# Stephen Jay Gould, R.I.P **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 20, 2002, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-jay-gould-r-i-p/109985 "2002-05-20T19:54:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-jay-gould-r-i-p/109985/21 "2002-05-21T01:29:00Z")
Sad news indeed. Sadder yet is the probability that countless Jesus-freak evangelical types are probably whooping in delight that one of their enemies is now burning in hell. I don’t have the heart to actually verify that this is true, but I have no doubt. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-jay-gould-r-i-p/109985/22 "2002-05-21T01:51:54Z")
☹ He will be sorely missed. ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-jay-gould-r-i-p/109985/23 "2002-05-21T02:29:05Z")
Indeed ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-jay-gould-r-i-p/109985/24 "2002-05-21T02:29:10Z")
Damn, I’m out of touch. I’m glad I got to see him lecture a few years ago. Remarkable man. He made things make sense. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-jay-gould-r-i-p/109985/25 "2002-05-21T02:35:30Z")
His message to me will always be this quote: “Well evolution is a theory. It is also a fact. And facts and theories are different things, not rungs in a hierarchy of increasing certainty. Facts are the world’s data. Theories are structures of ideas that explain and interpret facts. Facts don’t go away when scientists debate rival theories to explain them.” - Stephen J. Gould. Unlike Douglas Adams, I never had the chance to meet Mr. Gould. This last two years many heroes of mine have left. I think that many scientists did not appreciate Sagan or Gould, they feel better avoiding the lime light because they are busy or they do not want to simplify their research to be accessible to many or they fear the ignorant beings that have power to stop their research. The problem is that then only FUD prevails in the mainstream and then that affects research (cloning, astronomy, space exploration), the important thing is to never forget that there is indeed a world besides the SDMB. We have to make ourselves count so our elected officials, school boards and the media, will see that there is support for real science and progress. This is now one of my missions. I will never forget you Stephen. – Ed. ---
**Author:** ![JimOfAllTrades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@JimOfAllTrades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimOfAllTrades)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-jay-gould-r-i-p/109985/26 "2002-05-21T02:39:15Z")
(hijack) > [@](#): > > Randi…a 60-odd year old man…in remarkably good shape for a man of his age Actually a **70** odd year old man. Born in 1928, I think. Definitely in good shape considering. (end hijack) Gould was a man of integrity and science, and the world always needs more of those. He will be missed. My condolences to his family. Ugly ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-jay-gould-r-i-p/109985/27 "2002-05-21T03:05:29Z")
…but I wonder if they’ll scatter his remains in the desert, with a thin patina of earth over them, and perhaps toss in an odd bone from a hawk or coyote. Godspeed, Mr. Gould. ---
**Author:** ![Jenner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@Jenner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenner)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-jay-gould-r-i-p/109985/28 "2002-05-21T06:11:54Z")
I had a great chance to see him when he spoke at my college, but I wasn’t able to attend (I don’t even remember the reason now, but I’m sure it wasn’t good enough). Along with Sagan and Asimov, Gould was one of the great intellectual heroes of my youth. Thanks, Dr. Gould, for taking the time and effort to share your knowledge with us. Your fascination with the natural world was contagious, and you helped introduce countless people to a lifelong love of science. You were an outstanding member of the human species. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-jay-gould-r-i-p/109985/29 "2002-05-21T06:52:14Z")
I am saddened by the loss of such a woderful man. One thing he really showed me was that it is good to have disagreements, rivalries and outright wars with people who’s view differ from yours (Dawkins) but he did it with such _tact_ that is was inspirational. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-jay-gould-r-i-p/109985/30 "2002-05-21T06:58:18Z")
I am saddened by the loss of such a woderful man. One thing he really showed me was that it is good to have disagreements, rivalries and outright wars with people who’s view differ from yours (Dawkins) but he did it with such _tact_ that is was inspirational. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-jay-gould-r-i-p/109985/31 "2002-05-21T06:59:14Z")
Sadly, I’ve only read Ever Since Darwin. ``` I love Gould's sense of wonder. He took facts and made them into poetry. ``` ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-jay-gould-r-i-p/109985/32 "2002-05-21T07:06:54Z")
I am saddened by the loss of such a woderful man. One thing he really showed me was that it is good to have disagreements, rivalries and outright wars with people who’s view differ from yours (Dawkins) but he did it with such _tact_ that is was inspirational. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-jay-gould-r-i-p/109985/33 "2002-05-21T07:44:42Z")
SJG dies, and Rush Limbaugh lives? There is no god. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-jay-gould-r-i-p/109985/34 "2002-05-21T11:18:04Z")
Well, Gould was popular enoughto be one of only two scientists to guest star in an episode of **The Simpsons**. If the creators of the show thought that his name had enough marquee value to be recognized by the Fox viewing demographic, maybe his works have had more currency than we thought. I’m going to take one of his books off my shelf today to read on the Metro in tribute today. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-jay-gould-r-i-p/109985/35 "2002-05-21T11:51:56Z")
> [@](#): > > SJG dies, and Rush Limbaugh lives? That was uncalled for. \*This statement is made from the perspective of a **member** , not a moderator. See me here: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=116263](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=116263) ---
**Author:** ![Gregor\_Samsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@Gregor\_Samsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gregor_Samsa)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-jay-gould-r-i-p/109985/36 "2002-05-21T12:54:52Z")
It’s always a shame to see someone of the calibre of Gould die - he actually managed to make science understandable to the Great Unwashed (me, in other words.) His work on the Burgess Shale was absolutely fascinating. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-jay-gould-r-i-p/109985/37 "2002-05-21T14:10:30Z")
Like many other Dopers, I had the good luck to attend one of his lectures a few years ago. He was a wonderful speaker. I’m sorry my students will never have the opportunity to hear him (judging by some of the science unit papers I’ve received, some of 'em sorely need it). It’s a terribly sad loss. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-jay-gould-r-i-p/109985/38 "2002-05-21T15:32:08Z")
Nice candid obit in the New York Times: > **[Stephen Jay Gould, 60, Is Dead; Enlivened Evolutionary Theory (Published 2002)](https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/21/us/stephen-jay-gould-60-is-dead-enlivened-evolutionary-theory.html)** > > Stephen Jay Gould, Harvard University evolutionary theorist whose research, lectures and prolific output of essays helped reinvigorate field of paleontology, dies of cancer at age 60; was one of most influential evolutionary biologists of 20th... ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-jay-gould-r-i-p/109985/39 "2002-05-21T15:44:10Z")
Plus, he enjoyed baseball. Not in the George Will - baseball as a metaphor for all that is good and honest and true-manner, but in the Damn-did-you-see-that catch-what a beautiful day-let’s have another cold one here- way. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-jay-gould-r-i-p/109985/40 "2002-05-21T16:19:57Z")
To the author of Wonderful Life, I hope you have a wonderful afterlife. Thanks for the explanation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-jay-gould-r-i-p/109985.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-jay-gould-r-i-p/109985.md?page=3)