Modern science teaches ahimsa

Yesterday, I gave a presentation to my Buddhist group on the notion of ahimsa — nonviolence, non-harming. I said kindness to other humans and other life forms is not a luxury, but a necessity. This is particularly true at this time in history, as our society is haunted by climate change, new pandemics, and race riots.

In my presentation, I quoted both Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein. Some Buddhist friends were surprised about that quote from Darwin. Their understanding is that Darwin promoted the idea of survival of the fittest in which sentient life is portrayed as a ruthless battle for existence. They saw only Social Darwinism when evolution theory is applied to the social realm. It is clear, therefore, that the criticism of Darwinism is not limited to Christians only. Many non-Christians are critical of Darwin based on religious and moral grounds. Here, we should note that the phrase “survival of the fittest” was coined by Herbert Spencer, a British philosopher, not by Darwin, although Darwin later adopted this phrase into his later work. In addition, how we understand “fittest” is critical. Is the fittest the one with the most physical strength? The most military power? The meanest? A management professor, Leon C. Megginson had this interpretation:

According to Darwin’s Origin of Species, it is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not…