Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Richard Dawkins
Introduction & Top Questions References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images & Videos
Richard Dawkins wearing a black tuxedo and bow tie, standing in front of a red background at an event.
Witness the exchange of views about science and religion as Brian Greene and Richard Dawkins explore the question of the existence of God
Know about Richard Dawkins's views on atheism and his idea of religion as a virus
Quizzes
Michael Faraday (L) English physicist and chemist (electromagnetism) and John Frederic Daniell (R) British chemist and meteorologist who invented the Daniell cell.
Faces of Science
Related Questions
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
Richard Dawkins wearing a black tuxedo and bow tie, standing in front of a red background at an event.
Richard Dawkins Richard Dawkins, 2007.

Richard Dawkins

British biologist and writer
Also known as: Clinton Richard Dawkins
Written by
Anthony G. Craine
Independent researcher and writer.
Anthony G. CraineAll
Fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
Last updated
•History

Richard Dawkins (born March 26, 1941, Nairobi, Kenya) is a British evolutionary biologist, ethologist, and popular-science writer who emphasized the gene as the driving force of evolution and generated significant controversy with his enthusiastic advocacy of atheism. Dawkins spent his early childhood in Kenya, where his father was stationed during World War II. The family returned to England in 1949. In 1959 Dawkins entered Balliol College, Oxford, where he received a bachelor’s degree in zoology...

Discover the world with Britannica

Subscribe to Continue Reading

Free Trial | No Ads | Exclusive Content
Explore Subscriptions
DNA
Right
Mobile