Hiram who?

Might I suggest that you go back and do some more reading Hiram; after which you may decide that your article should also be buried without any chance of being discovered.

This is a critique of a scientist and his science. It has nothing to do with creationism or the intelligent design ruse, but just watch the commentary degenerate into atheists vs fundamentalists.

What is puzzeling that Cato doesnt think that a novel explanation for the intricate diversity of living organisms, their apparently complex design, subsequent confirmations of detailed mechanisms of evolution by all the discoveries of genetics, and a unification of biologal concepts in a common theme is not worth mentioning in his essay. It's a Nobel shoo-in.

All the other comments here ring true to me, but for the one about the standard religion-science fight on evolution. That can only come from the comments themselves, as Cato's turgid effort is too dull to get them in.

Hiram is trying to disabuse us of some of the spiritual mumbo-jumbo attaching to Darwin's memory, or legend. His points are interesting and rational. Darwin was bloody lucky to get the job as naturalist on the Beagle in the first place. The ship's captain, Robert Fitzroy, was his equal in intellect and naturalist's ability. Darwin didn't have some earth-shattering revelation about evolution while doing his observations of finches and their beaks. He sat on his butt for years back in England, procrastinating over his samples, and only published when a younger Briton in Borneo contacted him expressing paralell understandings. The reason his work is so revered is that it counters christian notions of a deity which articulate around creation of the universe and the centrality of man as like god and superior to all other beings.

Darwin has his place in time, correct or not.

A cheap shot with a big claim against one who cannot respond or defend themselves.

Hiram Caton, i have not heard of your theory of evolution and you have had no book written about your work.

Admire anyone who was inquisitive, ahead of hs time as correct or not, it is men like him that pioneer our evolution.

The most interesting article for some time. Thanks, Dr Caton.

Many of you seem to be interpreting Dr Caton's critical examination of Darwin as some kind of attack, and several even feel the need to retaliate. I don't read the article that way at all.

Ironically, Caton's main point was to highlight exactly this kind of knee-jerk and emotional springing to Darwin's defence. Humanity loves a champion, but this detracts from what is really valuable - a scientific community collaborating on the advancement of the scientific process.

And, more topically, we should be encouring doubters to particiupate in that process and scrutinize today's theories, rather than those 150 years old. No insult to Darwin intended.