Transcript Born 1942 A leading authority on Big Bang Theory

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?
Came up with the
theory of evolution
“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.
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.
Charles Darwin
A world authority
on Big Bang
theory
Stephen Hawking
Developed evolutionary
theory to encompass
modern understanding of
genetics
This book, first published in 1976, presents a view of
evolution as gene-centred. It builds on Darwin and
scientists who developed Darwinian theories.
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.
Richard Dawkins
Wrote about the
importance of human
and animal life ‘Speciesism’
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.
Peter Singer
Who?
Charles
Darwin
What?
Voyaged around the world on the
HMS Beagle
Studied variations in plants and animals
English
naturalist
Wrote ‘On the Origin of Species’ setting out the theory
of evolution by Natural Selection
When?
Where?
Lived
1809 -1882
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,
1831-1836
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.
Who?
What?
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 genecentred.
2006, The God Delusion – worldwide,
controversial bestseller forcefully challenging
belief in God.
Studied at Oxford University
and was Professor for Public
Understanding of Science
there.
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.
Who?
What?
Stephen Hawking
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
When?
A leading authority on Big
Bang Theory
Where?
Born 1942
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”
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!
Who?
Peter Singer
Australian moral philosopher
Professor of Bioethics at Princeton
University, USA
When?
What?
Challenges the idea that human life has a higher
status than non-human animal life – ‘speciesism’
Puts forward an ethical theory based on avoiding pain and
suffering, and challenges religious objections to euthanasia and
abortion.
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.
1975, Animal Liberation published, which
made a strong case for respecting animal
rights.
Studied Philosophy at Oxford
University
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).