Details are all that matters: God dwells there, and you never get to see Him if you don't struggle to get them right

Details are all that matters: God dwells there, and you never get to see Him if you don't struggle to get them right

Stephen Jay Gould, a renowned paleontologist, evolutionary biologist, and historian of science, understood the importance of paying attention to details in his research and writings. He believed that the devil was in the details, and that by focusing on the minutiae of the natural world, one could uncover profound truths about the universe and our place in it.

Gould's work was characterized by his meticulous attention to detail and his insistence on accuracy in his research. He understood that in science, as in life, the smallest details could have the biggest impact. By carefully examining fossils, studying the intricacies of evolutionary processes, and analyzing the data with precision, Gould was able to make groundbreaking discoveries and challenge long-held beliefs in the field of evolutionary biology.

In his book "Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and the Nature of History," Gould delves into the details of the Burgess Shale fossils, a collection of ancient marine organisms that provide a window into the diversity of life during the Cambrian explosion. By meticulously studying these fossils and piecing together their evolutionary history, Gould was able to shed light on the complexity and unpredictability of the evolutionary process.

Gould's quote, "Details are all that matters: God dwells there, and you never get to see Him if you don't struggle to get them right," speaks to his belief that by immersing oneself in the details of the natural world, one can gain a deeper understanding of the mysteries of existence. For Gould, the pursuit of knowledge was a spiritual endeavor, a way of connecting with the divine through the study of the natural world.