Darwin and the Eye

A common example of quote mining exhibited by Young Earth Creationists is a comment written by Charles Darwin in On the Origin of Species; “To suppose that the eye […..] could have been formed by natural selection seems, I freely confess, absurd.”   However, users of this quote fail to mention that this is a rhetorical statement and Darwin goes on to explain his case for the evolution of eyes.  See here for more detailed explanation.

 

Following are three examples of Kent Hovind’s use of the “eye” quote.

Even Charles Darwin said in his book right here on page 217, Charlie said, “To suppose that the eye could have been formed by natural selection seems, I freely confess, absurd.”  Charlie very much was confused about the human eyeball because it is so complex.  He said, “How could this thing have evolved by chance?”  Good question Charlie!  How can blind chance make a seeing eye?  Explain that to me please!  [1]

We can see above that Hovind is aware of the page the quote comes from, implying he has read the quote in context.

Darwin himself admitted the absurdity of believing that something as complex as the eye could have formed by natural selection. [2]

It is very clear what Hovind intended by that statement. In the early 1990's Hovind claimed;

Charles Darwin himself said the thing that caused him to shudder was the human eye.  He said, "I can see no way it could evolve bit by bit." [4]

The ‘eye’ misquote is both so blatant and pervasive that Answers in Genesis included it as an example of Arguments We Think Creationists Should NOT Use. [Original emphasis]

When confronted by Answers in Genesis’ list of Arguments We Think Creationists Should NOT Use, Hovind wrote;

Darwin did indeed say: “To suppose that the eye . . . could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree.” […..]  He went on to explain that he believed it must have happened anyway and even made feeble attempts to invent a way it “might have” happened but he did make the statement above. [3]

We now have confirmation that Hovind is fully aware of the context of the quote and knowingly uses it out of context.

 

[1]  Hovind, K. 1999, Seminar Transcript Part 4b, http://216.248.142.66/SeminarOnline/Text/Transcript4.shtml [no longer available]

 

[2] Hovind, K, circa 2002, Are You Being Brainwashed? Propaganda in the Science Textbooks Creation Science Evangelism

 

[3]  Hovind, K http://www.drdino.com/cse.asp?pg=articles&specific=41 [March 2003]

 

[4] Debate 06 -  Winona State University (early '90s) [August 2003]