The Blind Watchmaker (1987)

The Blind Watchmaker is a BBC Horizon documentary based on the arguments in Reverend William Paley’s book of the same name. The documentary adaptation looks like it is made solely for the purpose of showing to a year-nine science class; it looks dated, warn and typical of most educational documentaries made in the late eighties. The documentary is presented by Richard Dawkins, an evolutionist with a very skimpy pair of shorts that he models for the film while exploring the Texan ideals of creationism. Dawkins looks at the basis behind the theory behind the ‘God built the earth in seven days’ theory, examining the possibilities that it may prove to be true and the reasons as to why so many people believe it, after all, how did we come to exist? You can’t just create something out of nothing, can you? 

Through a series of convincing tests applying robotics and computer simulation to the experiments and observation of gene patterns and designs in nature, Dawkins proves how it is indeed possible for natural selection to evolve complicate organs such as the eye or the wing over periods of time with trial and error. The films argument is solid, and although it draws to a pushy conclusion, the scientific evidence and research the documentary provides is astonishing and concise. Topped off with stereotypical nineteen eighties style charm and poise, this documentary is a must see for anyone interested in evolution and the thoughts and ideas behind the question, where did we come from? 

The film can be found online here: 

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2043771442443928848

   

 

 

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Copyright Daniel Emmerson 2008 all rights reserved