In A Meaningful World: How the Arts and Sciences Reveal the Genius of Nature (2006), Benjamin Wiker and Jonathan Witt join forces to challenge the false assumption that science proves a meaningless universe. Wiker (Ph.D., Vanderbilt) lectures on theology and science at the Franciscan University of Steubenville (Ohio) and has published numerous related works, including The Darwin Myth; The Catholic Church and Science; and Moral Darwinism. Witt (Ph.D., University of Kansas) is a Senior Fellow for Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture and co-author of Intelligent Design Uncensored: An Easy-to-Understand Guide to the Controversy (2010).
Wiker and Witt present their thesis in chapter one’s opening sentence: the universe is meaningful. They regard the necessity of having to prove this as odd, but recognize that a nihilist philosophy, propagated by some of academia’s elite, has infiltrated popular culture to the extent that proving meaningfulness is not only a matter of necessity, but one of great urgency. Contrary to the pervasive dogma of meaninglessness, they observe that the universe is “like a great work of art” which overflows with numerous and complex layers of ingenuity and intelligibility.
Given the vast scope of “meaning-fullness” in the universe, Wiker and Witt cast a wide net in their analysis, which includes an evaluation of philosophy, literature, math, and science. A corresponding motivation for assessing this array of categories is their desire to break the spell of intellectual blindness which manifests in virtually every discipline of thought. To that end, they commence their endeavor of demonstrating the absurdity of material reductionism with an analysis of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet (chapter 2) and The Tempest (chapter 3), which teem with rich layers of meaning and complexity that are inexplicable on materialism’s unjustified terms. The works of Shakespeare also provide a springboard for introducing the notion of genius, the essence of which entails such properties as depth, clarity, harmony, and elegance.
Their study of genius segues to the realm of geometry (chapter 4), where one must inevitably ask how abstract mathematical entities are so remarkably fruitful in deciphering a concrete universe. Such genius is also the subject of chapter 5, which surveys a brief history of chemistry and the development of the periodic table of elements, which itself exemplifies multiple layers of discoverable order in nature. Chapters 6 and 7 explore the extreme improbability of life permitting universes and reflect upon earth’s privileged position in the cosmos for scientific discovery, while chapters 8 and 9 dive the depths of cellular complexity and emphasize, against reductionism, that the essence of biological order is the living whole, not its non-living parts.
A great strength of Wiker and Witt’s approach is their integrated analysis of both the arts and sciences; whereas books of this nature generally focus on the latter, A Meaningful World develops a cohesive and interesting discussion around seemingly odd bedfellows (e.g., Darwin and Shakespeare) in a way that develops stronger argumentation than if either the arts or the sciences were neglected. Moreover, the complexities of these subjects are presented in appropriate technical detail, but in a manner that remains accessible to a popular audience. If readers find themselves rusty with regard to iambic pentameter or Euclidian geometry, not to worry, as such elements are sufficiently explained to illustrate the authors’ broader points.
In addition to its clear and engaging quality, the style is quick, witty and full of humorous insights and commentary. For example, chapter 2 describes an experiment involving monkeys, a typewriter, and a month-long stay in captivity. Commenting on the results, the authors observe that “while familiarity may not breed contempt with monkeys, it does breed indifference towards things inedible.” Or with regard to the complexity of elements required for life, they jest that “while the possibility of a one-element periodic table might be some consolation to the struggling chemistry student, it would have the unhappy effect of eliminating the student himself.” It is to Wiker and Witt’s great credit that readers will find themselves entertained amidst geometry and chemistry tutorials that might otherwise lull them to sleep.
Its engaging style notwithstanding, prospective readers should be mindful that A Meaningful World was written for the explicit purpose of arguing a case; i.e., proponents of metaphysical naturalism, for example, may find themselves put off by its straightforward handling of the subject. However, any such offense would not be attributable to the presentation, which is as respectful as it is thoughtful. In fact, the authors carefully avoid committing the typical fallacies that accompany controversial projects, such as ad hominens, question-begging, and attacking straw men. Still, they do not pretend to occupy the mythical realm of neutrality, and they do not sugarcoat the inadequacies of the reductionist worldview they critique.
For example, as a parting salvo to an extended treatment of arguments against reductionism, they observe that reducing reality to a subatomic level “flattens the world in a way that a flat-earth zealot could only envy.” They also observe that “materialism has outlived its usefulness and obscures far more than it clarifies.” While such statements will certainly offend the dogmatic materialist, they are never asserted in the absence of rigorous and comprehensive interaction with the most salient arguments and evidence. Moreover, it is precisely because of such thoroughness that Wiker and Witt succeed in supporting their thesis, against reductionism, that the universe is objectively meaningful.
Finally, this book is written in an accessible, engaging, and even entertaining manner with a broad audience in view and is therefore suitable for anyone interested in delving the great depths of meaning in nature. It is highly recommended for students entering the secular university, where they will certainly encounter assumed reductionist philosophies across the spectrum of the arts and sciences; furthermore, this work can serve as an antidote for those already inflicted by an existential nihilism onset by a materialist indoctrination. Regardless of one’s motivation for reading it, A Meaningful World is sure to provoke thought and inspire greater appreciation for the marvelous and multifaceted genius of nature.
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Top reviews from other countries
Jeri-Lynn Woods
Take a trip from Shakespeare through Physics and Biology to discover our truly meaningful universe.
Reviewed in Canada on November 16, 2019Marcos Otrebor
De Shakespeare ao Design Inteligente!
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P. M. Fernandez
The book I would most like my friends to read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 2, 2007
