British ethologist and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins is famous for his contributions to our understanding of natural selection and evolution, both as they pertain to biology and to ideas. His 1976 book, The Selfish Gene, popularized the gene-centered view of evolution. It also introduced the concept of the meme, which theorizes that ideas, styles, and behaviors are selected and spread just like genes. His new book, The Magic of Reality: How We Know Whats Really True, is aimed at preventing children from getting brainwashed by religion. Each chapter poses a question, such as: Who was the first person? or When and how did everything begin? He supplies the reader with fanciful answers from ancient cultures, the Bible, and beyond, and then uses the karate chop of science to demolish creation myths. Dawkins will give a lecture about his new book at the University of Miamis Storer Auditorium Friday.
Fri., Sept. 30, 5 p.m., 2011