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University of Valencia Spain honors Richard Dawkins with Doctor Honoris Causa

by Daniel Tamarit

March 31, 2009
The University of Valencia (Spain) has honored Richard Dawkins by appointing him Doctor Honoris Causa, the highest honorary degree, last March 31st. The University of Valencia, the only University in the world that celebrated the first centenary of the birth of Charles Darwin in 1909, has a great group of activities related to popularize Darwin and evolutionism. This award to Richard Dawkins, 100 years later, is perfectly located in the year 2009.

This outstanding event shows the support of one of the most important Universities in Spain not only to the work of Richard Dawkins, but also to evolutionary biology, science, free-thinking and rationalism.

The act was simple, calm and solemn. It took place in a historic building at the center of the city with the presence of 300 people and 30 students of biology, approximately. The laudatio was read by the professor Enrique Font, who spoke about the importance of Dawkins' works. It was definitely touching and the audience could really enjoy the ceremony. The best men were the professors Andrés Moya and Juli Peretó, and the rector of the University, Tomás Vert, led the investiture.

At the end of the act, Richard Dawkins made a beautiful speech. He first talked about science: maybe science cannot explain everything, but the things that cannot be explained by science, they won't be ever explained. Then, he spoke about relativism: some say science is not a privileged way to the truth, but the product of a social culture, white, male and occidental. If this were this way, we could also tell that Don Quixote is not better than a television series. Finally, he talked about the social prejudice that claims that science makes us less witty when talking or writing, and worse speakers.

Thus, the ceremony was beautiful, cheerful, and full of meaning. Science and reason have a great support in Europe, and this act in Spain is a good example of this. Moreover, it is even more appropriate to give an honorary degree to Richard Dawkins in 2009, after 200 years of the birth of Charles Darwin and 150 years after his Origin of Species.

Daniel Tamarit

Dawkins' Lectio, part 1

Dawkins' Lectio, part 2

Part of the act

Posted: Monday, April 20, 2009 | Permalink

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1. Comment #367294 by Fuzzy Duck on April 20, 2009 at 9:02 pm

Congratulations!

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2. Comment #367300 by Kennedyc27 on April 20, 2009 at 9:38 pm

Congrats..

Indepth7.blogspot.com

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3. Comment #367303 by mordacious1 on April 20, 2009 at 9:50 pm

Coo-L!

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4. Comment #367314 by Philster61 on April 20, 2009 at 11:16 pm

Absolutely beautiful.Although Im somewhat surprised to learn that no other University celebrated Darwin.
Congratulation Richard.

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5. Comment #367315 by Vanpastel on April 20, 2009 at 11:29 pm

I was there (in fact I recorded the third video, I hope you'll excuse my silly funny-hat joke :P), it was very exciting to see Richard in person. I'm also proud of being part of the University of Valencia. That Honorary Doctorate was very well deserved, Congratulations!

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6. Comment #367318 by Eric W on April 21, 2009 at 12:04 am

I believe Daniel Tamarit is in error when he writes above, "The University of Valencia, the only University in the world that celebrated the first centenary of the birth of Charles Darwin in 1909..."

A quick search on Google with the words "Darwin 1909" reveals that Oxford and Cambridge, among probably many other universities, celebrated Darwin's centenary in 1909. What Richard actually said in his speech was that "this university was, I think possibly, the only one *in Spain* to celebrate the centenary of Darwin in 1909..."

http://darwin-online.org.uk/1909.html

Richard: congratulations, and what a moving speech -- uplifting, inspiring and so very well-spoken, as always. Keep up the great work.

Eric

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7. Comment #367319 by elementz on April 21, 2009 at 12:05 am

Excellent, one more reason to love Spain.

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8. Comment #367320 by Communist on April 21, 2009 at 12:14 am

Congratulations to Richard Dawkins, and once again thanks to Richard for another wonderful speech.

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9. Comment #367326 by Lord Osis on April 21, 2009 at 12:36 am

Congratulations Richard, another well deserved accolade!

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10. Comment #367330 by bendigeidfran on April 21, 2009 at 12:48 am

Llongyfarchiadau to the good professor doctor doctor honoris causa. You can call me bendi.

edit - cracking speech! that Atkins is one hell of a poet too.

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11. Comment #367334 by ridelo on April 21, 2009 at 12:56 am

Well earned!
I'm waiting for the university where I studied to honour Richard also. It was the Katholieke Universiteit van Leuven. I'm afraid that I'm in for a long wait.

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12. Comment #367336 by MrPickwick on April 21, 2009 at 1:09 am

March 31, 2009; that is more than 2 weeks ago!

If I had known that I will have been there! Why this was not featured in the "Upcoming events" section?

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13. Comment #367341 by JRD7 on April 21, 2009 at 1:31 am

So Richard, I hope you did what all British students do, get slaughtered on snakebite and black and travel home in a shopping trolley, whilst wearing a traffic cone on your head.

Bloody students - why don't you get a job!!!

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14. Comment #367342 by Laurie Fraser on April 21, 2009 at 1:42 am

Well done, Richard, and that was a superb speech. Now, if only I can wrangle an honorary Oxbridge degree in Australian Cultural Studies. After all, I'm an expert - have drunk more Toohey's Old than nearly any living Australian.

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15. Comment #367347 by decius on April 21, 2009 at 2:05 am

I demand EQUAL HONOURS for David Robertson.

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16. Comment #367348 by Quetzalcoatl on April 21, 2009 at 2:08 am

Congratulaions, Richard.

Decius-

Get out. We don't want your sort here.

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17. Comment #367349 by Philip1978 on April 21, 2009 at 2:08 am

Decius

Step away from the Bible sir...put it down....think of the children man, think of the children!

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18. Comment #367352 by Mark Jones on April 21, 2009 at 2:24 am

Many congratulations to Richard.

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19. Comment #367355 by AllanW on April 21, 2009 at 2:41 am

Well done Vanpastel and thanks for the third video. This award does great credit to your University as well as Richard. Congratulations to the University of Valencia.

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20. Comment #367359 by Vaal on April 21, 2009 at 2:49 am

Congratulations Richard. Nice to see a university in Spain, a country which was a bulwark of Catholicism, honour your sterling work. Bet Darth Ratzinger and his clown army are spitting in their cornflakes :)

Now, if we could just get the University of Oklahoma to issue you with a similar honour, then my week would be complete :-)

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21. Comment #367365 by toomanytribbles on April 21, 2009 at 3:23 am

congratulations!
enjoy your hat!

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22. Comment #367366 by detox on April 21, 2009 at 3:29 am

This is heartening. It appears my old university has achieved a level of enlightenment that I never would have believed possible when I studied there, even as recently as the mid-90's.

Congratulations to the Universitat and to Richard for continuing to provide the illumination.

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23. Comment #367368 by Chris Davis on April 21, 2009 at 3:43 am

Yes!: 'The study of what is true about the real world'

I've used the first clause for some time, and I love the 'real world' qualifier. I'll steal it and use it often.

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24. Comment #367421 by Alternative Carpark on April 21, 2009 at 5:37 am

Congratulations.

Wonderful speech!

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25. Comment #367426 by VanYoungman on April 21, 2009 at 5:46 am

And the man can write, too. Now tell that to the Nobel people.

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26. Comment #367427 by Reg on April 21, 2009 at 6:00 am

Congratulations Richard.

We can win with science. Through science our species will adapt, overcome the present hostility that reality is throwing at us and prepare us for the huge hurdles yet to come. Then perhaps the universe is not only knowable but is, in the distant future, our oyster.

Reg

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27. Comment #367431 by Lucas on April 21, 2009 at 6:18 am

Super cool. Congrats Richard.

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28. Comment #367438 by liberalartist on April 21, 2009 at 6:48 am

Congrats Richard! Spain is quite the enlightened country, must visit soon...

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29. Comment #367443 by Layla Nasreddin on April 21, 2009 at 7:10 am

Congratulations Richard -- I'm glad to see that there's something in English about this (most of the articles I've read have been in Spanish), and listen to your actual words instead of the translation!

The University of Valencia has a newspaper with a lot of photographs of the event (the whole issue as a .pdf file, and page by page). Alas, the content is in Valencian (not even Spanish), but I assume you can figure out what's going on. There's also an article on the University's website (also in Valencian) with links to transcripts at the bottom of the speeches given (and a translated version of Richard's speech into Valencian).

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30. Comment #367449 by Mango on April 21, 2009 at 7:26 am

Very well deserved, Richard!

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31. Comment #367466 by dougie on April 21, 2009 at 8:43 am

Much deserved award . I think the world would would more delightful if every university would follow Spain. I have been fortunate to have had a few family holidays in the mainland and also the Balearic isles(MENORCA). The evidence of evolution in Menorca alone ,is awesome...Richard should be the leader of all the worlds education systems. That wish will never happen of course as the zealots will take a few gernerations to contain .

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32. Comment #367595 by Dark Matter on April 21, 2009 at 12:15 pm

Congratulations Richard and a much deserved honour. Can't wait for the new book.

Dark Matter

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33. Comment #367697 by LittleFluffyClouds on April 21, 2009 at 2:47 pm

Congratulations, Richard!

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34. Comment #367714 by Steve Zara on April 21, 2009 at 3:09 pm

Congratulations Richard.

What an outstanding speech. This shows Richard at his very best; every sentence rich with meaning. I have to admit I was a touch disappointed by his speech at American Atheists, but there is no doubt here of his wonderful ability with language and his ability to challenge established views. This was a stirring speech, and illustrates why Richard is not just one of the most significant scientists of the past century, but also one of the most important communicators of science; because he can write and talk like no other scientist. I feel privileged to be able to post on his site, and to have been able to discuss matters of evolution with him here has been an honour.

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35. Comment #367887 by HappyPrimate on April 21, 2009 at 7:45 pm

A well deserved honor. Congratulations Richard.

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36. Comment #367911 by Scep on April 21, 2009 at 9:22 pm

What a great line:
” Maybe science cannot explain everything, but the things that cannot be explained by science, they won't be ever explained”.

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37. Comment #367912 by Sciros on April 21, 2009 at 9:28 pm

Congratulations, Richard!

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38. Comment #367930 by Cents on April 21, 2009 at 11:47 pm

Congratulations Richard on a well deserved honour.
I agree with Steve Zara that Richard didn't seem to be at his best at the American Atheist (but given the shirt he was wearing he was probably on holiday).
Richard was certainly extremely well prepared for his speech using wonderful prose that spoke to his being a fluent and eloquent communicator. I am greatful that he decided to become a scientist and not a politician.

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39. Comment #368408 by Baron Scarpia on April 22, 2009 at 1:28 pm

Congratulations, Richard - thoroughly deserved.

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40. Comment #368518 by LBraschi on April 22, 2009 at 3:14 pm

Mis más sinceras felicitaciones, Profesor Dawkins.

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41. Comment #368960 by godless moai on April 23, 2009 at 8:44 am

Congratulations, Richard.
And to the University of Valencia people for having their brain in the right place

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42. Comment #369255 by huzonfurst on April 23, 2009 at 6:11 pm

Now if Spain would only evolve away from its blood sports...

Don't get me wrong, I've been there and the people are nice enough, they just have this atavistic streak equating animal cruelty with entertainment, like so many other countries.

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43. Comment #369825 by leehrin56 on April 24, 2009 at 5:04 pm

belatedly, Congratulations!
I wish I had such privilege to see Dr Dawkins in person...

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44. Comment #372453 by thanosAIAS on May 3, 2009 at 6:33 am

Congrats :P

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45. Comment #372472 by il consigliere on May 3, 2009 at 8:06 am

Es la hostia, tío!

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46. Comment #372475 by mbscience on May 3, 2009 at 8:13 am

congratulation richard my fathers teach in university of valencia and i am blaming them for not telling me that you were going to go there.

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47. Comment #373274 by DarrenGriz on May 5, 2009 at 12:29 pm

Muchísimas felicidades al profesor. Esperemos que este honor inspire el interés por la ciencia que debería ser un derecho en cualquier país y para cualquier persona.

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48. Comment #373846 by Roland_F on May 7, 2009 at 3:54 am

But I am still missing the long overdue :
Sir Richard Dawkins K.B.E.
Is the Queen sleeping or too weak to lift the sword £

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49. Comment #383344 by mcgmelo1 on May 31, 2009 at 5:45 am

My silly comment of encouragement:

In my faculty, when I was a student of anthropology ( I always felt like a student of humanities), I was used to look almost every day to a vitrine that exhibited the publications of that faculty of Social and Political Sciences, to a curious book, due to it´s title and to it´s own cover image, the title "The Work of Ideas" , the cover image : an heavy elephant walking and a tiger attacking with the pacific Gandhi seated on the back, and that´s perhaps why it is sounded so curious or antagonic.
And in fact, so many years latter, I didn´t dare to read the book yet. Well, I always expected from that faculty more than the books, in fact, more than the books , I expected, and wished to have those who wrote them alive there to learn more and better with them...
And, as a "student" ( outside of official statistics ) I went sometimes to a faculty of humanities, and, written in a wall of some faculty of humanities there was a sentence I really love:
"Humani nihil allienum" (We cannot alienate what is human, perhaps it means "everything" ).
In Europe, in fact, perhaps we had "rationalist" periods that threaten religious people, as now, perhaps even more, religion threats science.
And it seems that when we are proclaiming sciences as a human achievment, we are not "ideologically" alienating what is human ;"religion", but yes :"religion" is alienating science as a spiritual achievement of humanity, this is perhaps why to be religious doesn´t pull some people appart of having the most known as
rude "political" and ideological wrong ideas, because: there insn´t a "religion spot" in our brains that avoids us from doing the most rude human errors, but it is irreversibly different now than what it was in middle ages with it´s tipical Manichaeism: that seems to be the work of ideas itself: that are irreversible, no matter they seem "invisible": I mean: we are not in middle ages anymore....: what´s right is human; what´s wrong is human also....

"the cover of the book : The Work of Ideas "

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50. Comment #383370 by mcgmelo1 on May 31, 2009 at 8:29 am

I don´t think that´s the only faculty that celebrates Darwin. There are other ways of celebrating , not only with a huge party.
For instances I always heard a Professor of sociology at a faculty of political and social sciences teaching about some main idea of Darwin, since more than 10 years ago.

Recently, for instances, the students of Sociology are reading the autobiography of Darwin and working on it, as they could be reading Aristotle and working on it, for instances...

Sometimes the parties are just more familiar than huge and public it seems to me.

But of course, it is important to have such a huge party like this one.

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