Lewis Ezra Hicks

Lewis Ezra Hicks (March 10, 1839 – November 17, 1921) was an American geologist, zoologist and college administrator.

Career

Hicks was born in Kalida, Ohio, to Ezra and Julia (Lincoln) Hicks. He attended Harvard University where he pursued work in geology and zoology. He was a student of Louis Agassiz. Similar to Asa Gray, he believed that Darwin's theory of evolution and theism were compatible.

From 1905 to 1911 he was president of Rangoon Baptist College in Burma. He died in Georgia, November 17, 1921.

Critique of design arguments

Hicks wrote a criticism of intelligent design arguments in 1883. Professor of Science Bruce H. Weber has noted that Hicks "warned of the ambiguity of conflating design seen as created contrivances with intent or purpose resulting from the action of natural law. He saw defenders of design logically and unjustifiably gliding from the first usage to the second in many of their arguments. For this reason alone, he thought design arguments should be banished."

Publications A Critique of Design-Arguments (1883)