1. Stephen Hawking Peter Singer
Came up with the theory of evolution
Developed evolutionary theory to encompass modern understanding of genetics
What can be more curious than the fact that the hand of a man formed for grasping, that of a mole for digging, the leg of the horse, the paddle of the porpoise, and the wing of the bat should all be constructed on the same pattern?
“We are survival machines
– robot vehicles blindly programmed to preserve the selfish molecules known as genes. This is a truth which still fills me with astonishment.”
Published in 1859, but the author waited decades to publish, due to the controversy it would cause. It puts forward, for the first time in a detailed, logical way, the theory of evolution.
This book, first published in 1976, presents a view of evolution as gene-centred. It builds on Darwin and scientists who developed Darwinian theories.
Charles Darwin
Richard Dawkins
A world authority on Big Bang theory
Wrote about the importance of human and animal life -‘Speciesism’
The notion that human life is sacred just because it is human life is medieval… the traditional view of the sanctity of human life will collapse under the pressure of scientific, technological and demographic developments.
We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special.
This book, published in 1988, argues that time began with the Big Bang, so there could not have been time before this, in which God created the universe.
First published in 1979, this is a book analysing, from a non-religious perspective, moral problems such abortion, euthanasia, animal rights and use of wealth.
Stephen Hawking
Peter Singer

2. Charles Darwin Who? What? English naturalist When? Where? Why?
Voyaged around the world on the HMS Beagle
Charles Darwin
Studied variations in plants and animals
English naturalist
Wrote ‘On the Origin of Species’ setting out the theory of evolution by Natural Selection
When?
Lived
Where?
On the Galápagos Islands he recorded that there were species found in no other part of the world, though similar ones existed on the west coast of South America. 
5 year voyage on the HMS Beagle,
On the Origin of Species published in 1859, decades after it was written
Why?
As a youngster Darwin spent many hours collecting different specimens and pondering new ideas. It was becoming increasingly clear to naturalists that species change and have been changing for many millennia. Darwin wanted to explain how this happened.

3. Richard Dawkins Who? What? When? Where? Why?
Strong supporter of Darwinism.
Richard Dawkins
‘scientific atheism’.
English evolutionary biologist
In his book, The Blind Watchmaker’ he argues that the idea of intelligent design is merely an illusion.
When?
Where?
Born in 1941
Born in Nairobi, Kenya
His first book, The Selfish Gene, published in 1976, presents a view of evolution as gene-centred.
Studied at Oxford University
and was Professor for Public Understanding of Science there.
2006, The God Delusion – worldwide, controversial bestseller forcefully challenging belief in God.
Why?
He sees the Darwinian concept of evolution as the foundation of all biological science, viewing humans, like all creatures as ‘survival machines’ for our genes. Darwinism rejects religious accounts of creation and he has been forthright in criticising religion for superstition and for believing in and worshipping a God or gods, who are cruel, without sufficient evidence for doing so.

4. Stephen Hawking Who? What? When? Where? Why?
Worked with Roger Penrose of Birkbeck College, London to show that there would be a Big Bang singularity by considering Einstein's General Theory of Relativity.
English theoretical physicist
The world’s most famous scientist
A leading authority on Big Bang Theory
When?
Where?
Born 1942
In 1979 he was awarded the post of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at Cambridge University. A post previously held by Isaac Newton!
In 1983 Hawking and Jim Hurtle proposed that there is no edge for space and time though they are finite. This implies that the laws of science would be able to determine how the universe had begun!
Why?
A Brief History of Time, published in 1988, argues that time began with the Big Bang, so there could not have been time before this, in which God created the universe.
“My goal is simple. It is complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all”

5. Peter Singer Who? What? When? Where? Why?
Challenges the idea that human life has a higher status than non-human animal life – ‘speciesism’
Australian moral philosopher
Puts forward an ethical theory based on avoiding pain and suffering, and challenges religious objections to euthanasia and abortion.
Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University, USA
When?
Where?
Born in 1942
Born in Australia, the son of Jewish parents who fled Europe to escape the Nazis.
1979, Practical Ethics published, which analysed moral problems from a non-religious perspective.
Studied Philosophy at Oxford University
1975, Animal Liberation published, which made a strong case for respecting animal rights.
Why?
Singer is an atheist. He accepts evolutionary theory. As he does not believe in God, he sees the idea of sanctity of human life as incorrect – after all, we evolved from simpler animals, so animals could not have been created for us to use. Instead, Singer calls for humans to stop exploiting all sentient beings (i.e. those that can feel pain and try to avoid suffering).