Bab 200: Chapter 201: [Bull Middle School]
Like many of his contemporaries, Darwin was deeply influenced by religion and even studied theology at Cambridge University in his youth.
However, as his research on biology continued to deepen, his belief in religion gradually faded.
But Darwin did not become a staunch atheist. He eventually maintained a similar agnostic view for a long time.
He is not particularly averse to religious activities. At least so far, he still continues the lifestyle habits he developed since childhood and is willing to attend church services.
"How about changing to a more subtle name?" Darwin hesitated.
Ma Shao: "Of course, you have the right, but I don't think there is a more appropriate name than "The Origin of Species"."
"As for the church, anyway, they are no longer the church that could have tried Galileo, and this is not Spain, which still holds on to the Inquisition. If you are still worried, just give some plausible explanations. What can they do to you?"
Ma Shao added: "Moreover, the best way to avoid conflict with the church is to make this book unknown. I think you don't want to see this result, right?"
Darwin thought about it and finally nodded: "Okay, you are right, let's call it this name."
He added: "But I think it should be more specific, such as... On the Origin of Species by Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life. What do you think?"
This is the full title of The Origin of Species, which has historically been almost unremembered.
Ma Shao also didn't remember: "Mr. Darwin, with all due respect, I think this name can achieve two effects at the same time - it makes the church unhappy and few people read it."
Eventually, "On the Origin of Species" became the full title.
The two discussed some religious topics.
"...When I was investigating organisms in various places, I found many natural phenomena that were not in line with the doctrine, such as parasites. If the natural world was really designed by God with good intentions, I don't understand why he created parasites. Such dirty things have nothing to do with good intentions." Darwin talked about his experience and then asked, "What do you think of your God?"
Ma Shao: "We have many tribes with different beliefs, but generally speaking, our religious systems are relatively primitive and have not evolved to be as complex as Christianity. Even personal gods are rare."
"Evolution?" Darwin's expression changed. "Do you think religion has also evolved?"
Ma Shao nodded. "Of course, primitive religions are always vague and bizarre, until monotheism. Monotheism eliminated most religions just like human ancestors eliminated other creatures. Many religions with bad traits, such as poor expansion and insufficient centralization of the main gods, eventually became the dead bones in this evolution."
Darwin: "I'm curious, as a chief, have you ever tried to promote atheism or something like that in your tribe?"
"Yes, but I failed." Ma Shao sighed, "Now they treat me as a god."
Darwin: "So, a god-killer was finally deified?"
"It seems so." Ma Shao nodded helplessly.
"That sounds really interesting." Darwin smiled. "But to be honest, if you suddenly glowed with light from your head and told me that you were actually the incarnation of God, and then demonstrated the evolution of species with your own hands, I probably wouldn't be surprised."
After a day of communication with Darwin.
Ma Shao packed up and ran to Lincolnshire with a few followers the next day.
"Boarding School for Young Gentlemen..."
Ma Shao read the name on the plaque and looked at the school in front of him.
Although it is a school, its architectural style looks more like a hotel - a small building made of red bricks, with two floors and a low wall around it.
"Welcome, Mr. Ma Shao." George Boole walked out of the school, looking tired and with a lot of chalk dust on his shirt. He must have just been in class.
"Who is this?" Ma Shao looked at Bull's side and saw a young girl in a long skirt who looked only sixteen or seventeen years old.
"She...she is my student." Bull felt a little embarrassed for some reason.
The way the girl looked at Bull was a little unusual. The relationship between the two was probably more than just teacher and student.
"Nice to meet you, dear Mr. Ma Shao, I am Mary Everest." The girl introduced herself with a smile.
Ma Shao was startled when he heard this: "Mount Everest?"
The English name of Mount Everest is "Mount Everest".
Everyone was puzzled when they heard this.
Mary Everest said: "Do you know my uncle? As far as I know, he often deals with mountains and has measured the Himalayas, but it seems that there is no mountain named after him."
"I've heard a little about it." Ma Shao was a little embarrassed and could only say this.
He didn't know this history, but from the girl's description, the English name of Mount Everest, Mount Everest, was most likely derived from her uncle.
This is indeed the case. The British later named Mount Everest Mount Everest in memory of Mary's uncle.
Mary herself is not well-known in history, but there are many celebrities in her family. Her uncle Mount Everest is one of them, and there is also her future daughter, Voynich, the author of "The Gadfly", and later there is Turing Award winner Geoffrey Hinton, as well as Han Ding and Han Chun, who have deep roots in China.
Of course, there is someone even more important, her future husband and current teacher, George Boole, one of the greatest mathematicians of the 19th century and the founder of mathematical logic.
However, the achievements of this famous mathematician at that time were not outstanding. From a secular perspective, it can even be said that he was a failure.
Boole was already in his thirties but still unmarried. He worked hard to run a shabby school, having to teach and run the business. He wanted to study mathematics, but was covered in chalk dust from all the trivial tasks.
His current situation seems to be particularly embarrassing.
Ma Shao looked at his tired expression and said, "Bull, you don't seem to be in good condition?"
Bull sighed slightly: "I'm sorry to greet you like this. My father has been very ill recently, which has made my work and life a little messy."
"I may have told you that my father was a shoemaker, but he was very studious and taught himself a lot of math knowledge, and then taught it to me. Although I have surpassed him in math now, without his company and encouragement, I would still feel confused, just like when I was a child..."
Ma Shao could guess that Bull was in financial difficulty now, so to some extent, he came at the right time.
So after a short conversation, he said, "Do you remember what I said before?"
"I remember." Bull hesitated, "But you also saw my school. It is indeed very simple and there are not enough staff..."
Ma Shao: "A philosopher from the East once said that no house can look shabby if it is inhabited by a noble soul. I am sure that even if this school is ten times more shabby, it will still be respected by people because of you."
George Boole was quite moved when he heard this.
Apart from Ma Shao, the only person who could give him such a high evaluation was probably his student and admirer, the little girl Mary Everest beside him.
Compared with Mary Everest, praise from the father of thermodynamics is obviously much more valuable.
Ma Shao: "The key to a school is the teachers. Facilities are secondary. And if you want, the problem of facilities can be solved."
Bull: "What do you mean?"
Ma Shao said slowly: "I happen to have a little money on hand. If you don't mind, I can invest in or acquire your school - at a good price, and improve its facilities. Of course, there are some conditions."
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ps:
Bull and his wife should have met a year later, so it's a bit earlier here.
There is a documentary called "The Genius of George Boole", you can watch it.
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