Ep 25: Darwin's Descent of Man into Inhumanity

Ideas have consequences and so today Joe Miller and Leroy Hill are joined by Richard Weikart to offer a biblically sound and philosophically robust discussion of Darwin's 1871 book, The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex. They’ll show how Darwin’s embrace of the godless philosophy of human evolution stands behind many of today’s moral conflicts. Through their witty banter, the guys till the soil of culture to sow the seed of the Gospel. Tune in live to see how these ideas have shaped the Western view of humanity, and maybe even deformed the worldview of many Christians.

REFERENCES

1. 10 Books that Screwed Up the World: And 5 Others That Didn't Help by Benjamin Wiker

2. The Descent Of Man by Charles Darwin

3. Darwinian Racism: How Darwinism Influenced Hitler, Nazism, and White Nationalism by Richard Weikart

RELATED EPISODE

EPISODES IN THIS SERIES

STUDY GUIDE

Darwin's Background and Motivation

1. Darwin was born in 1809 and initially pursued medicine and then theology at the behest of his father, but his passion for natural history persisted.

2. Darwin's ambition to make discoveries about nature that could benefit his family.

3. He eventually embarked on his famous voyage in 1831, which significantly influenced his thinking.

The Core Argument of "The Descent of Man"

1. The primary focus of the book, according to Darwin himself, is threefold:

   1. To determine if humans, like all other species, descended from a pre-existing form.

   2. To understand the manner of human development.

   3. To assess the value of the differences between the so-called races of men.

2. Darwin directly applied the arguments from his "Origin of Species" to the evolution of humankind.

Darwin's Worldview: Agnosticism and Deistic Tendencies

1. Darwin claimed to be an agnostic, suggesting an inability to know whether God exists.

2. However, 19th-century agnosticism, as understood by figures like Thomas Henry Huxley, often implied the impossibility of knowing God.

3. While Darwin entertained the idea that God might have created the laws of nature, he did not believe in divine intervention in the process of evolution or the creation of species. This suggests a deistic perspective, where God is a creator who does not actively interfere with the world.

Impact on the Understanding of Human Origins and Destiny

1. From a Darwinian perspective, humans originated through natural processes of evolution, similar to other animals.

2. The concept of an afterlife or a divinely ordained destiny is absent from his naturalistic framework.

Humans are seen as quantitatively different from other animals (having more developed social instincts, moral sense, etc.) rather than qualitatively distinct.

"Darwin actually used this terminology that humans are not qualitatively distinct or different from other animals. They're only quantitatively different from other animals."— Richard Weikart

The Subjectivity and Utilitarian Nature of Darwinian Morality

1. In Darwin's view, morality is not objective but rather a product of evolved social instincts that aid survival and reproduction.

2. Darwin believed that human social instincts would naturally lead to the Golden Rule.

3. However, this subjective basis of morality raises the question of how to reconcile conflicting instincts and moral frameworks, as illustrated by the contrast between Darwin's perceived morality and Hitler's.

Darwin's Views on Race and Their Dangerous Implications

1. Darwin believed that different human races had evolved differently and possessed different levels of moral development.

2. He considered European races to be more "civilized" and morally superior to "savage races."

3. The discussion emphasizes the perilous nature of this view, as it provided a pseudo-scientific justification for racial hierarchies and discrimination, echoing the ideas later espoused by figures like Hitler.

The Connection to Eugenics and Social Policies

1. Darwin's ideas were used to support eugenics, the belief in improving the human race through selective breeding.

2. Darwin expressed concern about the "reckless, the vicious, and otherwise inferior members of society" increasing at a faster rate than the "better class of men," suggesting a need to prevent societal "retrograde."

3. The ideas of biological determinism, where traits like poverty and "immorality" are seen as inherent and inheritable, are linked to Darwinian thought and influenced social policies aimed at segregation and controlling reproduction.

The "Might Makes Right" Consequence

1. Without an objective moral framework, a Darwinian "struggle for existence" can lead to the justification of power as the ultimate arbiter of right and wrong.

2. The book "Might Is Right or The Survival of the Fittest” by pseudonymous author Ragnar Redbeard, which gained traction among white nationalists, is presented as an example of this dangerous application of Darwinian principles.

The Concept of "Othering" and Dehumanization

1. Darwin's framework allow for a hierarchy of human groups that facilitates the "othering" and dehumanization of certain populations and makes it easier to justify their subjugation or elimination.

2. The use of the term "parasite" to describe certain groups, both in the context of eugenics and Nazi ideology, exemplifies this dangerous trend.

The Christian Response and Gospel Opportunity

1. Sound biblical theology is needed to guide the Christian worldview as a counter to the problematic implications of Darwinian thought.

2. Central to the Christian worldview is the doctrine of the Imago Dei (humans created in the image of God), which affirms the inherent dignity and value of every human being.

3. The weakness of Darwin's moral framework and its utilitarian underpinnings can be exploited to highlight the necessity of an objective, God-centered morality.

4. Engaging with people's innate sense of morality and purpose, even if they intellectually deny it, as a point of connection for sharing the Gospel.

Conclusion

The discussion reveals the complex and often troubling philosophical and ethical ramifications of Darwin's "Descent of Man." Darwin's theories on human origins and the subjective nature of morality inadvertently provided fertile ground for racist ideologies, eugenic policies, and the dehumanization of certain groups. The briefing emphasizes the importance of a robust Christian worldview, grounded in the inherent dignity of humanity as image-bearers of God, as a necessary counter to these dangerous ideas and as a foundation for meaningful engagement and Gospel proclamation.