| View of Nature |
Static and immutable creation, reflecting
divine perfection |
Dynamic and evolving, shaped by natural
processes over time |
| Source of Order |
Purposeful design by a Creator |
Emergent order from variation, heredity, and
natural selection |
| Role of Empirical Observation |
To confirm the perfection of creation and
reveal divine craftsmanship |
To test hypotheses, explain natural
phenomena, and uncover causal mechanisms |
| Explanation for Diversity |
Diversity is part of God’s deliberate design,
each species fixed since creation |
Diversity arises from modification through
descent, adaptation, and speciation |
| Historical Roots |
Aristotelian fixism integrated with
Augustinian theology, medieval scholarship, and Paley’s
watchmaker analogy |
Based on geological, biogeographical, and
morphological evidence gathered in the 19th century |
| View of Humanity |
Humanity as a central and privileged
creation |
Humanity as one species among many, sharing
common ancestry with other organisms |
| Philosophical Orientation |
Teleological and theological |
Naturalistic and mechanistic |
