecture was given by a current University of Chicago professor and former Creighton professor on the root of conflict between evolutionary theory and religion.
Dr. Robert Richards’ research is in the history and philosophy of psychology and biology, which includes a particular interest in evolutionary theory, biopsychology, ethology and sociobiology. He is the Morris Fishbein Distinguished Service Professor of the History of Science and Medicine at the University of Chicago. He is also the director of the Fishbein Center for the History of Science and Medicine.
Richards began with the question of why evolution and religion have been in such conflict, especially in the U.S. in the 20th century. He said that, in principle, there really is no conflict between the two, citing Pope John II. Ernest Haeckel wrote immensely popular arguments that were very hostile to religion, which led to questions regarding religious thinking and the adoption of metaphysical naturalism by later scientists.
“I really enjoyed (the lecture),” Arts & Sciences senior Jack Kostal said. “I liked Dr. Richards’ explanation of the events that led Haeckel to turn against religion.”
Richards explained how Haeckel used Darwin’s evolutionary theory to argue against religion, although Darwin was not hostile towards it. Richards never took a personal stance on the topic, as his lecture was mostly put in historical terms. His main message is that the two should not be in conflict.
“The historical information presented was excellent and very well presented,” Dr. Eugene Selk, philosophy professor at Creighton, said. “He certainly knows the German texts extremely well. The only place I would disagree is that there are lots of other factors in contemporary America other than just Haeckel contributing to the views Americans currently have between religion and Darwin’s theory. Most, if not all, have never heard of him.”
An estimate of the number of attendees placed 60 percent of those as students, 30 percent faculty and 10 percent as community members.
Selk was able to bring Richards to Creighton to deliver his lecture through the Kripke Center. The Kripke Center, run by Dr. Ron Simkins, was looking for a speaker regarding science and religion. Selk has followed Richard’s work for approximately 20 years, and the two have met at numerous conferences over the years.
“I think the overall reaction was good, mostly positive,” Simkins said.
Richards has written several books, including “The Tragic Sense of Life: Ernst Haeckel and the Struggle over Evolutionary Thought,” 2008; “The Romantic Conception of Life: Science and Philosophy in the Age of Goethe,” 2002; and “The Meaning of Evolution: The Morphological Construction and Ideological Reconstruction of Darwin’s Theory,” 1992; He is currently working on a historical and philosophical commentary on Darwin’s “Origin of Species.”
“I think it’s always good for students and faculty to hear from a diversity of scholars, not just from our school, but others especially from someone like Dr. Richards, who is a very well known historian of science and has written several books on 18th and 19th century history,” Selk said.