Stephen Jay Gould Quote

Our failure to discern a universal good does not record any lack of insight or ingenuity, but merely demonstrates that nature contains no moral messages framed in human terms. Morality is a subject for philosophers, theologians, students of the humanities, indeed for all thinking people. The answers will not be read passively from nature; they do not, and cannot, arise from the data of science. The factual state of the world does not teach us how we, with our powers for good and evil, should alter or preserve it in the most ethical manner.


"Nonmoral Nature", pp. 42–43 - Hen's Teeth and Horse's Toes (1983)


Our failure to discern a universal good does not record any lack of insight or ingenuity, but merely demonstrates that nature contains no moral...

Our failure to discern a universal good does not record any lack of insight or ingenuity, but merely demonstrates that nature contains no moral...

Our failure to discern a universal good does not record any lack of insight or ingenuity, but merely demonstrates that nature contains no moral...

Our failure to discern a universal good does not record any lack of insight or ingenuity, but merely demonstrates that nature contains no moral...