History ETDs

Publication Date

3-17-1969

Abstract

In the twentieth century the evolutionary perspective, which became popular during the nineteenth century larger due to the work of Charles Darwin, has become the only view acceptable to science and the only sound basis for a philosophy of nature acceptable in the modern world. The acceptance of the evolutionary perspective in science has led to a search for the implications of this fact in other areas of life and has opened up a new dimension of thought concerning the destiny of man, his duty in his present existence, and the meaning of his life and the universe. The thought of three contemporary Europeans, Emil Brunner, Julian Huxley, and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, all of whom accepted the fact of evolution, was studied in this thesis to determine if their answers to the ultimate questions of life were derived from the implications of evolution. It was discovered that Brunner felt that these questions could be answered only from Revelation. When man experiences God he becomes aware that God has a claim upon him, and he concludes from Revelation that God is his Lord., this his duty is to obey God, and that his destiny is to have fellowship with God. Brunner seeks to show that the idea of evolution does not invalidate any of the Christian beliefs. In contrast to Brunner, Huxley feels that if an idea-system is to be relevant to modern life and is to give man reliable guidance in the conduct of his life, it must be based upon an evolutionary world-view. On that basis, he developed an idea system called Evolutionary Humanism. He contends that evolution determines man’s destiny, determines what is right and wrong in human relations, and sets the goal for the future of all mankind. Huxley’s answers to the questions of ultimate concern are deduced from a naturalistic and materialistic understanding of evolution. Teilhard seeks to form a synthesis of science and religion. He presents an understanding of evolution as an ascent in consciousness, which demands as essential element of the universe the Personality of God and the immortality of the soul. Therefore, evolution is a light which illuminates all other facts and validates the truth of the Christian faith in its understanding of man’s destiny, his duty, and the meaning of his life. The thought of these men is seen as a reaction to the spirit of pessimism following World War I. Brunner feels there is no hope for man in this world and that human life can find meaning only in the eternal Kingdom of God. Huxley seeks to restore man’s confidence in his own ability to learn from experience and to be able to build a meaningful society on earth. Teilhard opens up a new dimension of hope for man by giving meaning to the universe and to the life of man as he reinterprets Christian truth in terms of the evolutionary process. It was concluded that all three men failed to find the ultimate answers completely from evolution. Brunner formulated the answers entirely from Revelation, while Huxley formed them largely from Humanism and Teilhard from Christian mysticism. Although Huxley and Teilhard think in terms of an evolutionary world-view, it was their metaphysical faith and principles of interpretation which gave meaning to the fact of evolution.

Level of Degree

Masters

Degree Name

History

Department Name

History

First Committee Member (Chair)

Walter Warren Wagar

Second Committee Member

Ferenc Morton Szasz

Third Committee Member

Henry Jack Tobias

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

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