The central example Dawkins gave to his theory of purpose was human intelligence, which, the scientist asserted, can be turned to the pursuit of constructive goals or of destructive goals.

Dawkins noted the "archi-purpose" of human intelligence, the ability to make advanced plans and have goals, can be subverted by the "neo-purpose" of human intelligence, namely its capacity to change those plans and goals.

The crux of Dawkins' objection to religion came down to what the scientist described as an effect like that seen in the World War II film "Bridge on The River Kwai" (1957), in which Alec Guinness' character, Lt. Col. Nicholson, directs the building of a bridge that will aid the Japanese soldiers holding Nicholson and his comrades captive, rationalizing away any objection to helping the men who are his declared enemies in war. Nicholson instead becomes fanatically devoted to the pure pursuit of constructing a durable and well-crafted bridge. The film does not have what could be considered a happy ending by most conventional criteria.

After the anecdote-filled lecture, Dawkins, greatly celebrated in atheist circles, fielded numerous questions and a few comments over roughly the next hour, conceding more than once that he did not in any way assert his views to be any sort of absolute authority.

Responding to a question concerning atheism and his affiliation with it, Dawkins said on a scale from one to seven, one being absolutely certain there is a God, seven being absolutely certain there is no God, "I would put myself between six and seven."

Dawkins' next book, "The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution," will be published in September.

The lecture was part of Darwin 2009 at OU, a year-long series of events coordinated by faculty and students to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of "Origin of Species." For more information on Darwin 2009 events, visit www.ou.edu/darwin and for information on Dawkins' talk visit ve.ou.edu/dawkins.html.

Adam Scott

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