ROCK OF AGES
Science and Religion in the fullness of life
By Stephen Jay Gould. Jonathan Cape. 240 pages. £14.99
ISBN 0 224 06092 9
Professor S.J. Gould died earlier this year and is probably best known for his book Wonderful Life. He was a strong proponent of evolution, though also in conflict with Darwinians for some of his views. However, he was an engaging man in his presentations, whether oral or written, and in this book he interacts well with his readers.
He was not a religious man himself (he describes himself as an agnostic) though he claims to have great respect for religion. He acknowledges that, for some, religion is an important part of life. But his thesis here is that science and religion have separate domains in which they can operate. He coined the expression non-overlapping magisteria (NOMA). He defines these domains or magisteria as that of science covering the empirical realm - the facts and theory - and religion covering questions of ultimate meaning and moral value. Readers of this review will readily appreciate some of the flaws in such a distinction! He claims (pages 59, 63) that these magisteria have equal status but are independent domains. The chief principle of NOMA (page 162) is that 'factual truth ... cannot dictate, or even imply, moral truth'. He sums up his thesis on page 175, advocating that not only are the two independent approaches to life possible but are essential. But the rules of the conflict are, it seems, to be set by the scientists!
