What Do You Get When A World Class Philosopher Reads Darwin

     In my ideal university, the Philosophy Professors and Biology Professors cross enemy lines and actually converse with one another.  The problem with the modern university is that it would be rare to find a Philosopher or Biologist who has actually read Darwin, that is really read Darwin.  But, let's stay with this for a few minutes.  So we have found a Philosopher and Biologist who are educated enough to read Darwin.  Instead of talking past one another, they actually want to talk to one another.  They both imagine how their respective disciplines are far from having all the answers and believe that they may learn from one another.  Ok, never-mind.

     Let's start over.  We have found two professors who know a little about their disciplines, but deeply desire to talk across disciplines.  So this Biologist and and Philosopher set a day and time to read and talk about Darwin's writings.  I tried, but I cannot actually imagine any of these things happening.  Fine, one last try - a few Professors at some obscure University who are life long learners and decide that it is time to read Darwin set out a reasonable plan to read and discuss....not going to happen....I give up.  
     Go get a copy of Aristotle's History of Animals, On Sense and Sensible, On Longevity and Shortness of Life, On Youth and Old Age, On Life and Death, On Breathing and get a copy of Darwin's The Origin of Species and The Descent of Man and Etienne Gilson's From Aristotle to Darwin and Back Again and read.  Learn what the issues are and the place of final causality, species, and the meaning of evolution in the arguments that rage across the land.  If you do this, then you will know more than most Philosophers and Biologists.