The C.S. Lewis podcast #205 Alister McGrath: Lewis on science and evolution
Apr 14, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Alister McGrath, a Professor at Oxford University and a noted C.S. Lewis scholar, dives into Lewis's views on evolution and science. He explores how Lewis distinguished evolution from philosophical naturalism and whether it can account for morality and consciousness. McGrath addresses the tensions between faith and scientific interpretations, critiques of Lewis’s perspectives, and the enduring influence of his ideas on modern science and Christianity. Listeners gain valuable insights into the dialogue between faith and scientific inquiry.
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Evolution as a Tool
- C.S. Lewis accepted biological evolution as a scientific theory, not a worldview.
- He distinguished between the scientific theory and its metaphysical interpretation as atheism or materialism.
Limits of Evolutionary Explanations
- Lewis believed evolution explains biological mechanisms, not morality's essence.
- He argued for a transcendent basis for morality, going beyond mere survival.
Acceptance and Caution
- C.S. Lewis questioned how evolution could generate complex features like sexual selection, yet accepted it as a partial explanation.
- He warned against extrapolating scientific findings into ethics or existential questions.
