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Pontifical Gregorian University

An International Conference on

"Biological Evolution: Facts and Theories"

A critical appraisal 150 years after "The Origin of Species"

Pontifical Gregorian University
Rome, 3-7 March 2009


Download the abstracts of lectures

Tuesday 3 March 2009

First Session: The Facts that we Know

09:00 a.m. Addresses of the Authorities
10:00 a.m. Simon Conway Morris: Paleontological Evidences
10:45 a.m. Coffee Break
11:15 a.m. Werner Arber: Bio-Molecular Evidences
12:00 a.m. Douglas J. Futuyma: Taxonomic Issues
12:45 p.m. Discussion
01:30 p.m. End of the Session and Lunch

Second Session: Evolutionary Mechanisms I

03:30 p.m. Jean Gayon: History of the Evolution Theories
04:15 p.m. Francisco J. Ayala: The Standard Theory
05:00 p.m. Tea Time
05:30 p.m. Lynn Margulis: Symbiosis
06:15 p.m. Jeffrey L. Feder:The Speciation Problem
07:00 p.m. Discussion
07:30 p.m. End of the Session and Dinner

Wednesday 4 March

Third Session: Evolutionary Mechanisms II

09:00 a.m. Scott F. Gilbert: Evo-Devo
09:45 a.m. Stuart Kauffman: Complexity and Evolution
10:30 a.m. Coffee Break
11:00 a.m. Robert Ulanowicz: Evolution and Environment
11:45 a.m. Stuart A. Newman: A “pattern language” for evolution and development of animal form
12:30 p.m. Discussion
01.00 p.m. End of the Session and Lunch

Fourth Session: The Origin of Man

03:00 p.m. Giorgio Manzi: Darwin's Expectations on Human Evolution
03:45 p.m. Olga Rickards-Gianfranco Biondi: Molecular Approach
04:30 p.m. Tea Time
05:00 p.m. Yves Coppens: Paleontological Approach
05:45 p.m. Fiorenzo Facchini: Paleontological Approach in the Hominization and Possible Philosophical Implications
06:30 p.m. Robin Dunbar: Paleontological Data
07.15 p.m. Discussion
07.30 p.m. End of the Session and Dinner

Thursday 5 March

Fifth Session: Some Anthropological Questions About Evolution

09:00 a.m. Anne Dambricourt Malassé: Some Paleontological Attempts at Defining Humanity
09:45 a.m. Colin Renfrew (Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn):The Concept of Evolution as applied to the Development of Human Cultures
10:30 a.m. Coffee Break
11:00 a.m. Ludovico Galleni: Moving Towards Humankind?
11:45 a.m. David S. Wilson: Some Philosophical Considerations on Human Emergence and En-Culturation
12:30 p.m. Discussion
01:30 p.m. End of the Session and Lunch


Sixth Session: Philosophical Aspects of Evolution I

03:00 p.m. Juergen Mittelstrass: Philosophical Introduction
03:45 p.m. Dominique Lambert: Epistemological Problems of Evolution Theories
04:30 p.m. Tea Time
05:00 p.m. Elliott Sober: Philosophy and Biology
05:45 p.m. Vittorio Hösle: Why Do We Not Get Rid of Teleological Principles?
06:30 p.m. Discussion
07.30 p.m. End of the Session and Dinner

Friday 6 March

Seventh Session: Philosophical Aspects of Evolution II

09:00 a.m. Card. Georges Cottier: Metaphysical Sense of Creation and Evolution
09:45 a.m. David J. Depew: Accident, Adaptation and Teleology in Aristotle and Darwin
10:30 a.m. Coffee Break
11:00 a.m. Massimo Stanzione: Philosophical Issues of Evolution Theory
11:45 a.m. Ronald Numbers: Historical Background of "Intelligent Design"
12:30 p.m. Discussion
01:00 p.m. End of the Session and Lunch

Eighth Session: Theological Aspects of Evolution I

03:00 p.m. André Wénin: The Theme of Creation in the Old Testament
03:45 p.m. Jean-Michel Maldamé: Theology and Evolution Theories
04:30 p.m. Tea Time
05:00 p.m. Jacques Arnould: Creationism, "Intelligent Design" and Evolution
05:45 p.m. Georges Chantraine: Theological Vision of Evolution by Teilhard de Chardin
06:30 p.m. Discussion
07:30 p.m. End of the Session and Dinner

Saturday 7 March

Ninth Session: Theological Aspects of Evolution II

09:00 p.m. William R. Stoeger: Emergence and Finalism
09:45 p.m. Rafael Martinez: The Reception of Evolutionary Theories in the Catholic Church
10:30 p.m. Coffee Break
11:00 p.m. Robert Russell: Theological Debate around Evolution
11:45 p.m. General Conclusions

 

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