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Feb 21-23, 2003
Worldviews and the Origins of Life
Introduction
Two main topics were addressed at the first workshop. The first topic
was that of “Worldviews and the Origins of Life.” Under this
heading, three presentations were delivered. The first, by Dr. Jack Szostack,
addressed the ability to generate new living organisms in the laboratory.
On the more philosophical side, Dr. Holmes Rolston presented on what he
considers to be the six big questions of originating life. Dr. Ernan McMullin
discussed early Christian notions of the origins of different kinds of
organisms.
Laboratory Studies and the Origin of Life
Tutorial by Jack Szostak
Molecular biologist Jack W. Szostak, Ph.D. reports that scientists are
using advanced laboratory technologies to break down the chemical beginnings
of life into small, observable steps. When they complete the job, we will
know more about how life may have developed from nonliving molecules.
We might also learn more about how easily and frequently life can develop
in the universe, and how living things respond to environmental change.
Read a discussion of this tutorial.
Originating Life: Six big questions
Tutorial by Holmes Rolston
To learn about the origin of life, Holmes Rolston III said, look beyond
the beginnings of matter and energy and focus on the development of biological
information. His presentation highlighted not what science knows about
the origin of life, but the questions it has not been able to answer.
Read a discussion of this tutorial.
The Origin of Natural Kinds: Early Christian
Alternatives
Tutorial by Ernan McMullin
The unanswered—and perhaps unanswerable—question of how the
universe and life within it began has preoccupied philosophers, sages,
storytellers, and scholars throughout history. By way of offering a context
for the theological acceptance of the Darwinian concept of evolution,
Ernan McMullin outlined some little-known ideas of the Church father,
Augustine (354-430) on the biblical Creation.
Read a discussion of this tutorial.
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