Level of Education
Graduate
Keywords
Naturalism, Scopes Monkey Trial, Social Darwinism, Fundamentalism
Abstract
Greek mythology once predominated the highest forms of culture known to man. Myths of how fire came to be in the hands of humans, or how the peacock got its spotted feathers were beloved cultural tales of origins.[1] With the decline of the ancient cultures, new ones blossomed in their place. However, the question of origin has remained a pertinent, central question of each culture, no matter how modern. The question of origin dictates who a person believes himself to be, where he believes himself to be going, and what he believes himself to be doing. The question of origin is perhaps the most important question of culture itself because it is the question of τελος itself.[2] It has been a natural inquiry of Man since the beginning of time. This inquiry, because it is all-encompassing, is ultimately an inquiry of truth. Truth can be found in several disciplines and practical applications—through theology, through science, through musical notation. However, in the Scopes trial, truth was sacrificed for the sake of political and scientific narrative. Naturalism attempted to answer this question and provided the foundation for social Darwinism.
Included in
History of Religion Commons, History of Science, Technology, and Medicine Commons, Law and Philosophy Commons, Law and Politics Commons, Law and Society Commons, Other American Studies Commons, Philosophy of Science Commons, United States History Commons
The “Age of Rock” versus the “Rock of Ages”: Naturalism, Social Darwinism, and Fundamentalism in the Scopes Monkey Trial
Greek mythology once predominated the highest forms of culture known to man. Myths of how fire came to be in the hands of humans, or how the peacock got its spotted feathers were beloved cultural tales of origins.[1] With the decline of the ancient cultures, new ones blossomed in their place. However, the question of origin has remained a pertinent, central question of each culture, no matter how modern. The question of origin dictates who a person believes himself to be, where he believes himself to be going, and what he believes himself to be doing. The question of origin is perhaps the most important question of culture itself because it is the question of τελος itself.[2] It has been a natural inquiry of Man since the beginning of time. This inquiry, because it is all-encompassing, is ultimately an inquiry of truth. Truth can be found in several disciplines and practical applications—through theology, through science, through musical notation. However, in the Scopes trial, truth was sacrificed for the sake of political and scientific narrative. Naturalism attempted to answer this question and provided the foundation for social Darwinism.
