Clutching a fresh cup of coffee in his hand and toting a dark book bag over his shoulder, a white-bearded elderly man ambles into a philosophy classroom.

Thinking the professor has finally arrived, students cease chatting and respectfully look toward the man as he passes by the podium, only to watch him settle into a regular desk.

During classroom introductions, the man speaks in a soft, gentle voice, telling other students he is there simply because he likes to study philosophy.

This scenario is a common experience for philosophy students who do not know Darwin Smith, a 73-year-old retired University professor who attends philosophy classes regularly.

Although he is not officially enrolled at the University, Smith has an extraordinary passion for knowledge that can be rare in today’s career-driven society.

“I think people used to value education as a means for improving one’s self,” Smith said. “Today, there’s a social pressure to get a degree, so we have a totally different concept. But if you look at Aristotle’s concepts of man, the purpose of life revolves around exercising one’s reason.”

Smith said his father, a high school science teacher, decided “Darwin” was an appropriate name since it was so uncommon.

Born in California, Smith earned an undergraduate degree at UCLA and a Ph.D in chemistry from the California Institute of Technology.

A career in teaching chemistry brought him to the University of Florida in 1960. Eight years later, he took a teaching job in Athens and has lived here ever since.

While teaching at the University, Smith raised three daughters with Jo Ann, his wife of more than 50 years.

“(Jo Ann) shares my interest in philosophy,” Smith said. “We were just discussing freedom and determinism last night. She also encourages my habit of attending classes.”

One of Smith’s daughters teaches political philosophy in Toronto and has published a book on Aristotle. Although his side interest in philosophy enhances discussions with his daughter, Smith said she is not the reason he sits in on classes.

“Philosophy has been a lifelong interest of mine,” Smith said. “I remember my father talking about the Greeks, Plato and Aristotle. I took one philosophy class in college, but didn’t have time for any more. When I lived in Florida, I attended a ‘great books’ discussion group.”

The memories of those experiences drove Smith to pursue philosophy after his retirement in 1999.

“I can remember when we read Descartes in college and how interested I was in the existence of God and the basis for knowledge,” he said. “The theory of knowledge interests me most because it combines my interest in science and knowledge, which is the fundamental basis for all life.”

Despite his strong scientific background and the atheistic presumptions often connected with the name “Darwin,” Smith describes himself as an Evangelical Christian.

“Faith is a framework in which I’ve made an image of God, who has given us a mind to comprehend things,” he said. “We should use (our minds) to make sense of it all. In Romans, Paul says ‘The heavens declare the glory of God’ and ‘Those who do not know God are without excuse,’ implying that God has made the world and has made us.”

During the past two years, Smith has attended such classes as Theory of Knowledge, Early Modern Philosophy, Ancient Philosophy and Existentialism. He even sat in on three English classes, where he has learned about Shakespeare, Tolkien and American Pragmatism.

“I’m impressed with the depth of thinking in students,” Smith said, regarding his experiences with philosophy students at the University.

Students who have attended classes with Smith tend to feel the same way about him.

“He adds a great mix of gravity and levity to the class all at once,” said David Smith, a junior from Lawrenceville. “I like his presence in the class; he brings a certain wisdom that old people have, like ‘Let’s not take ourselves too seriously here.’ “

Daniel Johnson, a junior from Cedar Falls, Iowa, agrees that Smith brings a wisdom that is valuable to the learning process.

“Younger philosophers sometimes try to revolutionize in two seconds what philosophers have been saying for hundreds of years,” he said. “Darwin brings things back to context of what the author is trying to say. He doesn’t rush to an answer, but makes pensive comments; he has more reverence for things that have lasted all these years.”

Teaching assistants and professors also admit that having Smith in the classroom has been a positive experience.

“He’s obviously a sharp guy and usually has something good to say,” said Dan Forbes, a teaching assistant in philosophy. “I find it interesting he likes Descartes — scientists usually pick on him.”

Raymond Woller, a philosophy professor, said Smith occasionally made interesting comments in one of his classes, but usually left most of the discussion to the other students.

“He never tried to take over, as is sometimes a problem with older students,” he said.

When he is not in class, Smith said he is either making repairs on his rental property or spending time with his grandchildren, who are “very intelligent,” he brags.

“We visit with them about once a week in Atlanta,” he said. “One of my grandsons really has an imagination; he is thinking about why things are the way they are. I could see him being interested in science or philosophy when he is older. Another (grandson) and I play chess with a lot.”

In the future, Smith hopes to keep learning and discussing philosophy until he feels qualified to write and publish an essay.

“I hope to publish some papers on the theory of knowledge once I figure out what I want to say,” he said. “Some of the philosophical dilemmas can be resolved by reworking the theory of knowledge.”

When asked what he would say to interest others in philosophy, Smith said interest really comes from the individual.

“Rather than trying to interest them in philosophy, I would engage them in conversation. Conversation would lead to philosophy,” he said. “When a person is curious about the world, truth and leading a good life, those kinds of conversations lead to philosophy.”