Humanism
Richard Dawkins (March 1941 - )
12:00
Who is Richard Dawkins? (Bio)
Clifton Richard Dawkins more commonly referred to as Richard Dawkins is considered
to be one of the leading scientific minds in the world. He specialises in the area of
evolutionary biology. (We will explore what this means later on)
Dawkins describes his childhood as “a normal
Anglican upbringing,” accepting Christianity
until his mid-teens. It was as this point he
decided that the theory of evolution was a
better explanation for the complexity of life.
From this moment on he stopped believing in
God.
In an interview Dawkins lays out the reasons
for his change of view:
‘The main reasons why I was religious
was from being so impressed with the complexity of life and feeling that it had to
have a designer, and I think it was when I realised that Darwinism was a far
superior explanation that pulled the rug out from under the argument of design.
And that left me with nothing.’1
After completing school in 1959 Dawkins went to study Zoology at Oxford University.
During this time he became fascinated with the area of ethology and animal behaviour
and continued his studies to achieve his doctorate.
Dawkins, a strong believer in the quest for understanding took up a teaching position
at the University of California where he spent a couple of years before returning to
Oxford as a full time lecturer. In 1990 he became a reader of Zoology a position he
held until 2008 when he retired his professorship.
An interesting position Dawkins assumed whilst at Oxford was the Simanyi Professor
for the Public Understanding of Science. This was a role he took very seriously
regularly taking keynote lectures at Oxford and around the world.
Upon retiring Dawkins suggested he had plans to ‘write a book aimed at youngsters in
which he will warn them against believing in anti-scientific fairytales.’2 The Magic of
Reality published this year is Dawkins first book aimed primarily at children as a
response to many recent publications such as Harry Potter and The Northern Lights.
In an interview he suggested; "The book I write next year will be a children's book on
how to think about the world, science thinking contrasted with mythical thinking’.
‘Have you heard the tale of how the sun hatched out of an emu’s egg… or that
earthquakes are caused by a sneezing giant? These fantastical myths are fun – but
what is the real answer to such questions.’3
How do we know what’s really true. If you want to find out I suggest you read the book.
Hattenstone, Simon (10 February 2003). "Darwin's child". London: The Guardian.
Martin Beckford and Urmee Khan (24 October 2008). "Harry Potter fails to cast spell
over Professor Richard Dawkins". London: The Daily Telegraph.
3 Dawkins, Richard (2011). The Magic of Reality. Bantam House Press
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2
Evolutionary Biology
What Richard Dawkins is most famous for is his work in an area called Evolutionary
Biology. Simply put, this is when scientists use biology to explore where different
species have come from and how life has evolved and changed over time.
So How Does Evolutionary Biology Work?
Scientists often talk about something called a Gene Pool. So what is it?
“In every generation sexual reproduction sees to it that genes are shuffled. You were
born with the shuffled genes of your father and your mother, which means the shuffled
genes of your four grandparents as well. The same applies to everyone else in the
population over the past hundreds of thousands of years. During that time, this
process of shuffling sees to it that the genes within the whole population are so
completely shuffled, that it makes sense to talk of a great swirling pool of genes: the
‘gene pool.’
Evolution means change in a gene pool. Change in a gene pool means that some
genes become more numerous, others less. Genes that used to be common become
rare, or disappear altogether. Genes that used to be rare become common. And the
result is that the shape, size, or colour, or behaviour of typical members of the species
changes: it evolves, because changes in the numbers of genes in the gene pool. That
is what evolution is.”4
As a scientist Dawkins is trying to discover why some genes survive better than
others. Through studying animal behaviour he has concluded that Natural Selection
may actual come down to an animals genes evolving.
Dawkins has written two well-known books
on this topic. One called The Selfish Gene
and a second The Extended Phenotype, if
you would like to explore more on how
animals and humans have evolved.
4
Dawkins, Richard (2011). The Magic of Reality. Bantam House Press.
Meme
A word that Richard Dawkins has made famous is something called a Meme. A very
strange word, but what does it actually mean?
A ‘meme’ is an idea, behaviour of style that spreads from person to person within a
culture. It is shortened from a longer Ancient Greek word Mimeme that means to
‘imitate.’ A meme, acts like a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols or practices. A
meme could be passed on through many different things, such as writing, rituals,
speech or even gestures.
An example of this recently was the Jack Wills Phenomenon. One day a school pupil
we will call Anna turns up in her new very trendy Jack Wills gear and everyone she
meets that day loves what she is wearing so much it becomes a ‘must have’ and they
all go out and buy Jack Wills clothes. Nearly overnight schools everywhere turned
pink and navy with hoodies, giletes, scarves, and bags. An example of a meme as a
style is transferred across a culture.
Other examples of memes Dawkins includes in his book The Selfish Gene are
melodies, catch phrases, fashion and technology.
If we now put this idea of memes back into biological evolution we get a very exciting
conclusion. Through genes mutating and varying (memes) some characteristics
survive and become more common and other disappear completely. According to
Dawkins this is how evolution works within natural selection.
Criticism of Creationism
Dawkins is a high profile critic of creationism. (This is a religious belief that God
created humanity, life and the universe without evolution.) He has described this view
as "a preposterous, mind-shrinking falsehood."5 In his book The Blind Watchmaker he
attempts to dismantle a theory called the Teleological Argument proposed by the
English Theologian William Paley. In this Paley suggests the universe like a watch is
too complicated to exist purely by accident and therefore must have a designer.
Dawkins responds to this theory suggesting that natural selection is sufficient enough
to explain the complexity of the universe. (This is a view generally held by most
scientists)
In recent years Dawkins has passionately been against the inclusion of Intelligent
Design in science at schools, describing it as ‘not a scientific argument at all, but a
religious one.”6
Recently Dawkins has set up The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and
Science to make science materials affordable for schools in order that science may be
taught properly.
5
6
Dawkins, Richard (9 March 2002). "A scientist's view". The Guardian (London).
Dawkins, Richard (9 March 2002). "A scientist's view". The Guardian (London).
Advocacy of Atheism
Dawkins has described himself as an outspoken, “fairly militant atheist”7 and critic of
religion. He believes that for him atheism is a logical conclusion because of his views
of evolution. “All I know is that God isn’t a good explanation (for the universe), so we
must wait and hope that somebody comes up with a better one.”8
In 2007 he founded the Out Campaign which was to try encourage atheists all over
the world to declare they were atheists publically. Atheism is often viewed as people
“not believing in God’ but for Dawkins it is more than this. He hopes that by atheists
identifying themselves it would increase public awareness of how many people hold
these views and reduce the negative view held for atheism.
In 2008 Dawkins officially supported the UK’s first atheist advertising campaign as part
of his role as vice president of the British Humanist Association. The plan was to
advertise atheism on the side of buses in the London area. He promised to personally
match money raised up to £5,500 for the advertising. However the campaign was
such a great success that over £100,000 was raised and in January 2009 buses
covered London with the slogan
"There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."
Bass, Thomas A. (1994). Reinventing the future: Conversations with the World's Leading
Scientists. Addison Wesley. p. 118.
8 Dawkins, Richard (1986). The Blind Watchmaker. New York: Norton. p. 6.
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Activities to support learning.
1. Using the information on Richard Dawkins create a timeline showing all the
important dates that have happened in his life.
e.g. This could include books he has published, tv programmes he has
appeared in as well as scientific discoveries.
(If you need more information you can also search for information on the
internet)
2. After reading the above information, make a list of ten words, which best
describe Richard Dawkins.
Put these word in order of importance.
What kind of person do you think he is?
3. Using the words in the WORDLE write a paragraph describing what Dawkins
believes.
(You must use all the words and can include as many of you own as you
require)
4. Richard Dawkins is described as one of the leading scientific minds in the
world today. In group of 2 or 3 can you think of another three scientist you could
be described in the same way?
5. What is a gene pool?
6. In your own words describe what a meme is?
7. The "The Jack Wills Phenomenon" was a modern example of a meme. Can you
think of any other example of an idea, behaviour of style that spreads from
person to person?
Using a blank sheet of paper, make a sketch of the next big craze to hit
Scotland?
8. Look at 'the Bus Campaign' information on the Humanist website.
Imagine you are a humanist. Design your own poster to be used in a campaign
to encourage Atheists to come out. These could be put up around school, on
the side of a bus or even a taxi.
Dawkins believes that more science should be taught in schools, do you agree?
Give reasons for your answer.
9. The Richard Dawkins Foundation has been set up to help schools make sure
pupils learn about how important evolution is.
Do you think this is a good idea?
Give reasons for your answer.
10. Many people in the world now describe themselves as an Atheist, what does
this mean?
11. Complete a survey in your school; try to discover what people believe. How
many Atheists are there?
(Remember when conducting your survey to be respectful of people’s beliefs)
12. Why do you think people are choosing not to believe in God/Gods anymore like
Richard Dawkins?
Finally imagine you are a reporter for a local newspaper.
Your have been asked to interview Richard Dawkins, (a rare chance) What
three questions would you ask?