Science vs. Science vs. ReligionReligion

Darwin and the Darwin and the VictoriansVictorians

Charles DarwinCharles Darwinthe great shocker of the Victorian the great shocker of the Victorian

Age…Age…On the Origin of Species by Means of On the Origin of Species by Means of

Natural SelectionNatural Selection (1859) (1859) based on research in Galapagos Islands, 1830sbased on research in Galapagos Islands, 1830s theory of evolution based ontheory of evolution based on

“struggle for existence”: (p. 1563)“struggle for existence”: (p. 1563)– competition between and within competition between and within

species in a “state of Nature”species in a “state of Nature”– Most species produce far more Most species produce far more

offspring than can surviveoffspring than can survive– Nature via climate, food availabilityNature via climate, food availability

””checks” survivalchecks” survival shapes species (“species variation”)shapes species (“species variation”)

Evolution—not so newEvolution—not so newGrandpa: Grandpa: Erasmus Darwin: Erasmus Darwin: The Loves of Plants The Loves of Plants

(1789) (1789) / The Botanic Garden / The Botanic Garden , and , and The Temple of The Temple of NatureNature (1803) (1803)Hence without parent by spontaneous birth Hence without parent by spontaneous birth Rise the first specks of animated earth; Rise the first specks of animated earth; From Nature's womb the plant or insect swims, From Nature's womb the plant or insect swims, And buds or breathes, with microscopic limbs. And buds or breathes, with microscopic limbs. ORGANIC LIFE beneath the shoreless waves ORGANIC LIFE beneath the shoreless waves Was born and nurs'd in Ocean's pearly caves Was born and nurs'd in Ocean's pearly caves First forms minute, unseen by spheric glass, First forms minute, unseen by spheric glass, Move on the mud, or pierce the watery mass; Move on the mud, or pierce the watery mass; These, as successive generations bloom, These, as successive generations bloom, New powers acquire, and larger limbs assume; New powers acquire, and larger limbs assume; Whence countless groups of vegetation spring, Whence countless groups of vegetation spring, And breathing realms of fin, and feet, and wing. And breathing realms of fin, and feet, and wing.

Erasmus Darwin’s motto Erasmus Darwin’s motto (made for his carriage and (made for his carriage and bookplate in 1770): bookplate in 1770): E conchis E conchis omnia omnia Everything from shellsEverything from shells

1919thth-c. Contexts for “natural -c. Contexts for “natural selection” and “struggle for selection” and “struggle for

existence”existence” Thomas Malthus, Thomas Malthus, Essay on the Principle of Population Essay on the Principle of Population

(1798 / 1803): Human populations limited by available (1798 / 1803): Human populations limited by available energy/food resourcesenergy/food resources

Geology (“imperfect record”): Charles Lyell’s Geology (“imperfect record”): Charles Lyell’s Principles of Principles of Geology Geology (1830-33)--present contains secrets of past(1830-33)--present contains secrets of past

Charles Darwin’s 1830s Voyage on Charles Darwin’s 1830s Voyage on The The BeagleBeagleGalapagos islands (near S. America)Galapagos islands (near S. America)

1850s: Other naturalists (Alfred Russel Wallace) also 1850s: Other naturalists (Alfred Russel Wallace) also arriving at Darwin’s conclusions independentlyarriving at Darwin’s conclusions independently– Darwin had delayed publication—to avoid controversyDarwin had delayed publication—to avoid controversy– Now (1859) finally publishes his findingsNow (1859) finally publishes his findings

New methods: New methods: “scientist” “scientist” (new word in (new word in the 1840s)the 1840s)

New views on Religion: New views on Religion: (John Ruskin (John Ruskin on hearing clink of geology hammers on hearing clink of geology hammers every time he hears Bible verses)every time he hears Bible verses)

All these scientific activities All these scientific activities anticipate the big Victorian-era anticipate the big Victorian-era shocker: Darwin’s shocker: Darwin’s Descent of ManDescent of Man, , published 1872published 1872

Threats to Religious Faith: Threats to Religious Faith: Victorian sense of lost foundationsVictorian sense of lost foundations Before Darwin: (Before Darwin: (Charles LyellCharles Lyell) geological ) geological

evidence of earth’s age (“old earth” vs. “young evidence of earth’s age (“old earth” vs. “young earth”)earth”)– Fossil records pose problem for literal interpretation Fossil records pose problem for literal interpretation

of the Book of Genesisof the Book of Genesis– Philip Gosse (naturalist) Philip Gosse (naturalist) tries to reconcile science tries to reconcile science

with faith: The geological record is deceptive! with faith: The geological record is deceptive! – (Did God hide the fossils in the rocks?) ((Did God hide the fossils in the rocks?) (p. 1579p. 1579))

Bible as myth or history?Bible as myth or history?– ““higher criticism”: higher criticism”: Bible as historically inaccurateBible as historically inaccurate

(David Strauss, (David Strauss, The Life of Jesus Critically ExaminedThe Life of Jesus Critically Examined, , translated from German by George Eliot--1830s-40stranslated from German by George Eliot--1830s-40s

““All round us, the intellectual lightships All round us, the intellectual lightships had broken from their had broken from their moorings….The present generation…moorings….The present generation…will never know what it was to find will never know what it was to find the lights all drifting, the compasses the lights all drifting, the compasses all awry, and nothing left to steer by all awry, and nothing left to steer by except the stars”except the stars”--J. A. Froude (Victorian-era historian on the 1840s). (see p. --J. A. Froude (Victorian-era historian on the 1840s). (see p. 1291: 1291: Perspectives: Religion and SciencePerspectives: Religion and Science))

““War of Nature” / War of Nature” / Consolation?Consolation?

Origin of SpeciesOrigin of Species: : See p. 1568See p. 1568 Descent of ManDescent of Man. . See p. 1572See p. 1572

Darwin’s Darwin’s Descent of Man Descent of Man (1871)(1871)

the big shocker: HUMAN evolution!the big shocker: HUMAN evolution!

Humanity “descends” from “less organized forms” Humanity “descends” from “less organized forms” – Evidence in human embryos Evidence in human embryos (1569)(1569)

shaped byshaped by– ““sexual selection”sexual selection”– ““state of nature”state of nature”

Human morality—not so distinctive Human morality—not so distinctive (related to social instinct) (related to social instinct) (1572)(1572)

high respect for animalshigh respect for animals– Morals and intellect reflected in “state of nature”: social Morals and intellect reflected in “state of nature”: social

instinctsinstinctssurvivalsurvival– Female Argus pheasantsFemale Argus pheasantstaste/aesthetics (taste/aesthetics (p. 1571p. 1571))

Descent or Ascent? (last paragraph, Descent or Ascent? (last paragraph, p. 1572-73p. 1572-73))

Cardinal Cardinal NewmanNewman

Converts from Church of England to CatholicismConverts from Church of England to Catholicism Part of larger spiritual movement reacting against Part of larger spiritual movement reacting against

science and reason: science and reason: Oxford MovementOxford Movement Catholicism superior to Protestantism: no questioning of Catholicism superior to Protestantism: no questioning of

mysteries and phenomena: no urges to doubtmysteries and phenomena: no urges to doubt Down with conflict and questioning—we need to be more Down with conflict and questioning—we need to be more

humblehumble ””The Church must The Church must denounce rebelliondenounce rebellion as of all possible as of all possible

evils the greatest. She must have no terms with it.” (p. evils the greatest. She must have no terms with it.” (p. 1397)1397)

““When…a flood of facts…comes pouring in upon us…all When…a flood of facts…comes pouring in upon us…all believers in Revelation, be they Catholic or not, are believers in Revelation, be they Catholic or not, are roused to consider their bearing upon themselves…[and] roused to consider their bearing upon themselves…[and] are in danger of being led away into a bottomless are in danger of being led away into a bottomless liberalism of thought....” (1397)liberalism of thought....” (1397)

Thomas HuxleyThomas Huxley ““Darwin’s bulldog”Darwin’s bulldog” Takes opposite perspective from Cardinal Newman: Takes opposite perspective from Cardinal Newman:

Darwin’s theories have disproved accounts of Darwin’s theories have disproved accounts of creation:creation:– p. 1399: “As a natural process. . . evolution excludes p. 1399: “As a natural process. . . evolution excludes

creation and all other kinds of supernatural creation and all other kinds of supernatural intervention.”)intervention.”)

But our But our civilization has intervened against the civilization has intervened against the natural struggle for existence.natural struggle for existence. – Darwin doesn’t apply in civilized contexts!Darwin doesn’t apply in civilized contexts!

We need to be We need to be gardenersgardeners to promote civilization to promote civilization– A view easily adapted to support British Empire and A view easily adapted to support British Empire and

its expansion around the world (without anxiety over its expansion around the world (without anxiety over consequent loss of lives)consequent loss of lives)

““What would become of the garden if the gardener What would become of the garden if the gardener treated all weeds and slugs and birds and trespassers as treated all weeds and slugs and birds and trespassers as he would like to be treated, if he were in their place?”he would like to be treated, if he were in their place?”

Instead, we need to tend our gardens of civilization Instead, we need to tend our gardens of civilization around the world, and selectively promote what we around the world, and selectively promote what we value.value.

Herbert SpencerHerbert Spencer(not in your textbook)(not in your textbook)

British philosopher promoting British philosopher promoting laissez-fairelaissez-faire (let be) (let be) capitalismcapitalism without government regulation. without government regulation.

He actually coined the phraseHe actually coined the phrase “survival of the “survival of the fittest”fittest” seven years before Darwin’s seven years before Darwin’s Origin of Origin of SpeciesSpecies. .

Philosopher ofPhilosopher of Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism. . Darwin’s theory inspires Spencer to apply ideas of Darwin’s theory inspires Spencer to apply ideas of evolution to society based on individual evolution to society based on individual competition. competition. Spencer applies this in particular Spencer applies this in particular to Industrial societiesto Industrial societies..

““Society advances where its fittest members Society advances where its fittest members are allowed to assert their fitness with the are allowed to assert their fitness with the least hindrance.”least hindrance.” Government should NOT Government should NOT regulate this process or protect the poor and weak regulate this process or protect the poor and weak members of society, because that interferes with members of society, because that interferes with the natural process of society’s evolution.the natural process of society’s evolution.

Eventually, the poor and weak and “unfit” will Eventually, the poor and weak and “unfit” will

decline in population, because they can’t compete. decline in population, because they can’t compete. We see this happening most markedly in industry We see this happening most markedly in industry towns, where the struggle for existence is keenest! towns, where the struggle for existence is keenest!

Literature and the Crisis of Literature and the Crisis of Faith:Faith:

Tennyson, Tennyson, In Memoriam:In Memoriam:see pp. 1187-see pp. 1187-11891189, and pp. 1206-07:, and pp. 1206-07:““Nature, red in tooth and claw”Nature, red in tooth and claw”

Some themes to watch for:Some themes to watch for:• Higher divine purpose conflicts with physical natureHigher divine purpose conflicts with physical nature• Savage elements within humanity: Savage elements within humanity:

• the poor and the uncivilized/uncolonized—struggles for the poor and the uncivilized/uncolonized—struggles for existence, expression of “primal” impulsesexistence, expression of “primal” impulses

• Women and sexual selection? Women and sexual selection? • Perversions of animal nature: (Rossetti’s Perversions of animal nature: (Rossetti’s Goblin Goblin

MarketMarket))