The Blind Watchmaker

Book reviewed by Henry E. Neufeld

Dawkins, Richard The Blind Watchmaker. New York, W. W. Norton & Company, 1986.

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If you're looking for a book to explain the appearance of design in the world from a purely evolutionary perspective, this is it. Dawkins is clear, forthright and to the point throughout this book. Be prepared to read attentively. The material is not very difficult, but it does require your attention point by point as Dawkins builds his case.

Chapters which I found particularly interesting were: Explaining the very improbable (1), Good design (2), Accumulating small change (3), Puncturing punctuationism (9) and Doomed rivals (11). I appreciated chapter 9 even though I am also very much impressed with the work of Dr. Stephen J. Gould who is one of the two scientists who proposed punctuated equilibrium.

Dawkins is firmly atheistic, and even describes a more liberal theistic position such as my own as dishonest, apparently preferring the harder, more conservative version of theism as having more substance (and perhaps also being a little easier to attack!). None of this detracts from his excellent description of the science, however, in my opinion. One could (and I do) read the tremendous intricacy with which a few laws can design creatures and systems in nature as a mark of the creator's hand. Or not, as you see fit. The description of the mechanism is well done in either case.

Young earth creationists won't like this. Advocates of irreducible complexity and of intelligent design theory at the individual organism level will certainly hate it. The rest of us get to sit back, read, and enjoy!

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