02 January 2007 Filed in:
Darwin NewsRichard Dawkins may or may not give Christmas gifts, but I received him as a gift. Well, to be more exact, I received a copy of his book, “The God Delusion.”
I’ve started reading it and it looks interesting: well written and to say that it pulls punches would be like saying Mike Tyson intended to kiss Evander Holyfield’s ear. There is more than just a little of the pugilistic in the language, more than just a little of the boxer in his stance. Read More...Tags:Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion, Atheist, Evolution
24 December 2006 Filed in:
The Voyage of the BeagleThere is a certain irony in celebrating Christmas if one is an unabashed Darwinist. I wonder if Richard Dawkins gives Christmas gifts? Or receives them, even?
Charles Darwin acknowledged Christmas. While in New Zealand he attended a church service on Christmas Day 1835 in Pahia, where the service, somewhat ahead of its time, was in both English and Maori. Read More...Tags:Merry Christmas, Charles Darwin, Voyage of the Beagle, HMS Beagle, Reverend Williams, Pahia, New Zealand, Cannibalism, Richard Dawkins
Recently a New Zealander, Mark Inglis, who has had more than a few mountains to climb – real and personal – managed the almost unbelievable feat of climbing Mount Everest even though he is a double amputee. Inglis lost his legs just below the knees after a prolonged period of frostbite 24 years ago, when he got caught out in a snow cave for 14 days while trying to climb Mt Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak.
Read More...Tags:Charles Darwin, Mark Inglis, David Sharp, Richard Dawkins, John Maynard Smith, Ethics, Selfish, Selfish gene, Reciprocal altruism, Kin selection, Mount Everest
