Nature, philosophy & society in the light of Darwin’s Theories

“Evolution for Everyone”
by David Sloan Wilson
on WSKG Public Radio’s OFF THE PAGE
Tuesday, July 10th at 1:00 PM
(Rebroadcast at 7:00 PM)

… learning about evolution can be like walking through a door and not wanting to return. It can become as natural as riding a bicycle, which of course is not natural at all but merely second nature. For those who experience this transition, much becomes obvious that was not obvious before.
          -- from Evolution for Everyone

          Ever since it was propounded in the mid-19th century by Charles Darwin, the Theory of
Evolution has stimulated both wider knowledge and widespread controversy. Sometimes touted as
simply a “theory” that humankind was “descended from apes”, Darwin’s ideas about natural selection
were simplified as “survival of the fittest” and began to turn up in political and social concepts that
became known as “social Darwinism”. From the start, many persons saw evolution as an affront to
their religious beliefs. All the while, practical advances have been made in such fields as molecular
biology and genetics building on Darwin’s intellectual structures.
           Religious and moral objections to the teaching of evolution reached a milestone in 1925 with the
Scopes trial – the famous courtroom encounter in Dayton, Tenn. that seemed to pit science against
religion, tradition versus modernism. In our own time the arguments continue about the relationship
between the spiritual and the physical with religionists advancing the concept of intelligent design and the
active guidance of a divine Creator in all natural processes.
           Meanwhile the evolutionists find growing value and interest in their scientific endeavors, and
often extend their intellectual discipline into the realm of society and religion. Much of their concern is in
the field of ecology, biodiversity and environmental protection. As a recent series in the science section
of The New York Times noted, there seems to be another revolution of thought brewing among
followers of Darwin.
           Study of Darwinian evolution in all its phases has become an important field of inquiry, and one
of the most innovative of courses is taught by David Sloan Wilson, Distinguished Professor of Biology
and Anthropology at Binghamton University. The Evolutionary Studies Program is described by BU as,
“the first of its kind to teach evolution in a truly integrated fashion, beginning with core principles and
extending in all directions, from molecular biology to art and religion.” Known as EvoS, the scope of
the program is vast enough to attract students in all disciplines in the sciences and humanities. It is taught
by professors from many departments of the university as well as diverse guest lecturers (and each class
concludes over pizza and beer).
           Dr. Wilson’s ideas as presented in EvoS have now been brought together in his book
“Evolution for Everyone”, subtitled “How Darwin’s Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our
Lives”. The author takes a “roll up your sleeves approach to science” in which the readers are brought
along on (often physically demanding) field research and even invited to conduct their own experiments.
Evolutionary changes wrought in nature – evolution at work – can be observed in the nearest woods or
pond.
           The conflict between evolution and religious belief that has raged for more than a century is
invalid, according to Dr. Wilson. In his 2002 book “Darwin’s Cathedral”, Wilson states that religious
belief and practice are an instance of evolution at work, adaptations that protect the social organism.
David Sloan Wilson visits OFF THE PAGE to speak with Bill Jaker about his labors in the
diverse fields of evolution and his innovative work teaching EvoS. To join in with a question or
comment, call during the 1:00 PM live broadcast to 888/359-9754 or post a message to
WSKG.Radio@Gmail.com.

NEXT TIME: The strivers, studs and lost souls that turn up at Lucy’s Tavern (somewhere in the Finger Lakes) are fell and feeling characters in Rebecca Barry’s “novel in stories” entitled “Later, at the Bar”.
          Ms. Barry comes to OFF THE PAGE on Tuesday, July 24th to share her life and writing experiences that have give us one of the season’s finest works of fiction.

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