2. Rationalism The belief that one can arrive at the truth by using one’s reason rather than relying onThe belief that one can arrive at the truth by using one’s reason rather than relying on –authority of the past –religious faith –institutions

3. Rationalism began in Europe with the great rationalist philosophers and scientists. Some of whom were: with the great rationalist philosophers and scientists. Some of whom were: 1543--Nicolas Copernicus: Rethinks our place in the solar system1543--Nicolas Copernicus: Rethinks our place in the solar system 1642-1727--Sir Isaac Newton: Discovers the laws of gravity1642-1727--Sir Isaac Newton: Discovers the laws of gravity 1637--Rene Descartes: “I think therefore I am.”1637--Rene Descartes: “I think therefore I am.” 1632-1704 – John Locke: “the right to Life, Liberty and Property”1632-1704 – John Locke: “the right to Life, Liberty and Property”

4. In 1992, Pope John Paul II officially acknowledged that Galileo was right about the earth revolving around the sun. The Pope concluded that church leaders were wrong to put Galileo on trial. The Pope also said that the church at the time was acting in good faith and was only working within the knowledge of their own time. It’s interesting that …

5. The Age of Reason emphasised: reason over the imaginationreason over the imagination the social over the personalthe social over the personal the common interest over the individualthe common interest over the individual Reason is the dominating characteristicboth of nature and human natureReason is the dominating characteristic both of nature and human nature nature is governed by fixed, unchanging lawsnature is governed by fixed, unchanging laws

6. Age of Reason Growth of rational scienceGrowth of rational science Culture venerates rationality, consciousnessCulture venerates rationality, consciousness Represents educated (white, male) mind asRepresents educated (white, male) mind as –rational, scientific, critical, objective Others (women, non-white) represented asOthers (women, non-white) represented as –irrational, emotional, superstitious, corporeal Dualism is a basis of much Western thoughtDualism is a basis of much Western thought

7. Impact of the Age of Reason on the Church It was the first widely-read, systematic attacks on concept of religion in the westIt was the first widely-read, systematic attacks on concept of religion in the west Tension between faith & reasonTension between faith & reason Some ridiculed religion & miraclesSome ridiculed religion & miracles Some saw religion as the root of all evilSome saw religion as the root of all evil

8. Influence on Social thought The guiding principles:The guiding principles: –Reason can find eternal laws governing human relationships. –Injustice is the result of our ignorance of these laws. UtilitarianismUtilitarianism –Jeremy Bentham (d. 1832) “The greatest good for the greatest number of people”

9. Rene Descartes (Cartesian Dualism) “I think therefore I am” –Body and mind are separate body takes up space mind occupies no space –Justifies other dualisms: People vs. Nature Culture vs. Nature Mind vs. Body

10. Descartes Venerates the rational mind –vs. bodily urges Body and universe –become a machine –something to be mapped, explored, dissected by rational science

11. Isaac Newton 1642 to 1727; Lived during the last European plagues, the Baroque period in music, and the beginning of the Age of Reason. Thinkers who came after saw Newton’s Laws as a description of a Mechanical Universe.

12. Isaac Newton The great mathematician and physicist Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) discovered the law of gravitation and successfully explained the workings of the physical universe.The great mathematician and physicist Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) discovered the law of gravitation and successfully explained the workings of the physical universe. But to the romantic artist William Blake this was not enough:But to the romantic artist William Blake this was not enough: Newton had left out God as well as the emotional and spiritual elements from his theories.Newton had left out God as well as the emotional and spiritual elements from his theories. William Blake: Personification of Man Limited by Reason 1805

13. The popularisation of science Newton’s Principia hard to understand Newton’s Principia hard to understand To understand scientific thought processes is to understand reason To understand scientific thought processes is to understand reason Popularisers made science accessible Popularisers made science accessible

14. John Locke John Locke (1632-1704)

15. Innate Ideas Philosophers such as Plato & Descartes, maintained that we are born with some of the ideas which we have. For Plato, all of our ideas are innate, even though a certain amount of experience may be required to grasp them clearly. According to this theory we have innate ideas of such things as God, freedom, immortality, substance, and of some moral truths, eg. that deliberately harming an innocent person is wrong. Locke seriously disagreed with this.

16. Locke’s Basic “Theory of Knowledge” Human being = tabula rasa (blank slate) receives sense-impressions some of these transformed by Mind into Ideas Ideas represented in language by words However, no Ideas are innate Mind operates (through gradual learning process) without reference to any received authority (of Church, State or others)

17. Locke’s Ideas Model of photographic-type images (“ideas”) left in the mind by sense- impressions: primary qualities: inherent in objects themselves (size, shape, number) secondary qualities: those we assign (color, taste, sound) to sense- impressions, e.g. vibration produces sound; however, the sound we hear is not the vibration itself, but its effect on our hearing apparatus.

18. Complex Ideas Sense-data of primary qualities (PQs) and secondary qualities (SQs), produce ideas in the mind: Ideas are mental results of sense-data –Sense-perceptions –Bodily sensations –Mental images –Thoughts and concepts

19. Some basic info about Charles Darwin The following, on Darwin, is gleaned from a presentation by David Pannell University of Western Australia

20. LifelineLifeline n Born 1809 n Study (Edinburgh and Cambridge) 1825-1831 n Voyage of the Beagle 1831-36 n Retired to Down 1842 n The Origin of Species 1859 n Died 1882 Darwin’s home at Down, near London

21. Darwin’s achievements n Transformed biological science  Both style and content  Still the cornerstone of biology  Now the cutting edge of psychology n Transformed attitudes of humanity to our place in the universe

22. Not just an evolutionist n Not even a biologist to start with n Collected beetles for fun n Studied geology more seriously n Considered himself a geologist throughout the Beagle voyage and for some time after n Famous for working out how coral atolls are formed

23. His books (not just on evolution) n Beagle voyage n Coral reefs n Volcanic islands n Geology of South America n Barnacles n Species n Man n Emotions n Climbing plants n Domestication n Cross and self fertilisation n Orchids n Worms n Autobiography

24. Contribution to style of science n Pre-Darwin, science was done in homage to God n Was primarily descriptive n Deduction and theorising was disparaged as “speculation” n Darwin used detailed observation to explore much larger questions - helped change scientific methods

25. Natural selection n Developed theory in complete isolation n In face of violent opposition n With no knowledge of genetics n With no knowledge of DNA n With no observations of natural selection actually occurring

26. Not first to propose evolution n French tradition  Jean-Baptiste Lamark  Etienne Geoffroy St Hilaire n Erasmus Darwin (Grandfather) n Robert Grant (Mentor) n Was expounded in a popular book (“Vestiges”) 15 years before “Origin”

27. Darwin was mis-credited n Died famous for evolution (which was not his idea) n Natural selection not widely accepted, even among his supporters n Darwin remained convinced n Only 40-50 years later did scientists appreciate his foresight.

28. The Beagle Only 90 foot long, but carrying 74 people.

29. Joining the Beagle Voyage n Not paid for 5 years on Beagle. n Actually, he had to pay! n Was lucky to get on  replaced someone who was shot in a duel  his father opposed him going n Mainly asked because of his class, to keep Captain Fitzroy company n It was the making of him

30. Galapogos, 1835 n Portrayed as a “Eureka” experience. n Actually, was hugely homesick n Did not recognise significance until back in England, 1837.  Worked out theory much later.  First inkling of natural selection in 1838. n Turtles & finches were key evidence  On boat home, ate turtles, dumped shells  Thought finches different species; didn’t even label them properly

33. The Beagle in Sydney Harbour

34. AnguishAnguish n Social class  Respectability  Evolution subversive - against his class n Religious considerations  especially worried about hurting wife Emma who grieved for his soul n Scientific prejudice against “speculation” n “Like confessing a murder.”

35. IllnessIllness n Sea sickness n Problems throughout life  violent shivering, vomiting, exhaustion, palpitations, hands trembling, head swimming, sleeplessness, headaches, flatulance, stomach problems, ringing of ears, fainting, copious palid urine n In 1841 could work “an hour or two a couple of days a week.” n Chaga’s disease or just nervous?

36. Slow to publish: Why so long? n Anguish n Illness n Slow development of ideas n Detailed analysis, collection of a wealth of evidence  pigeons  barnacles

37. BarnaclesBarnacles n Started out as a brief study.  Took 8 years (from 1948).  Huge 2 volume treatise overhauling entire sub-class. n Dominated his kids lives  One of his kids asked a friend, “Where does your dad do his barnacles?” n Established him as a biological specialist, not just a geologist  Royal Society Medal

38. CourageCourage n On Beagle voyage, rode hundreds of miles through bandit areas and war zones in South America n Worked through his illnesses. n Was willing to publish “Origins” despite the risks

39. WealthWealth n Father a wealthy doctor n Reduced his enthusiasm to get a job as a doctor or clergyman n Wealth bought time and resources n Made money from investments (land and railway stocks), not from books

40. ReligionReligion n Started out on path to clergy  “The Darwins had produced lawyers and military men, but Charles lacked the self- discipline. There was, however, a safety net to stop second sons becoming wastrels: the Church of England. An aimless son with a penchant for field sports would fit in nicely.” (Desmond & Moore) n Signed 39 articles of faith n A naturalist parson?

41. n Religion did accommodate Darwin to some extent  Many religious leaders not literalist  Science served religion, so its findings were taken as revelations of God’s plan n Buried in Westminster Abbey  The Times: “The Abbey needed Darwin more than Darwin needed the Abbey.” Religious conflict n Samuel Wilberforce vs T.H.Huxley “Was it from your mother’s side or your father’s side that you were descended from an ape?” “If the question is whether I would rather have a miserable ape for a grandfather or a man of means and influence who uses these gifts to introduce ridicule into a grave scientific discussion, I unhesitatingly affirm my preference for the ape!” “For once reality and his brain came into contact, and the result was fatal.” Years later Wilberforce fell off his horse, landed on his head and was killed.