Stephen Jay Gould 1941-2002

Education

1963

Gould graduated from Antioch College in 1963 and received his PhD in paleontology at Columbia University in 1967.

Marriage(s)

1965

Gould was married twice in his lifetime to 2 different women,
1)Deborah Lee(1965-1995)
2)Rhonda Roland Shearer(1995-2002)

Teaching

1967

Gould joined the Harvard University faculty in 1967, but didn't become a full-fledged professor until 1973.

Theory of Punctuated Equilibrium

1972

In 1972 with a guy named Niles Eldredge, Gould developed the theory of punctuated equilibrium, a revision of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution proposing that the creation of a new species through evolutionary change occurs not at slow, constant rates over millions of years, but rather in rapid bursts over periods as short as thousands of years, which are then followed by long periods of stability during which organisms undergo a little more to no change. Gould's theory was opposed by many.

Population Genetics

1972

Gould used population genetics to back up his theory. He said population genetics is useful for understanding relatively small-scale, short-term; evolutionary changes but that it is unable to provide insight into large-scale/long-term ones.Gould also says only paleontology in its own right can explain the long-term changes, which might well involve extinctions brought about by extraterrestrial forces (comets), or new kinds of selection operating at levels higher than the individual organism.

Contributed to Works

1974

Gould contributed to many different various works in his lifetime. They are stated as follows:
1)several essays to the periodical Natural History
2)Ever Since Darwin (1977)
3)The Panda’s Thumb (1980)
4)Hen’s Teeth and Horse’s Toes (1983)

Written Works

1977

Gould wrote 4 books in his lifetime, tracing the course and significance of various controversies in the history of evolutionary biology, intelligence testing, geology, & paleontology. They are stated as follows:
1)Ontogeny and Phylogeny (1977)
2)The Mismeasure of Man (1981)
3)Time’s Arrow, Time’s Cycle (1987)
4)Wonderful Life (1989)

Rocks of Ages: Science and Religion in the Fullness of Life

1999

Published in 1999, Gould, who was then president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, rejected the ideas of those who tried to integrate science with religion. He said, science and religion have never been at war, but should remain separated for the sake of keeping the facts facts. As is shown though his writing style, by treating complex concepts with the utmost focus and clarity.
The concept of magisteria is also talked about in this book.

Nonoverlapping Magisteria

1999

As our class is about to discuss this topic, I thought it best to include Gould's perspective on things. Gould came to this view after the experience of 2 different gentlemen of 2 different religions asking questions about religion & evolution in context together. In Pope Pius XII text, Humani Generis, it focuses on the magisterium (teaching authority) of the Church. It says, no such conflict should exist because each subject has legitimate authority, & these magisterias do not overlap.

Views on Science with Religion

2001

Gould,when president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, rejected the work of those who tried to integrate science with religion. According to Gould, science and religion were never at war but should remain separate for the sake of keeping facts facts, as you can see through his writing. By treating complex concepts with the utmost focus/clarity.

MLA citations

2002

1)Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Stephen Jay Gould.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 6 Sept. 2018, www.britannica.com/biography/Stephen-Jay-Gould
2)“Stephen Jay Gould, ‘Nonoverlapping Magisteria," 1997.” Stephen Jay Gould (1941-2002), www.stephenjaygould.org/library/gould_noma.html