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{{Short description|British organic chemist and creationist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{too few opinions|date=April 2017}}
{{too few opinions|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = A. E. Wilder-Smith
| name = A. E. Wilder-Smith
| image =
| image = A._E._Wilder-Smith.png
| image_size =
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| birth_name = Arthur Ernest Wilder-Smith
| birth_name = Arthur Ernest Wilder-Smith
| birth_date = 22 December 1915
| birth_date = 22 December 1915
| birth_place = [[Reading, Berkshire]], England
| birth_place = [[Reading, Berkshire]], England
| death_date = {{death date and age|1995|9|14|1915|12|22|df=yes}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1995|9|14|1915|12|22|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Bern]], Switzerland
| death_place = [[Bern]], Switzerland
| residence =
| nationality = British
| nationality = British
| known_for =
| known_for =
| television =
| education = [[Reading University]]<br />[[University of Geneva]]<br />[[ETH Zurich]]
| television =
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| religion = Christian
| children =
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}}
}}

'''Arthur Ernest Wilder-Smith''', [[Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry|FRSC]] (22 December 1915 – 14 September 1995), more commonly known as '''A. E. Wilder-Smith''', was a British [[Organic chemistry|organic chemist]],<ref name="Numbers 334">{{cite book|author=Ronald L. Numbers|title=The Creationists|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aDmZ5_iUixgC&pg=PA334|year=1993|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-08393-6|page=334}}</ref> and [[young Earth creationist]].<ref name="YoungStearley2008">{{cite book|author1=Davis A. Young|author2=Ralph F. Stearley|title=The Bible, Rocks and Time: Geological Evidence for the Age of the Earth|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TRKtFWlSrRsC&pg=PA238|date=18 August 2008|publisher=InterVarsity Press|isbn=978-0-8308-2876-0|page=238}}</ref><ref name="Rhodes">{{cite book|author=Ron Rhodes|title=The 10 Things You Should Know About the Creation vs. Evolution Debate|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ps3eEU8QMTAC&pg=PA61|publisher=Harvest House Publishers|isbn=978-0-7369-3445-9|page=61}}</ref>
'''Arthur Ernest Wilder-Smith''', [[Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry|FRSC]] (22 December 1915 – 14 September 1995) was a British [[Organic chemistry|organic chemist]]<ref name="Numbers 334">{{cite book|author=Ronald L. Numbers|title=The Creationists|url=https://archive.org/details/creationistsevol0000numb|url-access=registration|year=1993|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-08393-6|page=[https://archive.org/details/creationistsevol0000numb/page/334 334]}}</ref> and [[young Earth creationist]].<ref name="YoungStearley2008">{{cite book|author1=Davis A. Young|author2=Ralph F. Stearley|title=The Bible, Rocks and Time: Geological Evidence for the Age of the Earth|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TRKtFWlSrRsC&pg=PA238|date=18 August 2008|publisher=InterVarsity Press|isbn=978-0-8308-2876-0|page=238}}</ref><ref name="Rhodes">{{cite book|author=Ron Rhodes|title=The 10 Things You Should Know About the Creation vs. Evolution Debate|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ps3eEU8QMTAC&pg=PA61|publisher=Harvest House Publishers|isbn=978-0-7369-3445-9|page=61}}</ref>


==Biography==
==Biography==
Wilder-Smith earned three doctorates; his first PhD in 1941 in Physical Organic Chemistry from [[Reading University]], England, his second in 1964 in Pharmacology from the [[University of Geneva]], and his third from [[Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule]] (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), Zurich.
Wilder-Smith earned three doctorates; his first PhD in 1941 in Physical Organic Chemistry from [[Reading University]], England, his second in 1964 in Pharmacology from the [[University of Geneva]], and his third from [[Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule]] (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), Zurich.


As a chemist, Wilder-Smith joined [[Imperial Chemical Industries]] during World War II. Following the war, the [[University of London]] made him the Countess of Lisburne Memorial Fellow. Dr. Wilder-Smith accepted an appointment as Director of Research for a Swiss pharmaceutical company. While in Switzerland, the Medical School of the [[University of Geneva]] elected him to teach Chemotherapy and Pharmacology, for which he received [[habilitation]], the qualification required for professional appointments to European continental universities.<ref name="Wilder-Smith 1993 128">{{cite book |last=Wilder-Smith |first=A.E. |title=The Time Dimension:Its Relationship to the Origin of Life |year=1993 |publisher=The Word For Today |location=Costa Mesa, CA |isbn=978-0-936728-45-2 |page=128}}</ref>
As a chemist, Wilder-Smith joined [[Imperial Chemical Industries]] during World War II. Following the war, the [[University of London]] made him the Countess of Lisburne Memorial Fellow. Wilder-Smith accepted an appointment as Director of Research for a Swiss pharmaceutical company. While in Switzerland, the Medical School of the [[University of Geneva]] elected him to teach Chemotherapy and Pharmacology, for which he received [[habilitation]], the qualification required for professional appointments to European continental universities.<ref name="Wilder-Smith 1993 128">{{cite book |last=Wilder-Smith |first=A.E. |title=The Time Dimension:Its Relationship to the Origin of Life |year=1993 |publisher=The Word For Today |location=Costa Mesa, CA |isbn=978-0-936728-45-2 |page=128}}</ref>


In 1957-1958 Wilder-Smith accepted the position of Visiting Assistant Professor at the Medical Center of the [[University of Illinois]]. In 1959-1961 he was Visiting Full Professor of Pharmacology at the [[University of Bergen]] Medical School in Norway. He returned to the [[University of Geneva]] for two years then received an appointment as Full Professor of Pharmacology back at the [[University of Illinois]] Medical Center in 1963.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Blaine |first=Graham B. |authorlink= |title=The Drug Users: The Psychopharmacology of Turning On, by A. E. Wilder Smith (review) |journal=Pediatrics |volume=48 |issue=1 |pages=171–172 |publisher=American Academy of Pediatrics |location= |date=1 July 1971 |url=http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/48/1/171 |doi= |accessdate=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wildersmith.org/biography.htm |title=sec.gif |publisher=Wildersmith.org |accessdate=16 February 2015}}</ref> As a lecturer, he won three 'Golden Apple' Awards in consecutive years for excellence in education and four awards for best series of senior year lectures.
In 1957-1958 Wilder-Smith accepted the position of Visiting Assistant Professor at the Medical Center of the [[University of Illinois]]. In 1959-1961 he was Visiting Full Professor of Pharmacology at the [[University of Bergen]] Medical School in Norway. He returned to the [[University of Geneva]] for two years then received an appointment as Full Professor of Pharmacology back at the [[University of Illinois]] Medical Center in 1963.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Blaine |first=Graham B. |title=The Drug Users: The Psychopharmacology of Turning On, by A. E. Wilder Smith (review) |journal=Pediatrics |volume=48 |issue=1 |pages=171–172 |publisher=American Academy of Pediatrics |date=1 July 1971 |doi=10.1542/peds.48.1.171 |s2cid=70539125 |url=http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/48/1/171 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wildersmith.org/biography.htm |title=sec.gif |publisher=Wildersmith.org |accessdate=16 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303083208/http://wildersmith.org/biography.htm |archive-date=2015-03-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As a lecturer, he won three 'Golden Apple' Awards in consecutive years for excellence in education and four awards for best series of senior year lectures.


Dr. Wilder-Smith was Professor of Pharmacology for two years at [[Hacettepe University]] Medical School, Ankara, Turkey. He served as a NATO consultant for the prevention and treatment of drug abuse.<ref name="Wilder-Smith 1993 128"/>
Wilder-Smith was Professor of Pharmacology for two years at [[Hacettepe University]] Medical School, Ankara, Turkey. He served as a NATO consultant for the prevention and treatment of drug abuse.<ref name="Wilder-Smith 1993 128"/>


==Family life and religious views==
==Family life and religious views==
In 1949, A. E. Wilder-Smith married Beate Gottwaldt Wilder-Smith. She accompanied him through twenty-three moves of their home and rearing of their four children, Oliver, [[Petra Wilder-Smith|Petra]], Clive, and Einar. Each of their children are also professors in their respective medical fields at international universities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oconnormortuary.com/obituaries/Beate-Wilder-Smith/#!/Obituary|title=Beate Wilder-Smith Obituary|publisher=oconnormortuary.com|accessdate=22 January 2016}}</ref>
In 1949, A. E. Wilder-Smith married Beate (17 September 1928 – 15 January 2015), daughter of Rev. Wilhelm Gottwaldt, of [[Breslau]], [[Germany]].<ref>Library of Congress Name Headings with References, Library of Congress, 1981, p. 686</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oconnormortuary.com/obits/beate-wilder-smith|title = Beate Wilder-Smith}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.librarything.com/author/wildersmithbeate|title = Beate Wilder-Smith}}</ref> She accompanied him through twenty-three moves of their home and rearing of their four children, Oliver, [[Petra Wilder-Smith|Petra]], Clive, and Einar. Each of their children are also professors in their respective medical fields at international universities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oconnormortuary.com/obituaries/Beate-Wilder-Smith/#!/Obituary|title=Beate Wilder-Smith Obituary|publisher=oconnormortuary.com|accessdate=22 January 2016}}</ref>


Arthur Wilder-Smith began his education as an atheist. His wife, Beate Wilder-Smith, wrote that Arthur had concluded, "If a loving God really existed, He surely would not have tolerated all the injustice and suffering evident in the world." He became acquainted with [[John Frost (British Army officer)|General Frost]], a devout Christian who challenged Arthur's atheistic worldview. Arthur placed his faith in Christ but continued to struggle intellectually with the difficulties between naturalistic evolution and biblical creation. While studying at Oxford, Arthur became acquainted with [[C. S. Lewis]], a significant influence on Arthur's thought processes and faith.<ref>{{cite book|last=Wilder-Smith|first=A.E.|title=Let Us Reason: Insights on Creation, Suffering, & Evil|year=2007|publisher=The Word For Today|location=Costa Mesa, CA|isbn=9781597510370|page=7}}</ref>
Arthur Wilder-Smith began his education as an atheist. His wife, Beate Wilder-Smith, wrote that Arthur had concluded, "If a loving God really existed, He surely would not have tolerated all the injustice and suffering evident in the world." He became acquainted with [[John Frost (British Army officer)|General Frost]], a devout Christian who challenged Arthur's atheistic worldview. Arthur placed his faith in Christ but continued to struggle intellectually with the difficulties between naturalistic evolution and biblical creation. While studying at Oxford, Arthur became acquainted with [[C. S. Lewis]], a significant influence on Arthur's thought processes and faith.<ref>{{cite book|last=Wilder-Smith|first=A.E.|title=Let Us Reason: Insights on Creation, Suffering, & Evil|year=2007|publisher=The Word For Today|location=Costa Mesa, CA|isbn=9781597510370|page=7}}</ref>


As a [[creationism|creationist]], Dr. Wilder-Smith said there were problems with evolutionary views of the origin of life. This theme is reflected in many of his books including, ''The Creation of Life'' and ''Man's Origin, Man's Destiny''. According to Walter L. Bradley, Dr. Wilder-Smith contended "that the conversion of energy flow into information remains, at present, undemonstrated and without theoretical basis."<ref>{{cite web|last=Bradley|first=Walter L.|title=No Relevance to the Origin of Life|url=http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/arn/orpages/or101/101brad.htm|work=Access Research Network, vol. 10, no. 1|publisher=Leadership U|accessdate=20 September 2011}}</ref> Some considered him Europe's leading creationist.<ref>{{cite book|last=Numbers|first=Ronald|title=The Creationists|year=1992|publisher=University of California Press|location=Berkeley and LA|isbn=0-520-08393-8|pages=334, 405–406 n38}}</ref> He was not afraid to correct creationists when he believed they were wrong as when he made the comment to Francis Arduini in 1984 that Morris "didn't know a thing about thermodynamics".<ref>{{cite book|last=Numbers|first=Ronald|title=The Creationists|year=1992|publisher=University of California Press|location=Berkeley and LA|isbn=0-520-08393-8|page=408}}</ref>
As a [[creationism|creationist]], Wilder-Smith said there were problems with evolutionary views of the origin of life. This theme is reflected in many of his books including, ''The Creation of Life'' and ''Man's Origin, Man's Destiny''. According to Walter L. Bradley, Wilder-Smith contended "that the conversion of energy flow into information remains, at present, undemonstrated and without theoretical basis."<ref>{{cite web|last=Bradley|first=Walter L.|title=No Relevance to the Origin of Life|url=http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/arn/orpages/or101/101brad.htm|work=Access Research Network, vol. 10, no. 1|publisher=Leadership U|accessdate=20 September 2011}}</ref> Some considered him Europe's leading creationist.<ref>{{cite book|last=Numbers|first=Ronald|title=The Creationists|year=1992|publisher=University of California Press|location=Berkeley and LA|isbn=0-520-08393-8|pages=[https://archive.org/details/creationistsevol0000numb/page/334 334, 405–406 n38]|url=https://archive.org/details/creationistsevol0000numb/page/334}}</ref> He was not afraid to correct creationists when he believed they were wrong as when he made the comment to Francis Arduini in 1984 that [[Henry M. Morris]] "didn't know a thing about thermodynamics".<ref>{{cite book|last=Numbers|first=Ronald|title=The Creationists|year=1992|publisher=University of California Press|location=Berkeley and LA|isbn=0-520-08393-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/creationistsevol0000numb/page/408 408]|url=https://archive.org/details/creationistsevol0000numb/page/408}}</ref>
In 1966 he published the book ''Herkunft und Zukunft des Menschen''<ref>{{cite web|title=Bibliographic Information|url=http://openlibrary.org/search?wisbn=0871233568|publisher=Open Library|accessdate=20 September 2011}}</ref> which promoted Burdick's and other's claims that dinosaur and human footprints existed together at [[Paluxy River]]. Wilder-Smith included in his book<ref>{{cite book|last=Wilder-Smith|first=A.E.|title=Herkunft und Zukunft des Menschen, 5th ed|year=1980|publisher=Hanssler-Verlag|location=Neuhausen-Stuttgart|isbn=3-7751-0070-9|url=http://www.scribd.com/doc/45776454/Herkunft-und-Zukunft-des-Menschen}}</ref> plates showing the Paluxy site including plates attributed to himself, Burdick and Taylor. With the exception of plate 6 from Burdick all plates claiming to be man tracks were in situ. In the mid-1980s the footprints were shown to be not of human origin, and some specimens were shown to be doctored or carved, in particular the loose blocks attributed to Burdick.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kuban|first=Glen J.|title=The "Burdick Print"|url=http://paleo.cc/paluxy/wilker6.htm|work=Kuban's Paluxy Website|publisher=Kuban|accessdate=20 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/paluxy.html|title=Paluxy Dinosaur/"Man Track" controversy|publisher=Talkorigins.org|accessdate=16 February 2015}}</ref>
In 1966 he published the book ''Herkunft und Zukunft des Menschen''<ref>{{cite book|title=Bibliographic Information|year = 1975|url=https://openlibrary.org/search?wisbn=0871233568|publisher=Open Library|isbn = 9780871233561|accessdate=20 September 2011}}</ref> which promoted Burdick's and other's claims that dinosaur and human footprints existed together at [[Paluxy River]]. Wilder-Smith included in his book<ref>{{cite book|last=Wilder-Smith|first=A.E.|title=Herkunft und Zukunft des Menschen, 5th ed|year=1980|publisher=Hanssler-Verlag|location=Neuhausen-Stuttgart|isbn=3-7751-0070-9|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/45776454/Herkunft-und-Zukunft-des-Menschen}}</ref> plates showing the Paluxy site including plates attributed to himself, Burdick and Taylor. With the exception of plate 6 from Burdick all plates claiming to be man tracks were in situ. In the mid-1980s the footprints were shown to be not of human origin, and some specimens were shown to be doctored or carved, in particular the loose blocks attributed to Burdick.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kuban|first=Glen J.|title=The "Burdick Print"|url=http://paleo.cc/paluxy/wilker6.htm|work=Kuban's Paluxy Website|publisher=Kuban|accessdate=20 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/paluxy.html|title=Paluxy Dinosaur/"Man Track" controversy|publisher=Talkorigins.org|accessdate=16 February 2015}}</ref>


In 1970, Dr. Wilder-Smith published ''The Creation of Life: A Cybernetic Approach to Evolution'' which defended [[William Paley]]'s design argument with computer calculations of the improbability of genetic sequences, which he said could not be explained by evolution but required "the abhorred necessity of divine intelligent activity behind nature," and that "the same problem would be expected to beset the relationship between the designer behind nature and the intelligently designed part of nature known as man." His research and writing were influential in the formation of the [[intelligent design]] movement.<ref name="fands">{{cite web|url=http://www.faithandscienceresource.org.uk/reviews/noseriousscientist.html|title=No Serious Scientist . . .|publisher=Faith and Science Resource|accessdate=15 September 2012}}</ref> In 2005, intelligent design advocate [[William A. Dembski]] wrote that Wilder-Smith's "intuitive ideas about information has been the impetus for much of my research."<ref name="dembski">{{cite web|url=http://www.designinference.com/documents/2005.02.Reply_to_Henry_Morris.htm|title=Intelligent Design's Contributions to the Debate Over Evolution: A Reply to Henry Morris|author=William A. Dembski|date=1 February 2005|publisher=Design Inference Website|accessdate=15 September 2012}}</ref> Wilder-Smith had never used the phrase "intelligent design" itself. The closest phrasing may be found in his 1968 publication ''Man’s origin, man’s destiny: a critical survey of the principles of evolution and Christianity'', which with its argument that the [[mammary gland]]s in [[whale]]s could not have arisen by chance mutations. Wilder-Smith wrote that (emphasis added) "To deny planning when studying such a system is to strain credulity more than to ask one to believe in an ''intelligent nipple designer'', who incidentally must have understood hydraulics rather well."<ref name="Matzke 007">{{cite web |url=http://pandasthumb.org/archives/2007/08/the-true-origin.html |title=The true origin of "intelligent design" |author= Nick Matzke |authorlink=Nick Matzke |date= August 14, 2007 |publisher=[[The Panda's Thumb (blog)|The Panda's Thumb]] |accessdate=2012-07-03}}</ref>
In 1970, Wilder-Smith published ''The Creation of Life: A Cybernetic Approach to Evolution'' which defended [[William Paley]]'s design argument with computer calculations of the improbability of genetic sequences, which he said could not be explained by evolution but required "the abhorred necessity of divine intelligent activity behind nature," and that "the same problem would be expected to beset the relationship between the designer behind nature and the intelligently designed part of nature known as man." His research and writing were influential in the formation of the [[intelligent design]] movement.<ref name="fands">{{cite web|url=http://www.faithandscienceresource.org.uk/reviews/noseriousscientist.html|title=No Serious Scientist...|publisher=Faith and Science Resource|accessdate=15 September 2012}}</ref> In 2005, intelligent design advocate [[William A. Dembski]] wrote that Wilder-Smith's "intuitive ideas about information has been the impetus for much of my research."<ref name="dembski">{{cite web|url=http://www.designinference.com/documents/2005.02.Reply_to_Henry_Morris.htm|title=Intelligent Design's Contributions to the Debate Over Evolution: A Reply to Henry Morris|author=William A. Dembski|date=1 February 2005|publisher=Design Inference Website|accessdate=15 September 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729035206/http://www.designinference.com/documents/2005.02.Reply_to_Henry_Morris.htm|archive-date=29 July 2012}}</ref> Wilder-Smith had never used the phrase "intelligent design" itself. The closest phrasing may be found in his 1968 publication ''Man’s origin, man’s destiny: a critical survey of the principles of evolution and Christianity'', which with its argument that the [[mammary gland]]s in [[whale]]s could not have arisen by chance mutations. Wilder-Smith wrote that (emphasis added) "To deny planning when studying such a system is to strain credulity more than to ask one to believe in an ''intelligent nipple designer'', who incidentally must have understood hydraulics rather well."<ref name="Matzke 007">{{cite web |url=http://pandasthumb.org/archives/2007/08/the-true-origin.html |title=The true origin of "intelligent design" |author= Nick Matzke |author-link=Nick Matzke |date= August 14, 2007 |publisher=[[The Panda's Thumb (blog)|The Panda's Thumb]] |accessdate=2012-07-03}}</ref>


In the 1986 [[Oxford Union]] debate, Wilder-Smith and creationist physicist [[Edgar Andrews]] (President of the [[Biblical Creation Society]]) debated creationism with biologists [[Richard Dawkins]] and [[John Maynard Smith]].<ref>[http://richarddawkins.net/audio/721-1986-oxford-union-debate] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100907215249/http://richarddawkins.net/audio/721-1986-oxford-union-debate |date=September 7, 2010 }}</ref>
In the 1986 [[Oxford Union]] debate, Wilder-Smith and creationist physicist [[Edgar Andrews]] (President of the [[Biblical Creation Society]]) debated creationism with biologists [[Richard Dawkins]] and [[John Maynard Smith]].<ref>[http://richarddawkins.net/audio/721-1986-oxford-union-debate] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100907215249/http://richarddawkins.net/audio/721-1986-oxford-union-debate|date=September 7, 2010}}</ref>


Wilder-Smith's book ''The Natural Sciences Know Nothing of Evolution'' was published in 1981 by an imprint of Creation-Life Publishing, and reprinted in 1992 by [[Answers in Genesis]].<ref name="Melvindale">{{cite news | url=http://ncse.com/book/export/html/1447 | title=Analysis of the Melvindale Science Curriculum Sub-Committee Book Recommendations |publisher=[[National Center for Science Education]] | date=October 30, 1998 | first= | last= | accessdate = 2008-04-06}}</ref> Kenneth Christiansen, Professor of Biology at [[Grinnell College]], reviewed the book stating "the most fundamental flaw of the book is an apparent confusion or ignorance (it is hard to tell) concerning our present understanding of the evolutionary process." He further noted that Wilder-Smith's work disregarded basic literature in the field discussed.<ref name="Kenneth Christiansen 1992. page 134">Kenneth Christiansen, "''The Natural Sciences Know Nothing of Evolution'' Review" in ''Reviews of Creationist Books'' ed Liz Rank Hughes, [[National Center for Science Education]], 1992. page 134 ISBN 0-939873-52-4</ref> In 1998 the book was one of 19 which a public school board in [[Melvindale, Michigan]], voted to purchase for school libraries "to make sure the district was not supporting the theory of evolution as a fact". An analysis by the [[National Center for Science Education]] described the book as "religious doctrine in disguise" promoting the intelligent design argument, with abundant errors typical of creation science, misrepresenting the science of evolution.<ref name="Melvindale" />
Wilder-Smith's book ''The Natural Sciences Know Nothing of Evolution'' was published in 1981 by an imprint of Creation-Life Publishing, and reprinted in 1992 by [[Answers in Genesis]].<ref name="Melvindale">{{cite news | url=http://ncse.com/book/export/html/1447 | title=Analysis of the Melvindale Science Curriculum Sub-Committee Book Recommendations |publisher=[[National Center for Science Education]] | date=October 30, 1998 | accessdate = 2008-04-06}}</ref> Kenneth Christiansen, a biologist at [[Grinnell College]], reviewed the book stating "the most fundamental flaw of the book is an apparent confusion or ignorance (it is hard to tell) concerning our present understanding of the evolutionary process." He further noted that Wilder-Smith's work disregarded basic literature in the field discussed.<ref name="Kenneth Christiansen 1992. page 134">Kenneth Christiansen, "''The Natural Sciences Know Nothing of Evolution'' Review" in ''Reviews of Creationist Books'' ed Liz Rank Hughes, [[National Center for Science Education]], 1992. page 134 {{ISBN|0-939873-52-4}}</ref> In 1998 the book was one of 19 which a public school board in [[Melvindale, Michigan]], voted to purchase for school libraries "to make sure the district was not supporting the theory of evolution as a fact". An analysis by the [[National Center for Science Education]] described the book as "religious doctrine in disguise" promoting the intelligent design argument, with abundant errors typical of creation science, misrepresenting the science of evolution.<ref name="Melvindale" />


==Honours==
==Honours==
Wilder-Smith was a [[Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry|Fellow]] of the [[Royal Society of Chemistry]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Wilder-Smith|first=Arthur E. and Beate|title=Fulfilled Journey|year=1998|publisher=TWFT Publishers|location=Costa Mesa, CA|isbn=978-0-936728-75-9|pages=538–539}}</ref>
Wilder-Smith was a [[Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Wilder-Smith|first=Arthur E. and Beate|title=Fulfilled Journey|year=1998|publisher=TWFT Publishers|location=Costa Mesa, CA|isbn=978-0-936728-75-9|pages=538–539}}</ref>


==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
Line 66: Line 67:
* ''Metabolism of Synthetic Œstrogens in Man'' (nature 160, 787-787 (6 December 1947))
* ''Metabolism of Synthetic Œstrogens in Man'' (nature 160, 787-787 (6 December 1947))
* M. B. Sahasrabudhe, A. E. Wilder Smith (1947) ''The determination of dienoestrol'' Biochem J.; 41(2): 190–192.
* M. B. Sahasrabudhe, A. E. Wilder Smith (1947) ''The determination of dienoestrol'' Biochem J.; 41(2): 190–192.
* ''THE INSTABILITY OF OESTROGENS IN SOLUTION'' (J Endocrinol January 1, 1946 5 152-157)
* ''THE INSTABILITY OF OESTROGENS IN SOLUTION'' (J Endocrinol January 1, 1946 5 152–157)
* ''Preliminary screening of some new oxadiazol-2-ols with special reference to their antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. V.'' (Arzneimittelforschung. 1963 Apr;13:338-41.)
* ''Preliminary screening of some new oxadiazol-2-ols with special reference to their antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. V.'' (Arzneimittelforschung. 1963 Apr;13:338-41.)
* Smith, A. E. W., Frommel, E. and Morris, R. W. (1959), ''Effect of Local Anaesthetics on Barbiturate Sleeping Time''. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 11: 600–606.
* Smith, A. E. W., Frommel, E. and Morris, R. W. (1959), ''Effect of Local Anaesthetics on Barbiturate Sleeping Time''. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 11: 600–606.
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* ''Why Does God Allow It? and Other Essays''. ([[Victory Press]], 1960) ASIN B0000CKQ3P
* ''Why Does God Allow It? and Other Essays''. ([[Victory Press]], 1960) ASIN B0000CKQ3P
* ''The Scientific Alternative to Neo-Darwinian Evolutionary Theory''. (The Word For Today, 1987)
* ''The Scientific Alternative to Neo-Darwinian Evolutionary Theory''. (The Word For Today, 1987)
* ''The Natural Sciences Know Nothing of Evolution''. [[Master Books]]/[[Institute for Creation Research]], 1981. ISBN 0-89051-062-8
* ''The Natural Sciences Know Nothing of Evolution''. [[Master Books]]/[[Institute for Creation Research]], 1981. {{ISBN|0-89051-062-8}}
* ''Man's Origin/Man's Destiny''. Harold Shaw; 1st edition (January 1, 1969), (paperback [[Bethany House]] Pub, June 1975) ISBN 0-87123-356-8
* ''Man's Origin/Man's Destiny''. Harold Shaw; 1st edition (January 1, 1969), (paperback [[Bethany House]] Pub, June 1975) {{ISBN|0-87123-356-8}}
* ''He Who Thinks Has To Believe'' (The Word For Today, 1981)
* ''He Who Thinks Has To Believe'' (The Word For Today, 1981)
* ''The Creation of Life: Cybernetic approach to evolution'' (H. Shaw; [1st ed.] edition, 1970) ([[Master Books]]/[[Institute for Creation Research]], 1981) ISBN 0-89051-070-9
* ''The Creation of Life: Cybernetic approach to evolution'' (H. Shaw; [1st ed.] edition, 1970) ([[Master Books]]/[[Institute for Creation Research]], 1981) {{ISBN|0-89051-070-9}}
* ''The Time Dimension''. (Word for Today, October 1993) ISBN 0-936728-45-0
* ''The Time Dimension''. (Word for Today, October 1993) {{ISBN|0-936728-45-0}}
* ''Why Does God Allow It?'' ([[Victory Press]], 1960) ([[Master Books]]/[[Institute for Creation Research]], 1980) ISBN 0-89051-060-1
* ''Why Does God Allow It?'' ([[Victory Press]], 1960) ([[Master Books]]/[[Institute for Creation Research]], 1980) {{ISBN|0-89051-060-1}}
* ''Is This a God of Love?''. (Word for Today, December 1991) ISBN 0-936728-39-6
* ''Is This a God of Love?''. (Word for Today, December 1991) {{ISBN|0-936728-39-6}}


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.wildersmith.org A.E. Wilder-Smith website] *{{worldcat id|id=lccn-n50-19278}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x_V1VOH_UE The Huxley Memorial Debate, the contribution of A. E. Wilder-Smith]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x_V1VOH_UE The Huxley Memorial Debate, the contribution of A. E. Wilder-Smith]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100706155848/http://www.creationresearch.org/creation_matters/pdf/2003/cm08_04_rp.PDF Debating Dawkins (pdf-format)]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100706155848/http://www.creationresearch.org/creation_matters/pdf/2003/cm08_04_rp.PDF Debating Dawkins (pdf-format)]
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[[Category:1915 births]]
[[Category:1915 births]]
[[Category:1995 deaths]]
[[Category:1995 deaths]]
⚫
[[Category:British organic chemists]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Reading]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Reading]]
⚫
[[Category:British chemists]]
[[Category:Christian Young Earth creationists]]
[[Category:Christian Young Earth creationists]]
[[Category:ETH Zurich alumni]]
[[Category:ETH Zurich alumni]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of Chemistry]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of Chemistry]]
[[Category:University of Geneva alumni]]
[[Category:University of Geneva alumni]]
[[Category:Writers about religion and science]]

Latest revision as of 17:45, 23 July 2024

A. E. Wilder-Smith
Born
Arthur Ernest Wilder-Smith

22 December 1915
Reading, Berkshire, England
Died14 September 1995(1995-09-14) (aged 79)
Bern, Switzerland
NationalityBritish
EducationReading University
University of Geneva
ETH Zurich

Arthur Ernest Wilder-Smith, FRSC (22 December 1915 – 14 September 1995) was a British organic chemist[1] and young Earth creationist.[2][3]

Biography

[edit]

Wilder-Smith earned three doctorates; his first PhD in 1941 in Physical Organic Chemistry from Reading University, England, his second in 1964 in Pharmacology from the University of Geneva, and his third from Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), Zurich.

As a chemist, Wilder-Smith joined Imperial Chemical Industries during World War II. Following the war, the University of London made him the Countess of Lisburne Memorial Fellow. Wilder-Smith accepted an appointment as Director of Research for a Swiss pharmaceutical company. While in Switzerland, the Medical School of the University of Geneva elected him to teach Chemotherapy and Pharmacology, for which he received habilitation, the qualification required for professional appointments to European continental universities.[4]

In 1957-1958 Wilder-Smith accepted the position of Visiting Assistant Professor at the Medical Center of the University of Illinois. In 1959-1961 he was Visiting Full Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Bergen Medical School in Norway. He returned to the University of Geneva for two years then received an appointment as Full Professor of Pharmacology back at the University of Illinois Medical Center in 1963.[5][6] As a lecturer, he won three 'Golden Apple' Awards in consecutive years for excellence in education and four awards for best series of senior year lectures.

Wilder-Smith was Professor of Pharmacology for two years at Hacettepe University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey. He served as a NATO consultant for the prevention and treatment of drug abuse.[4]

Family life and religious views

[edit]

In 1949, A. E. Wilder-Smith married Beate (17 September 1928 – 15 January 2015), daughter of Rev. Wilhelm Gottwaldt, of Breslau, Germany.[7][8][9] She accompanied him through twenty-three moves of their home and rearing of their four children, Oliver, Petra, Clive, and Einar. Each of their children are also professors in their respective medical fields at international universities.[10]

Arthur Wilder-Smith began his education as an atheist. His wife, Beate Wilder-Smith, wrote that Arthur had concluded, "If a loving God really existed, He surely would not have tolerated all the injustice and suffering evident in the world." He became acquainted with General Frost, a devout Christian who challenged Arthur's atheistic worldview. Arthur placed his faith in Christ but continued to struggle intellectually with the difficulties between naturalistic evolution and biblical creation. While studying at Oxford, Arthur became acquainted with C. S. Lewis, a significant influence on Arthur's thought processes and faith.[11]

As a creationist, Wilder-Smith said there were problems with evolutionary views of the origin of life. This theme is reflected in many of his books including, The Creation of Life and Man's Origin, Man's Destiny. According to Walter L. Bradley, Wilder-Smith contended "that the conversion of energy flow into information remains, at present, undemonstrated and without theoretical basis."[12] Some considered him Europe's leading creationist.[13] He was not afraid to correct creationists when he believed they were wrong as when he made the comment to Francis Arduini in 1984 that Henry M. Morris "didn't know a thing about thermodynamics".[14]

In 1966 he published the book Herkunft und Zukunft des Menschen[15] which promoted Burdick's and other's claims that dinosaur and human footprints existed together at Paluxy River. Wilder-Smith included in his book[16] plates showing the Paluxy site including plates attributed to himself, Burdick and Taylor. With the exception of plate 6 from Burdick all plates claiming to be man tracks were in situ. In the mid-1980s the footprints were shown to be not of human origin, and some specimens were shown to be doctored or carved, in particular the loose blocks attributed to Burdick.[17][18]

In 1970, Wilder-Smith published The Creation of Life: A Cybernetic Approach to Evolution which defended William Paley's design argument with computer calculations of the improbability of genetic sequences, which he said could not be explained by evolution but required "the abhorred necessity of divine intelligent activity behind nature," and that "the same problem would be expected to beset the relationship between the designer behind nature and the intelligently designed part of nature known as man." His research and writing were influential in the formation of the intelligent design movement.[19] In 2005, intelligent design advocate William A. Dembski wrote that Wilder-Smith's "intuitive ideas about information has been the impetus for much of my research."[20] Wilder-Smith had never used the phrase "intelligent design" itself. The closest phrasing may be found in his 1968 publication Man’s origin, man’s destiny: a critical survey of the principles of evolution and Christianity, which with its argument that the mammary glands in whales could not have arisen by chance mutations. Wilder-Smith wrote that (emphasis added) "To deny planning when studying such a system is to strain credulity more than to ask one to believe in an intelligent nipple designer, who incidentally must have understood hydraulics rather well."[21]

In the 1986 Oxford Union debate, Wilder-Smith and creationist physicist Edgar Andrews (President of the Biblical Creation Society) debated creationism with biologists Richard Dawkins and John Maynard Smith.[22]

Wilder-Smith's book The Natural Sciences Know Nothing of Evolution was published in 1981 by an imprint of Creation-Life Publishing, and reprinted in 1992 by Answers in Genesis.[23] Kenneth Christiansen, a biologist at Grinnell College, reviewed the book stating "the most fundamental flaw of the book is an apparent confusion or ignorance (it is hard to tell) concerning our present understanding of the evolutionary process." He further noted that Wilder-Smith's work disregarded basic literature in the field discussed.[24] In 1998 the book was one of 19 which a public school board in Melvindale, Michigan, voted to purchase for school libraries "to make sure the district was not supporting the theory of evolution as a fact". An analysis by the National Center for Science Education described the book as "religious doctrine in disguise" promoting the intelligent design argument, with abundant errors typical of creation science, misrepresenting the science of evolution.[23]

Honours

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Wilder-Smith was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry[25]

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Urinary elimination of synthetic oestrogens and stilboestrol glucuronide in animals. (Biochem J. 1948; 42(2): 253–257)
  • The isolation and properties of the monoglucuronides of stilboestrol, hexoestrol and dienoestrol (Biochem J. 1948; 42(2): 258–260)
  • Preparation of some new 4-substituted derivatives of p-amino-o-hydroxyphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazolone-5 and study of their mycobacteriostatic activity. VII. (Arzneimittelforschung. 1967 Jun;17(6):768-72)
  • Some tuberculostatic 1,3,4-oxadiazolones(-5) and 1,3,4-oxadiazolthiones(-5). II: Biological spectrum in vitro and activity in vivo in relation to resistance emergence. (Arzneimittelforschung. 1962 Mar;12:275-80.)
  • The excretion of synthetic oestrogens as ethereal sulphates and monoglucuronides in the rabbit and in man (Biochem J. 1949; 44(3): 366–368. )
  • The Action of Phosgene on Acid Hydrazides to Give 1,3,4-Oxdiazolones of Interest in the Treatment of Tuberculosis (Science, Volume 119, Issue 3094, pp. 514)
  • Metabolism of Synthetic Œstrogens in Man (nature 160, 787-787 (6 December 1947))
  • M. B. Sahasrabudhe, A. E. Wilder Smith (1947) The determination of dienoestrol Biochem J.; 41(2): 190–192.
  • THE INSTABILITY OF OESTROGENS IN SOLUTION (J Endocrinol January 1, 1946 5 152–157)
  • Preliminary screening of some new oxadiazol-2-ols with special reference to their antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. V. (Arzneimittelforschung. 1963 Apr;13:338-41.)
  • Smith, A. E. W., Frommel, E. and Morris, R. W. (1959), Effect of Local Anaesthetics on Barbiturate Sleeping Time. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 11: 600–606.
  • A. E. WILDER SMITH & HANS BRODHAGE (1961) Biological Spectrum of Some New Tuberculostatic 1,3,4-Oxadiazolones with Special Reference to Cross-Resistance and Rates of Emergence of Resistance Nature 192, 1195 (23 December 1961)
  • Why Does God Allow It? and Other Essays. (Victory Press, 1960) ASIN B0000CKQ3P
  • The Scientific Alternative to Neo-Darwinian Evolutionary Theory. (The Word For Today, 1987)
  • The Natural Sciences Know Nothing of Evolution. Master Books/Institute for Creation Research, 1981. ISBN 0-89051-062-8
  • Man's Origin/Man's Destiny. Harold Shaw; 1st edition (January 1, 1969), (paperback Bethany House Pub, June 1975) ISBN 0-87123-356-8
  • He Who Thinks Has To Believe (The Word For Today, 1981)
  • The Creation of Life: Cybernetic approach to evolution (H. Shaw; [1st ed.] edition, 1970) (Master Books/Institute for Creation Research, 1981) ISBN 0-89051-070-9
  • The Time Dimension. (Word for Today, October 1993) ISBN 0-936728-45-0
  • Why Does God Allow It? (Victory Press, 1960) (Master Books/Institute for Creation Research, 1980) ISBN 0-89051-060-1
  • Is This a God of Love?. (Word for Today, December 1991) ISBN 0-936728-39-6

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Ronald L. Numbers (1993). The Creationists. University of California Press. p. 334. ISBN 978-0-520-08393-6.
  2. ^ Davis A. Young; Ralph F. Stearley (18 August 2008). The Bible, Rocks and Time: Geological Evidence for the Age of the Earth. InterVarsity Press. p. 238. ISBN 978-0-8308-2876-0.
  3. ^ Ron Rhodes. The 10 Things You Should Know About the Creation vs. Evolution Debate. Harvest House Publishers. p. 61. ISBN 978-0-7369-3445-9.
  4. ^ a b Wilder-Smith, A.E. (1993). The Time Dimension:Its Relationship to the Origin of Life. Costa Mesa, CA: The Word For Today. p. 128. ISBN 978-0-936728-45-2.
  5. ^ Blaine, Graham B. (1 July 1971). "The Drug Users: The Psychopharmacology of Turning On, by A. E. Wilder Smith (review)". Pediatrics. 48 (1). American Academy of Pediatrics: 171–172. doi:10.1542/peds.48.1.171. S2CID 70539125.
  6. ^ "sec.gif". Wildersmith.org. Archived from the original on 3 March 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  7. ^ Library of Congress Name Headings with References, Library of Congress, 1981, p. 686
  8. ^ "Beate Wilder-Smith".
  9. ^ "Beate Wilder-Smith".
  10. ^ "Beate Wilder-Smith Obituary". oconnormortuary.com. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  11. ^ Wilder-Smith, A.E. (2007). Let Us Reason: Insights on Creation, Suffering, & Evil. Costa Mesa, CA: The Word For Today. p. 7. ISBN 9781597510370.
  12. ^ Bradley, Walter L. "No Relevance to the Origin of Life". Access Research Network, vol. 10, no. 1. Leadership U. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  13. ^ Numbers, Ronald (1992). The Creationists. Berkeley and LA: University of California Press. pp. 334, 405–406 n38. ISBN 0-520-08393-8.
  14. ^ Numbers, Ronald (1992). The Creationists. Berkeley and LA: University of California Press. p. 408. ISBN 0-520-08393-8.
  15. ^ Bibliographic Information. Open Library. 1975. ISBN 9780871233561. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  16. ^ Wilder-Smith, A.E. (1980). Herkunft und Zukunft des Menschen, 5th ed. Neuhausen-Stuttgart: Hanssler-Verlag. ISBN 3-7751-0070-9.
  17. ^ Kuban, Glen J. "The "Burdick Print"". Kuban's Paluxy Website. Kuban. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  18. ^ "Paluxy Dinosaur/"Man Track" controversy". Talkorigins.org. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  19. ^ "No Serious Scientist..." Faith and Science Resource. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  20. ^ William A. Dembski (1 February 2005). "Intelligent Design's Contributions to the Debate Over Evolution: A Reply to Henry Morris". Design Inference Website. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  21. ^ Nick Matzke (14 August 2007). "The true origin of "intelligent design"". The Panda's Thumb. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  22. ^ [1] Archived September 7, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  23. ^ a b "Analysis of the Melvindale Science Curriculum Sub-Committee Book Recommendations". National Center for Science Education. 30 October 1998. Retrieved 6 April 2008.
  24. ^ Kenneth Christiansen, "The Natural Sciences Know Nothing of Evolution Review" in Reviews of Creationist Books ed Liz Rank Hughes, National Center for Science Education, 1992. page 134 ISBN 0-939873-52-4
  25. ^ Wilder-Smith, Arthur E. and Beate (1998). Fulfilled Journey. Costa Mesa, CA: TWFT Publishers. pp. 538–539. ISBN 978-0-936728-75-9.
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