The Autobiography of Charles Darwin: Pt. 1

          It’s hard not to read the opening sections of Darwin’s autobiography without looking through the Macintyre “After Virtue” lens.  Concepts of internal goods and practices appear quite prevalently, as Darwin notes that he “had strong and diversified tastes, much zeal for whatever interested me, and a keen pleasure in understanding any complex subject or thing.”  Darwin’s simple desire to become a better scientist seems to be his greatest virtuous characteristic.  He notes that favorable responses from the general public was simply a fleeting pleasure (an external good!) that did not trump his aspirations to build on the world’s existing scientific knowledge.  Darwin even notes that he “worked to the utmost during the voyage from the mere pleasure of investigation,” although he also notes his ambition to take place among established and respected scientists as well.  Although the latter does show Darwin’s acknowledgement of goods external to science, his prioritizing of the former establishes a good basis for virtue under the MacIntyre scope.

            The most interesting quote I found in this opening section of Darwin’s autobiography, however, was one that exemplifies what I believe is a virtuous responsibility of the scientist.  In speaking of his father and the suicide at the bank, Darwin says, “It would have been dishonourable in my father to have used his professional knowledge for his private advantage.”  This sentiment extends well beyond Darwin’s father.  I believe scientists often possess a knowledge that is vulnerable to disaster when it is communicated to the public sphere.  Therefore, it is important for scientists to avoid taking advantage of a public naïveté when it comes to scientific research.  Scientists who forge data/results to gain favorable response from the inexperienced public pursue merely an external good, rather than the internal good of becoming a good, practicing scientist.