Charles Darwin (12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882)

"On the Origin of Species . . . introduced a mode of thinking that in the end was bound to transform the logic of knowledge, and hence the treatment of morals, politics, and religion" ~ John Dewey (1909)

Portrait of Charles Darwin (1881)
Photograph: Julia Margaret Cameron

Ever the optimist, Dewey made his comment on the 50th anniversary of the publication Darwin's On The Origin of Species. Next year will mark the 150th anniversary of that event. Although I surely would not wish 2009 to be "the end," I would hope that some of the dimmer souls among my fellow Americans would get the message.