Dawkins on Gould ~ slide 1

Richard Dawkins on Gould’s NOMA

Richard Dawkins. “Science Discredits Religion.” In Peterson, Hasker, et al.

Begins with discussion of Gould’s NOMA– Dawkins proposes that science cannot

determine what is right or wrong, – But neither can religion

• What might be a religious basis for ethics?

• Scripture?• Consensus?

Dawkins on Gould ~ slide 2

Richard Dawkins on Gould’s NOMA

Dawkins on Gould ~ slide 3

Richard Dawkins on Gould

• Religious leaders?– Dawkins proposes that none of these

work.– Pope John Paul II’s 1996 statement on

evolution• Dawkins’ critique

– When was soul initially infused?– Proposed gulf between humans &

other animals

Dawkins on Gould ~ slide 4

Richard Dawkins on Gould

• Gould’s NOMA is wrong– Because religion makes claims about

the physical world

Comments– I agree with Dawkins that there are

problems with Gould’s NOMA, but– One could argue that many, if not all of

Dawkins’ comments about religion are caricatures (the straw man fallacy)