Nature 100 years ago

Did anyone happen to notice the "100 Years Ago" section in the Dec. 4, 2003,
issue of Nature? It has a mini-review of the 1903 book "Doubts About
Darwinism" authored by someone known only as a "Semi-Darwinian":

"The preface of this work informs us that its author has endeavoured to
conform strictly to the principle laid down by Lord Kelvin, as follows -"If a
probable solution, consistent with the ordinary course of nature, can be found, we
must not invoke an abnormal act of Creative Power". Unfortunately the
"Semi-Darwinian's" practice is not in accord with his profession. Whenever he meets
with a problem in evolutuion which appears to him inexplicable on the lines of
natural selection, so far from seeking a "probable solution, consistent with
the ordinary course of nature," he resorts at once to the intervention, by a
direct creative act, of "a Being possessing interlligence, intention and
power." This is bad science, and we much doubt whether it is good theology."

Sound familiar?

Karl
**********************
Karl V. Evans
cmekve@aol.com
Received on Thu Dec 11 00:46:07 2003