Michael Ruse
Encyclopedia
Michael Ruse is a philosopher
of biology
at Florida State University
, and is well known for his work on the creationism
/evolution
controversy and the demarcation problem
in science. He was born in England, took his undergraduate degree at the University of Bristol
(1962), his master's degree at McMaster University
, Hamilton, Ontario
(1964), and Ph.D. at the University of Bristol
(1970).
in Ontario
, Canada
for 35 years. Since his retirement from Guelph, he has taught at Florida State University
and is the Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy (2000–present). In 1986, he was elected as a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Canada
and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
. He has received honorary doctorates from the University of Bergen
, Norway (1990), McMaster University
, Ontario, Canada (2003) and most recently the University of New Brunswick
, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada (2007). He considers himself both an atheist and agnostic, but believes that "new atheism
" is a disservice to science and loathes the term "Humanist
."
Ruse was a key witness for the plaintiff in the 1981 test case (McLean v. Arkansas
) of the state law permitting the teaching of "creation science
" in the Arkansas
school system. The federal judge ruled that the state law was unconstitutional
. Ruse's 1988 book Homosexuality: A Philosophical Inquiry criticizes social constructionist views of sexual orientation
. Philosopher Edward Stein argues that Ruse does not succeed in showing that social constructionism
is mistaken, calling his discussion of it superficial.
Along with several other scholars, Ruse delivered the 2001 Gifford Lectures
in Natural Theology at the University of Glasgow
. His lectures on Evolutionary Naturalism, "A Darwinian Understanding of Epistemology" and "A Darwinian Understanding of Ethics," are collected in the edited volume The Nature and Limits of Human Understanding, (ed. Anthony Sanford, T & T Clark, 2003) Ruse debates regularly with William A. Dembski
, a proponent of intelligent design
. Ruse takes the position that it is possible to reconcile the Christian faith with evolutionary theory. Ruse founded the journal Biology and Philosophy and has published numerous books and articles.
He has been married to his second wife, Lizzie, since 1985 and they have three children, Emily, Oliver and Edward, in addition to two from his first marriage, Nigel and Rebecca.
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
of biology
Philosophy of biology
The philosophy of biology is a subfield of philosophy of science, which deals with epistemological, metaphysical, and ethical issues in the biological and biomedical sciences...
at Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, and is well known for his work on the creationism
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...
/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...
controversy and the demarcation problem
Demarcation problem
The demarcation problem in the philosophy of science is about how and where to draw the lines around science. The boundaries are commonly drawn between science and non-science, between science and pseudoscience, between science and philosophy and between science and religion...
in science. He was born in England, took his undergraduate degree at the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
(1962), his master's degree at McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
, Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
(1964), and Ph.D. at the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
(1970).
Biography
Ruse taught at the University of GuelphUniversity of Guelph
The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
for 35 years. Since his retirement from Guelph, he has taught at Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
and is the Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy (2000–present). In 1986, he was elected as a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
and the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
. He has received honorary doctorates from the University of Bergen
University of Bergen
The University of Bergen is located in Bergen, Norway. Although founded as late as 1946, academic activity had taken place at Bergen Museum as far back as 1825. The university today serves more than 14,500 students...
, Norway (1990), McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
, Ontario, Canada (2003) and most recently the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada (2007). He considers himself both an atheist and agnostic, but believes that "new atheism
New Atheism
New Atheism is the name given to a movement among some early-21st-century atheist writers who have advocated the view that "religion should not simply be tolerated but should be countered, criticized, and exposed by rational argument wherever its influence arises." New atheists argue that recent...
" is a disservice to science and loathes the term "Humanist
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
."
Ruse was a key witness for the plaintiff in the 1981 test case (McLean v. Arkansas
McLean v. Arkansas
McLean v. Arkansas Board of Education, 529 F. Supp. 1255, 1258-1264 , was a 1981 legal case in Arkansas.A lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas by various parents, religious groups and organizations, biologists, and others who argued that the...
) of the state law permitting the teaching of "creation science
Creation science
Creation Science or scientific creationism is a branch of creationism that attempts to provide scientific support for the Genesis creation narrative in the Book of Genesis and disprove generally accepted scientific facts, theories and scientific paradigms about the history of the Earth, cosmology...
" in the Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
school system. The federal judge ruled that the state law was unconstitutional
Constitutionality
Constitutionality is the condition of acting in accordance with an applicable constitution. Acts that are not in accordance with the rules laid down in the constitution are deemed to be ultra vires.-See also:*ultra vires*Company law*Constitutional law...
. Ruse's 1988 book Homosexuality: A Philosophical Inquiry criticizes social constructionist views of sexual orientation
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation describes a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither, and the genders that accompany them. By the convention of organized researchers, these attractions are subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality,...
. Philosopher Edward Stein argues that Ruse does not succeed in showing that social constructionism
Social constructionism
Social constructionism and social constructivism are sociological theories of knowledge that consider how social phenomena or objects of consciousness develop in social contexts. A social construction is a concept or practice that is the construct of a particular group...
is mistaken, calling his discussion of it superficial.
Along with several other scholars, Ruse delivered the 2001 Gifford Lectures
Gifford Lectures
The Gifford Lectures were established by the will of Adam Lord Gifford . They were established to "promote and diffuse the study of Natural Theology in the widest sense of the term — in other words, the knowledge of God." The term natural theology as used by Gifford means theology supported...
in Natural Theology at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
. His lectures on Evolutionary Naturalism, "A Darwinian Understanding of Epistemology" and "A Darwinian Understanding of Ethics," are collected in the edited volume The Nature and Limits of Human Understanding, (ed. Anthony Sanford, T & T Clark, 2003) Ruse debates regularly with William A. Dembski
William A. Dembski
William Albert "Bill" Dembski is an American proponent of intelligent design, well known for promoting the concept of specified complexity...
, a proponent of intelligent design
Intelligent design
Intelligent design is the proposition that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection." It is a form of creationism and a contemporary adaptation of the traditional teleological argument for...
. Ruse takes the position that it is possible to reconcile the Christian faith with evolutionary theory. Ruse founded the journal Biology and Philosophy and has published numerous books and articles.
He has been married to his second wife, Lizzie, since 1985 and they have three children, Emily, Oliver and Edward, in addition to two from his first marriage, Nigel and Rebecca.
Selected works
- The Darwinian revolution (1979) ISBN 0-226-73164-2
- Is science sexist? and other problems in the biomedical sciences (1981) ISBN 90-277-1250-6
- Darwinism defended, a guide to the evolution controversies (1982) ISBN 0-201-06273-9
- Sociobiology, sense or nonsense? (1st ed. 1979, 2nd ed. 1985) ISBN 90-277-1798-2
- Taking Darwin seriously: a naturalistic approach to philosophy (1986) ISBN 0-631-13542-1
- Homosexuality: a philosophical inquiry (1988) ISBN 0-631-17553-9
- The Philosophy of biology today (1988) ISBN 0-88706-911-8
- The Darwinian paradigm: essays on its history, philosophy and religious implications (1989) ISBN 0-415-08951-4
- Evolutionary naturalism: selected essays (1995) ISBN 0-415-08997-2
- Monad to man: the concept of progress in evolutionary biology (1996) ISBN 0-674-58220-9
- But is it science? the philosophical question in the creation/evolution controversy (1996) ISBN 0879754397
- Mystery of mysteries: is evolution a social construction? (1999) ISBN 0-674-00543-0
- Biology and the foundation of ethics (1999) ISBN 0-521-55923-5
- Can a Darwinian be a Christian? the relationship between science and religion (2001) ISBN 0-521-63716-3
- The evolution wars: a guide to the debates (2003) ISBN 1-57607-185-5
- Darwin and Design: Does evolution have a purpose? (2003) ISBN 0-674-01631-9
- The Evolution-Creation Struggle (2005) ISBN 0-674-01687-4
- Darwinism and its Discontents (2006) ISBN 0-521-82947-X
- Philosophy after Darwin (2009) ISBN 0-691-13553-3
External links
- Michael Ruse's Homepage at Florida State
- Michael Ruse on Charles Darwin: Evolution Is No Monkey Business
- Can a Christian be a Darwinian? Lecture given in 2007 at The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion
- Speech by Michael Ruse 1993 to American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Michael Ruse discusses faith, evolution and Richard Dawkins at the Centre for Public Christianity in Sydney
- Biography and summary of Gifford Lectures (2001, University of GlasgowUniversity of GlasgowThe University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
), by Dr Brannon Hancock