How Were People Created?

Mr. Chancellor and the Chancellor’s Cabinet, Dean Davis and the Council of Deans, the Boards of Advisors and Trustees, members of the faculty and administration, family, friends, honored guests, and most especially, graduates: thank you so much for having me up here this evening at such a wonderful commencement ceremony. Wow. It’s kind of surreal, isn’t it?

There’s a story of a child who asked his father, "How were people created?" His father said, "Adam and Eve made babies, then their babies became adults and made babies, and so on and so forth." Unable to fully comprehend the idea, the child then went to his mother, and asked her the same question. She replied, "We used to be monkeys, and then over millions of years, we slowly evolved to become like we are now." The child ran back to his father and said, "Dad, you lied to me. Mom said that people used to be monkeys!" His father replied, "No, no, son, your mother was talking about her side of the family." ≈ 45 secs

I’d like to tell you another story. One of a man who believed that the greatest good to be performed is examining both yourself and others; that the unexamined life is one not worth living. A man who was known for his inquiry of others, who discovered himself by discovering that he knew nothing:

In the face of being put to death for his beliefs of what was moral and just, Socrates said, “Wherefore O men of Athens, I say to you […] either acquit me or not; but whatever you do, know that I shall never alter my ways, not even if I have to die many times.” What greater adversity than death itself? But, if Socrates had not stood up for what he believed was moral, just, we may have been less wise today. You see, our intransigence in the face of adversity is what gives our beliefs and morals their purpose: their meaning. For what value has a painting if it is never to be seen, or a song if never to be heard? You here who have chosen to examine and educate yourselves, have chosen to face adversity. It is not an easy task to question your world, to learn, to discover your beliefs, but “even