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Let my lay my cards on the table. If I were to give an award for the single best idea anyone has ever had, I’d give it to Darwin, ahead of Newton and Einstein and everyone else. In a single stroke, the idea of evolution by natural selection unifies the realm of life, meaning, and purpose with the realm of space and time, cause and effect, mechanism and physical law. But it is not just a wonderful scientific idea. It is a dangerous idea.”

2007-01-24 16:35:40 · 9 answers · asked by aaa 1 in Science & Mathematics Biology

9 answers

I think its a very important theory - it explains reality on an experimentally provable level in the same way Relativity and Quantum Mechanics do. It may not agree literally with religion, but its not asking to either. Rather, religion demands contractions because although religion doesn't threaten science, science does threaten religious literalist fundamentalism.

This happens when scientific ideas clash with religious dogma - the two viewpoints are not opposed, but merely redefine each others meaning.

Example, Genesis was once seen as being literally true, now, by many people, its seen as true, but in a metaphorical sense. God may have created the universe, but if God did, the Big Bang was the method God used.

I say this as someone that does believe in a higher power and is more overwhelmed rather than less by what that higher power must be as I learn more and more about science. I'm just not going to try and limit my way to understanding the real world by letting myself be blinded by religion.

That's my opinion and I stick to it - like any scientist, I'm not asking you to agree with me - merely to consider, rationally the idea. Religion by definition isn't rational - that's why its so powerful - sometimes in good ways, sometimes in very bad ways.

2007-01-24 17:10:40 · answer #1 · answered by Justin 5 · 0 0

You answered your own question: Darwin was the first to put all the information together and provide a nice, unified theory. But to say he was the best thinker of all time could be considered a bit of a stretch.

Darwin did some solid research and was both courageous and intelligent enough to put his ideas out there, but Alfred Wallace came up with the same theory simultaneously and could easily have been given credit instead. The information was all already there for them, it was just a matter of consolidating it and getting people to accept the change.

In my opinion, Einstein was really one of the greatest modern scientists. Relativity is really quite a phenomenal concept, and the amazing thing about Einstein is how far ahead of his time he was. If he hadn't introduced those concepts, there's a good chance we would not have developed those ideas until many years later. Even now we're still exploring all the ramifications of his work.

2007-01-25 02:21:31 · answer #2 · answered by timemutt 2 · 0 0

Darwin was never a scientist, he had a degree in theology. And, if you want to believe that you come from a rock millions and millions of years ago, you go right ahead. I don't care what you believe, but you are wrong if you do. Evolution is unscentific, unintellecual, and if I were you, I would be embarrested trying to defend the idea that we all come from a rock billions of years ago. Darwin proved nothing. Micro-evolution happens, I don't think anyone would argue about that. But there is no evidence whatsoever to support any other kind of evolution. Evolution is a fair tale for adults-millions and millions of years ago. Evolution is a hinderance to real science. It is a dumb and dangerous theory that has been picked apart and proven wrong on every level. But real science proves the Bible to be true, over and over again. Three examples-the layers of sedimentary rock, poly straita fossiles, and 11,12,13 foot tall human remains found around the world. Darwin married his cousin thinking he would have "superior stock." He had retarded, unhealthy, and kids that died. A real genius Darwin was.

2007-01-24 17:26:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0 3

check out a sunset. Watch the miracle of delivery. No way it wasn't planned. additionally, if we progressed from different animals, why does no longer we be waiting to apply their organs to transplant right into a death individual. additionally, many scientists themselves have found out that technological information and the Bible do actual consider one yet another. once you're purely ill of all the suffering, the only reason God helps it is by the fact whilst devil advised Eve that she does no longer die by ability of eating that fruit, he genuinely reported as God a liar, reported human beings might desire to effectively govern themselves, and he challenged God's top to rule. If God have been to easily break Adam and Eve top there, all the angels observing could question whether God is our rightful ruler. God has allowed human suffering to play out, and he's waiting for all of those sighing and groaning over this methodology of issues to be delivered into his loving business enterprise. God can study heart situations, so he will comprehend whilst there is no one left in the international who needs to maintain on together with his way of existence. And whilst it particularly is complete, God can and could convey this methodology of issues to end. i think of human beings have virtually shown in all the governments that they have tried, that they can't rule themselves. whether you have been to do away with all the corrupt rulers, we'd nevertheless have sin and by sin, ailment and death. At Proverbs 33:24 it tells us that for the period of God's new gadget, no resident will say: "i'm ill." Revelation 21:4 tells us that death would be not greater. this might properly be a promise for the earth. Psalms 37:11 tells us that the meek ones themselves will very own the earth, and verse 22 tells us that those being blessed by ability of God will very own the earth. Verse 29 tells us that the righteous will very own the earth, and that they're going to stay continuously upon it. those are purely some scriptures that help this coaching. additionally, i'm sorry if existence is extremely so undesirable which you do no longer believe that there might desire to probable be a God anymore. And if that's no longer your clarification for believing that, as I reported formerly, many scientists have got here upon that technological information and the Bible do agree. and likewise if that's no longer the reason, i'm sorry if I offend you.

2016-11-01 05:32:52 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0 0

yes it was a wonderful idea coz it uncovered the basic law of nature- survival of the fittest. the potential of variations to bring abt a new species slowly and slowly is wonderful. and for those who dont believe in it, have a look at the new varieties of plants that has been created, all by inducing variations. but it is necessary according to me to understand the beauty of nature completely before attempting to take up the entire system of evolution as our responsibility coz the delicate balance of nature is of utmost importance, it was a revolutionising idea and a genious one, and i agree, similar to those of newton and einstein.

2007-01-24 16:49:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

first of all monkeys did not evolve into humans, our ancient ancestors were neither monkeys nor humans, but both evolved from that ancestor, secondly to answer your question yes Darwin's idea was ingenious and revolutionary. it's only dangerous because it unintentionally and directly attacks the most fundamental part of human culture which is religion.

2007-01-24 16:53:37 · answer #6 · answered by sexy joker 6 · 0 0

I'd put Maxwell's equations and relativity ahead. Given nuclear technology, I'd say that relativity is a more dangerous idea.

2007-01-24 18:52:09 · answer #7 · answered by novangelis 7 · 0 0

only partly true other hypòthesis have develloped since

an evolutionary process suggests millions of years between specimens ,this holds true for animals and plants ,the humanoid trials before Homo Sapian lived around the same time and near the same place originally.
they were genetically engineerd and cloned

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApqPYNcb6t0cB2f6eHEsbRrsy6IX?qid=20070124203631AAtFLsr&show=7#profile-info-lE2idODsaa

2007-01-24 16:47:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

who knows but after his travels he came back to write his theories and sat in his den with a board over his lap in an easy chair while writing and became a hypochondriac

2007-01-24 16:45:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0 2

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