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The Genius of Charles Darwin
Produced in 2008 for the 200th
anniversary of Darwin’s birth and
the 150th anniversary of On the
Origin of Species, this British series
is a “master class on Darwinian
theories”—Times (UK). Author,
scientist, and former Oxford
professor Richard Dawkins
explains who Darwin was, how
he developed his theory (what
Dawkins calls “the most powerful
idea ever to have occurred to
a human mind”), and why
it matters. “Provocative,
absorbing…totally convincing”—
Observer (UK). SDH subtitles;
139 min. on 2 DVDs plus
viewer guide. From Athena. EXCLUSIVE
View More Athena Titles > |
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Disc 1
Episode 1: Life, Darwin & Everything
Who was Charles Darwin, and how did he conceive his revolutionary idea? How does evolution work? Most important, why does it matter? Darwin’s treatise, On the Origin of Species, represented the culmination of years of research and thought. And the evidence confirming natural selection has continued to mount.
Episode 2: The Fifth Ape
As a product of natural selection, the human species has nevertheless managed to transcend the evolutionary process by developing altruism. Dawkins explores the social and political implications of evolution—and how some proponents have misused science to promote genocide, eugenics, and ethnic cleansing.
Episode 3: God Strikes Back
Despite overwhelming evidence, many religious fundamentalists around the world refuse to accept evolution. Face to face, Dawkins takes on those who would deny or attack Darwin’s idea. Finally, Dawkins explains how people might find consolation in the idea of a world ruled by brutal natural forces rather than a benign Creator.
Disc 2
BONUS INTERVIEWS
- Daniel Dennet, philosopher (50 minutes)
- Randy Nesse, doctor and author (46 minutes)
- Wendy Wright, Concerned Women for America (67 minutes)
- Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury (29 minutes)
- John Mackay, creationist (19 minutes)
- Science teachers (29 minutes)
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- Three Tales from the Galápagos Islands bonus specials
- The Evolution of an Idea, contributors to Darwin’s theory
- Biography of Charles Darwin
- Viewer’s guide
| Packaging: Thinpak
Run Time: 139 minutes, plus 266 minutes of bonus programming
Format: Widescreen
Number of discs: 2
Language: English
Subtitles: N/A
Color or B&W: Color
CC: No
SDH: Yes, main program only
Region Code: 1
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Rating: N/A | | "Provocative, absorbing…totally convincing"—Observer (UK) | | Richard Dawkins, host of this program, is a British evolutionary biologist, popular science author, and fellow at Oxford University until his recent retirement. Oxford has named the Dawkins Prize for ecology after him. |
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