Darwin and the German Theologians

Abstract

Standard historiography of science and religion in the nineteenth century is Konfliktgeschichte---warfare between contradictory claims to truth, in which science wins its right to determine the truth about nature. Current challenges to the conflict-histories, based on sociological critiques of relation of scientific (or any other) theories to truth. Intellectual differences should be understood not only in theory, but in terms of the social groups on each side. Paper focuses on David Friedrich Strauss and Otto Zöckler. Zöckler ``spoke for the huge numbers of average Germans who wanted to hold to traditions of their faith in spite of the evolutionary assertions of the Darwinists and others. And Strauss claimed to speak for an innumerable vast multitude who no longer believed in the Bible or miracles, but who wanted a modern religion compatible with an age of science.`` [271] Strauss on Darwin in Der alte und der neue Glaube (1872). Credits Darwin with first replacing miraculous agency with natural forces. Asserts Darwin got his notion of natural selection from the workings of English society. Zöckler sought to combat materialism with a new, scholarly natural theology. Took up species question. Treated Darwin with respect, gave an accurate account of natural selection. Challenged assumptions.So what's the point, Fred?