Synopsis
Darwinism And Design; Or, Creation By Evolution by George St. Clair presents a defense of the design argument within the framework of Darwinian evolution. The work argues that evolution does not negate divine providence, and it uses examples from astronomy, geology, biology, and palaeontology to show gradual development of living forms, the unity of nature, and the presence of wisdom and beneficence in design. It surveys natural selection, variation, inheritance, embryology, and rudimentary organs, and discusses the moral and religious implications of evolution, including the ascent of man, the trustworthiness of conscience, and duties arising from evolutionary thought. The author emphasizes the continuity of natural law with divine law, arguing for a teleological reading of nature and defending the compatibility of design with both method and process of evolution. It critiques opposing views (such as Spencer’s non-teleology and Haeckel’s dys-teleology) and argues for a cosmos that is intelligent, purposeful, and capable of guiding life through gradual, law-governed change. The volume also contemplates pain, parasitism, disease, and death as elements contributing to a larger good, and closes with reflections on humanity’s destiny and moral growth.
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