Climbing Mount Improbable
Encyclopedia
Climbing Mount Improbable is a 1996 popular science
book
by Richard Dawkins
. The book is about probability
and how it applies to the theory of evolution
, and is specifically designed to debunk claims by creationists
about the probability of naturalistic mechanisms like natural selection
.
The main metaphorical treatment is of a geographical landscape, upon which evolution can only ascend in a gradual way, not being able to climb cliffs (this is known as an adaptive landscape). In the book Dawkins gives various ideas about a seemingly complex mechanism coming about from many different gradual steps that were previously unseen.
The book grew out of the annual Royal Institution Christmas Lectures
which Dawkins delivered in 1991 (see Growing Up in the Universe
). It is illustrated by Dawkins' wife Lalla Ward
; and is dedicated to Robert Winston
, "a good doctor and a good man".
The book is divided into ten chapters as follows:
Popular science
Popular science, sometimes called literature of science, is interpretation of science intended for a general audience. While science journalism focuses on recent scientific developments, popular science is broad-ranging, often written by scientists as well as journalists, and is presented in many...
book
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
by Richard Dawkins
Richard Dawkins
Clinton Richard Dawkins, FRS, FRSL , known as Richard Dawkins, is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author...
. The book is about probability
Probability
Probability is ordinarily used to describe an attitude of mind towards some proposition of whose truth we arenot certain. The proposition of interest is usually of the form "Will a specific event occur?" The attitude of mind is of the form "How certain are we that the event will occur?" The...
and how it applies to the theory of evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
, and is specifically designed to debunk claims by creationists
Creationism
Creationism is the religious beliefthat humanity, life, the Earth, and the universe are the creation of a supernatural being, most often referring to the Abrahamic god. As science developed from the 18th century onwards, various views developed which aimed to reconcile science with the Genesis...
about the probability of naturalistic mechanisms like natural selection
Natural selection
Natural selection is the nonrandom process by which biologic traits become either more or less common in a population as a function of differential reproduction of their bearers. It is a key mechanism of evolution....
.
The main metaphorical treatment is of a geographical landscape, upon which evolution can only ascend in a gradual way, not being able to climb cliffs (this is known as an adaptive landscape). In the book Dawkins gives various ideas about a seemingly complex mechanism coming about from many different gradual steps that were previously unseen.
The book grew out of the annual Royal Institution Christmas Lectures
Royal Institution Christmas Lectures
The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures are a series of lectures on a single topic, which have been held at the Royal Institution in London each year since 1825. The lectures present scientific subjects to a general audience, including young people, in an informative and entertaining manner....
which Dawkins delivered in 1991 (see Growing Up in the Universe
Growing Up in the Universe
Growing Up in the Universe was a series of lectures given by Richard Dawkins as part of the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, in which he discussed the evolution of life in the universe....
). It is illustrated by Dawkins' wife Lalla Ward
Lalla Ward
Sarah Ward known as Lalla Ward, is an English actor, author and illustrator. As an actor, she is known for playing the part of Romana in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who. She is married to evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins.-Early career:Ward's stage name, "Lalla", comes...
; and is dedicated to Robert Winston
Robert Winston
Robert Maurice Lipson Winston, Baron Winston is a British professor, medical doctor, scientist, television presenter and politician.-Early life and education :...
, "a good doctor and a good man".
The book is divided into ten chapters as follows:
- Facing Mount Rushmore
- Silken Fetters
- The Message From the Mountain
- Getting Off the Ground
- The Forty-fold Path to Enlightenment
- The Museum of All Shells
- Kaleidoscopic Embryos
- Pollen Grains and Magic Bullets
- The Robot Repeater
- "A Garden Inclosed"
External links
- "Climbing Mount Improbable (book reviews), Frank Graham Jr.
- Book review "The Mystery Of Life", John HorganJohn Horgan (American journalist)John Horgan is an American science journalist best known for his 1996 book The End of Science. He has written for many publications, including Scientific American, The New York Times, Time, Newsweek, and IEEE Spectrum...
, Slate, September 1996.