International Humanist and Ethical Union
The world union of Humanist organizations
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Commemoration of Chrales Darwin
Is IHEU planning any public commemoration of Darwin's birth? Will there be anything taking place at his burial place in Westminster Abbey, such as placement of a floral tribute there if this is permitted?
I think Charles Darwin was born in Shrewsbury. Is there anything there such as, for example, a plaque, to make publicly known Darwin's significance to Humanism?
The centrality of Darwin and evolutionary thought to Humanism is made clear by Julian Huxley, in such writings as "The Humanist Frame."
Darwin websites
The most complete collection of Darwin's work ever published
http://www.aboutdarwin.com
Darwin for scholars
http://pages.britishlibrary.net/charles.darwin/texts/letters/letters1_03.html
Humans' true place
Darwin, like Newton, showed us our true place in the universe and like Newton ranks as one of the greatest influences on human philosophy and ethical thinking.
I donot agree with darwin
Are you really positive that it is our true place in the universe?
There is really so much we cannot comprehend or explain the meaning of our existence in the universe.
What do you think is beyond our galaxy?
I guess we don't really know the answer to that. Here we are in this great big world which is just another tiny little planet in this great big universe. We don't really and trully know what's on the other side of our galaxy. It is quite beyond our knowledge.
Why did we come into existence?
What is the purpose or the true meaning of our existence in life?
Do we really have to believe Evolution theory? Which is just a theory.
Theory is another thing and Fact is another.
Darwin never really created a humanbeing or actually see an Ape or monkey evolve into a human.
If we trully evolved from monkeys, Why aren't we still going through this process of evolution?
The Theory of Evolution
Dear Pixie23
You have misunderstood the meaning of the word Theory. Evolution is not "just" a theory, as opposed to a "fact". A scientific theory is the best available explanation that fits all of the observed evidence. The Theory of Evolution is the best available scientific explanation for all of the facts we know about life around us.
Of course Darwin never saw a monkey change into a human being. Evolution happens little by little and has takem millions of years. And change, when it happens, happens between parent and child, not in a single individual.
And yes, humans are still evolving. But it is a very slow process and can rarely be observed. Perhaps the best evidence we have of human evolution still happening is the way in which people in some regions of Africa where the prevelence of HIV/AIDS is high are evolving some resistance to the disease.
Agree ???
I agree with you (reply to Pixie23). There are a lot of things in the universe, we cannot explain (yet).
What's beyond our galaxy ? I have no idea. Maybe mankind might never know.
With the question about what the purpose or the true meaning of our lives is, you forget to answer the question if it actual does have any purpose and/or true meaning.
Isn't this "purpose in" and/or "meaning of" life, a (more or less) personal/individual issue?
With regard to evolutionary theory, I think you misinterpret the word "theory". A "theory" can be seen as a "hypothesis/idea", and on the other hand as an "explanation how something work".
The word "theory" (as used in evolutionary theory) is used in the last way. Evolutionary theory is an explanatory description of how it (evolution) works. This explanation is based on factual information.
You argue that "Darwin never really created a human being or actually see an Ape or monkey evolve into a human.". Darwin never (as far as I know) said that he (or anyone else in the future) could create life, let alone a human being.
The signs of evolution are everywhere. Look at the problems scientists have, while trying to find treatments for something like HIV or cancer or the flue. It's a known fact that viruses and bacteria constantly change (little bit at a time).
PS. Humans didn't evolve from apes (monkeys). We (humans and apes) share (parallel) the same ancestry branch.
true place of humanbeing
you have wisely, correctly and vividly compared the 2 pioneer philospher scients i.e. Darwin and Newton.