Miscellaneous

By J Neil Burry.
Monotheistic religions have determined the ethics that control human behaviour so far and continue to do so even in secular societies.Augustinian original sin, which in the book is replaced by Darwinian original sin, has been a particularly successful ethical force. The onslaught on the environment which civilisation, driven by humans with clear consciences, has been accompanied by the “success” of six billion people on earth.

The book is an attempt to kick-start a debate on whether evolutionary theory can be the basis of a similarly successful Darwinian code of ethics centred on Darwinian original sin and the medical ethic of primarily doing no harm. It is an attempt to kick-start a debate on the sort of ethics necessary for a sustainable future.

By Dr. Arthur Burnell

I was brought up by very compassionate parents and I had many kinds of pets to care for. I was taken camping with my father and I had a love of the Australian bush early. I went to Sunday School and wanted to be able to help others. Thereafter, I did not believe in Holy Ghosts..

I became an atheist until in Medical School, where I was taught Botany, Zoology and Embryology, I then had something to believe in – Evolution - a power of good and evil.

I have read many books and those by Elbert Hubbard gave me the word “Humanism” so I had a purpose in being a medical practitioner. After the RAAF and in general practice I was able to start a Flora and Fauna Club on Kangaroo Island. I have been a member of the Field Naturalists and the Ornithologists.