Add Quote by Richard Dawkins
“Each step is not too improbable for us to countenance, but when you add them up cumulatively over millions of years, you get these monsters of improbability, like the human brain and the rain forest. It should warn us against ever again assuming that because something is complicated, God must have done it.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins, 2006
Complex systems arise from simple, cumulative processes, challenging the notion that complexity implies design.
In simple terms: Complexity can emerge without a designer.
Key Takeaway
Recognize natural explanations for complexity.
Themes
science
complexity
evolution
philosophy
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- education
- public debate
- science communication
Key Concepts
emergence
probability
natural selection
Questions to Reflect On
- How does cumulative chance shape our view of design?
- What evidence supports naturalistic explanations?
A Different Perspective
Complexity does not disprove randomness; it can be statistically improbable yet natural.
![“I think that's the mother and father of all cop-outs. It's an honest scientific quest to discover where this apparent improbability comes from. Now [Francis] Collins says, "Well, God did it. And God needs no explanation because God is outside all this." Well, what an incredible evasion of the…” quote by Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/72d/richard-dawkins-115_cop_i-think-that-s-the-mother-and-father-of_3082551.jpg)
