R. A. Fisher: a faith fit for eugenics.
In discussions of 'religion-and-science', faith is usually emphasized more than works, scientists' beliefs more than their deeds. By reversing the priority, a lingering puzzle in the life of Ronald Aylmer Fisher (1890-1962), statistician, eugenicist and founder of the neo-Darwinian synthesis, can be solved. Scholars have struggled to find coherence in Fisher's simultaneous commitment to Darwinism, Anglican Christianity and eugenics. The problem is addressed by asking what practical mode of faith or faithful mode of practice lent unity to his life? Families, it is argued, with their myriad practical, emotional and intellectual challenges, rendered a mathematically-based eugenic Darwinian Christianity not just possible for Fisher, but vital.
Moore
James
J
Department of History of Science, Technology and Medicine, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK. j.r.moore@open.ac.uk <j.r.moore@open.ac.uk>
D001315:Australia; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004739:England; D005053:Eugenics / Q000266:history*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D033303:Protestantism / Q000266:history*; D012070:Religion and Science; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D013223:Statistics as Topic / Q000266:history*