--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Things don't look hopeful for Darwinian…" description: "\"Things don't look hopeful for Darwinian naturalists.\" — Alvin Plantinga" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/147/alvin-plantinga-34486_darwinian_things-don-t-look-hopeful-for-darwinian_1230203.png" --- # Things don't look hopeful for Darwinian naturalists. ![“Things don't look hopeful for Darwinian naturalists.” quote by Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/147/alvin-plantinga-34486_darwinian_things-don-t-look-hopeful-for-darwinian_1230203.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/147/alvin-plantinga-34486_darwinian_things-don-t-look-hopeful-for-darwinian_1230203.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/147/alvin-plantinga-34486_darwinian_things-don-t-look-hopeful-for-darwinian_1230203.png) > “Things don't look hopeful for Darwinian naturalists.” [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote expresses pessimism about the future prospects of Darwinian naturalists, suggesting challenges to their worldview. **In simple terms:** Darwinian naturalists face bleak outlook. Key Takeaway Consider the evidence and arguments. Themes philosophy science skepticism Mood skeptical reflective Type analytical critical When to use this quote - academic debate - public policy - education - media discourse - religious dialogue Key Concepts naturalism evolutionary theory epistemology Questions to Reflect On - What evidence could revive confidence in naturalistic science? - How do philosophical commitments shape scientific outlooks? A Different Perspective Critics argue that naturalistic explanations can be refined rather than dismissed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Darwinian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darwinian/) [Darwinian Naturalists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darwinian-naturalists-3801586/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Hopeful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hopeful/) [Hopeful Darwinian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hopeful-darwinian-3801585/) [Look Hopeful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-hopeful-3801587/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Naturalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naturalist/) [Naturalists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naturalists/) ## Related quotes > [In short, it is not that evolutionary naturalists have been less brazen than the scientific creationists in holding science hostage, but rather that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-e-johnson/in-short-it-is-not-that-evolutionary-naturalists-have-been-less/) [Phillip E. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-e-johnson/) > [Wallace's sales agent, back in London, heard mutterings from some naturalists that young Mr. Wallace ought to quit theorizing and stick to gathering facts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-quammen/wallace-s-sales-agent-back-in-london-heard-mutterings-from-some/) [David Quammen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-quammen/) > [It is really laughable to see what different ideas are prominent in various naturalists' minds, when they speak of 'species'; in some, resemblance is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/it-is-really-laughable-to-see-what-different-ideas-are-prominent-in/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [Although I am fully convinced of the truth of Evolution, I by no means expect to convince experienced naturalists. But I look with confidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/although-i-am-fully-convinced-of-the-truth-of-evolution-i-by-no-means/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [In every bio-region, one of the most urgent tasks is to rebuild the community of naturalists - so radically depleted in recent years, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-louv/in-every-bio-region-one-of-the-most-urgent-tasks-is-to-rebuild-the/) [Richard Louv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-louv/) > [I'm saying that there were many great naturalists before Darwin's time who were very pious people and who knew more about nature than most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/i-m-saying-that-there-were-many-great-naturalists-before-darwin-s/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [God created animals. And they’re loving; they’re beautiful. I feel the way (anthropologist) Jane Goodall does or any of those naturalists. I don’t find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/god-created-animals-and-they-re-loving-they-re-beautiful-i-feel-the/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [Large swaths of what we now regard as basic medical knowledge came originally from naturalists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-conniff/large-swaths-of-what-we-now-regard-as-basic-medical-knowledge-came/) [Richard Conniff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-conniff/) > [The naturalists of yore esteemed the ocean to be a treasury of wonders, and sought therein for monstrosities and organisms contrary to the law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-forbes/the-naturalists-of-yore-esteemed-the-ocean-to-be-a-treasury-of/) [Edward Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-forbes/) > [The naturalists of our own time hold equal faith in the wonders of the sea, but seek therein rather for the links of nature's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-forbes/the-naturalists-of-our-own-time-hold-equal-faith-in-the-wonders-of/) [Edward Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-forbes/) > [I am above the forest region, amongst grand rocks & such a torrent as you see in Salvator Rosa's paintings vegetation all a scrub…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dalton-hooker/i-am-above-the-forest-region-amongst-grand-rocks-such-a-torrent-as/) [Joseph Dalton Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dalton-hooker/) > [Is ditchwater dull? Naturalists with microscopes have told me that it teems with quiet fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/is-ditchwater-dull-naturalists-with-microscopes-have-told-me-that-it/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [If naturalists go to heaven (about which there is considerable ecclesiastical doubt), I hope that I will be furnished with a troop of kakapo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/if-naturalists-go-to-heaven-about-which-there-is-considerable/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [Up until the middle of the nineteenth century, men of science were all believers. Most of the great early English naturalists were also ministers;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/up-until-the-middle-of-the-nineteenth-century-men-of-science-were-all/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Now when naturalists observe a close agreement in numerous small details of habits, tastes and dispositions between two or more domestic races, or between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/now-when-naturalists-observe-a-close-agreement-in-numerous-small/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) ## More by Alvin Plantinga > [If you believe in evolution and naturalism then you have a reason not to think your faculties are reliable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/if-you-believe-in-evolution-and-naturalism-then-you-have-a-reason-not/) [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) > [Most of us form estimates of our intelligence, wisdom, and moral fiber that are considerably higher than an objective estimate would warrant; no doubt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/most-of-us-form-estimates-of-our-intelligence-wisdom-and-moral-fiber/) [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) > [The Christian philosopher has a perfect right to the point of view and prephilosophical assumptions he brings to philosophic work; the fact that these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/the-christian-philosopher-has-a-perfect-right-to-the-point-of-view/) [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) > [There is superficial conflict but deep concord between science and theistic religion, but superficial concord and deep conflict between science and naturalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/there-is-superficial-conflict-but-deep-concord-between-science-and/) [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) > [But lack of evidence, if indeed evidence is lacking, is no grounds for atheism. No one thinks there is good evidence for the proposition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/but-lack-of-evidence-if-indeed-evidence-is-lacking-is-no-grounds-for/) [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) > [Suppose we concede that if I had been born of Muslim parents in Morocco rather than Christian parents in Michigan, my beliefs would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/suppose-we-concede-that-if-i-had-been-born-of-muslim-parents-in/) [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) > [If we don't know that there is such a person as God, we don't know the first thing (the most important thing) about ourselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/if-we-don-t-know-that-there-is-such-a-person-as-god-we-don-t-know-the/) [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) > [Hence our verdict on these reformulated versions of St. Anselm's argument must be as follows. They cannot, perhaps, be said to prove or establish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/hence-our-verdict-on-these-reformulated-versions-of-st-anselm-s/) [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) > [To show that there are natural processes that produce religious belief does nothing, so far, to discredit it; perhaps God designed us in such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/to-show-that-there-are-natural-processes-that-produce-religious/) [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) > [Reason is the power or capacity whereby we see or detect logical relationships among propositions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/reason-is-the-power-or-capacity-whereby-we-see-or-detect-logical/) [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) > [In religious belief as elsewhere, we must take our chances, recognizing that we could be wrong, dreadfully wrong. There are no guarantees; the religious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/in-religious-belief-as-elsewhere-we-must-take-our-chances-recognizing/) [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) > [“Dawkins claims that the living world came to be by way of unguided evolution: “the Evidence of Evolution,” he says, “Reveals a Universe Without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/dawkins-claims-that-the-living-world-came-to-be-by-way-of-unguided/) [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) > [“De jure objections are arguments of claims to the effect that Christian belief, whether or not true, is at any rate unjustifiable, or rationally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/de-jure-objections-are-arguments-of-claims-to-the-effect-that/) [Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) [Explore all 14 Alvin Plantinga quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/) ## More Darwinian quotes > [The Darwinian theory is in principle capable of explaining life. No other theory that has ever been suggested is in principle capable of explaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-darwinian-theory-is-in-principle-capable-of-explaining-life-no/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The interesting question would be whether there's a Darwinian process, a kind of selection process whereby some memes are more likely to spread than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-interesting-question-would-be-whether-there-s-a-darwinian-process/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“The funny thing is if in England, you ask a man in the street who the greatest living Darwinian is, he will say Richard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-mayr/the-funny-thing-is-if-in-england-you-ask-a-man-in-the-street-who-the/) [Ernst Mayr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-mayr/) > [ “\[E\]very major religion today is a winner in the Darwinian struggle waged among cultures, and none ever flourished by tolerating its rivals.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/e-very-major-religion-today-is-a-winner-in-the-darwinian-struggle/) [Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/) > [“Darwinian adaptation to environment applies not only to nature but also to society. Just as you don't find eagles living in the ocean or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/darwinian-adaptation-to-environment-applies-not-only-to-nature-but/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“Before you can ask 'Is Darwinian theory correct or not?', You have to ask the preliminary question 'Is it clear enough so that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berlinski/before-you-can-ask-is-darwinian-theory-correct-or-not-you-have-to-ask/) [David Berlinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berlinski/) > [“The common conception among the dregs of Darwinian culture is that men have slowly worked their way out of inequality into a state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/the-common-conception-among-the-dregs-of-darwinian-culture-is-that/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [First, Darwinian theory tells us how a certain amount of diversity in life forms can develop once we have various types of complex living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-e-johnson/first-darwinian-theory-tells-us-how-a-certain-amount-of-diversity-in/) [Phillip E. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-e-johnson/) > [“But the very fact that Darwinism is true makes it even more important for us to fight against the naturally selfish and exploitative tendencies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/but-the-very-fact-that-darwinism-is-true-makes-it-even-more-important/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [I have been scientifically studying the traits and dispositions of the "lower animals" (so-called,) and contrasting them with the traits and dispositions of man.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-been-scientifically-studying-the-traits-and-dispositions-of/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [For these two years I have been gravitating towards your doctrines, and since the publication of your primula paper with accelerated velocity. By about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/for-these-two-years-i-have-been-gravitating-towards-your-doctrines/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [Every major religion today is a winner in the Darwinian struggle waged among cultures, and none ever flourished by tolerating its rivals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/every-major-religion-today-is-a-winner-in-the-darwinian-struggle/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [We should not live by Darwinian principles. But Darwin explains how we got here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-should-not-live-by-darwinian-principles-but-darwin-explains-how-we/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“The creation myth is a Darwinian device for survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/the-creation-myth-is-a-darwinian-device-for-survival/) [Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/) > [The Darwinian adaptive trait of our time is the ability to figure out when we are being lied to on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/the-darwinian-adaptive-trait-of-our-time-is-the-ability-to-figure-out/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) [Browse all 82 Darwinian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darwinian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Things don't look hopeful for Darwinian naturalists.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alvin Plantinga" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/things-don-t-look-hopeful-for-darwinian-naturalists/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Darwinian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/things-don-t-look-hopeful-for-darwinian-naturalists/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/147/alvin-plantinga-34486_darwinian_things-don-t-look-hopeful-for-darwinian_1230203.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/147/alvin-plantinga-34486_darwinian_things-don-t-look-hopeful-for-darwinian_1230203.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/147/alvin-plantinga-34486_darwinian_things-don-t-look-hopeful-for-darwinian_1230203.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Things don't look hopeful for Darwinian naturalists.” — Alvin Plantinga", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alvin Plantinga", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-plantinga/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Things don't look hopeful for Darwinian...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/things-don-t-look-hopeful-for-darwinian-naturalists/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-plantinga/things-don-t-look-hopeful-for-darwinian-naturalists/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```