The American Spectator

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Darwin and Conservatism: Friends or Foes?

By W. James Antle, III on 12.3.07 @ 4:16PM

On Wednesday, the Robert Taft Club will be holding a panel discussion on Darwinism and conservatism from 7:30 to 10 at the Boulevard Woodgrill in Arlington. The speakers will include TAS senior editor Tom Bethell, Charles Murray, Reason's Ron Bailey, and National Review's John Derbyshire.

A taste:

Many conservatives are critical of Darwin's theory of evolution. Some base their reservation on religious grounds, while others criticize what they call Scientism -- a belief that faith in Darwinism and/or science in general has become a secular religion. Others are concerned by the social and political conclusions that some advocates of Darwinism apply to human affairs.

At the same time, Some conservatives believe that studies evolutionary and genetic theory have many conservative implications. Scientists in the fields of sociobiology and evolutionary psychology have suggested that human nature is fixed, rather than being a blank slate. Others argue that work in behavorial genetics shatter egalitarian notions. National Review editor John O'Sullivan has dubbed conservatives who apply these theories as "evol-cons."

Get directions to the event here.

topics:
Religion, Conservatism