Wendee - wendee@greendzn.com
Allan Harvey wrote:
>Here is a quick first draft (feedback and suggestions as to a possible path
>forward appreciated):
>
>
>This textbook teaches the theory of evolution, a theory which has caused some
>controversy (often needlessly).
>
>You should remember that science never "proves" anything with 100%
>mathematical certainty. Instead, scientists gather evidence, test
>hypotheses, and try to draw conclusions about what theories best describe the
>physical world. Like any other scientific result (including those that we
>take for granted such as the law of gravity or the existence of atoms),
>evolution cannot be said to be 100% "proven." However, the evidence in
>nature for most aspects of the theory of evolution is so strong that, while
>there are still some unanswered questions and areas where scientists
>disagree, the basic theory is almost universally accepted. Evolution is
>therefore an essential part of your education.
>
>You must also remember that, like all science, evolution is just a
>description of nature. It cannot give any answers to questions outside the
>realm of nature, such as questions of ultimate purpose and meaning. For
>example, it is wrong to draw any conclusions from evolution about possible
>supernatural involvement (or lack thereof) in the process, because the
>science of evolution can only talk about what is within nature. If your
>textbook or your teacher or your classmate tries to tell you that evolution
>proves that the development of life was "undirected" or "impersonal", they
>are improperly drawing philosophical conclusions from the science.
>
>Please learn the theory of evolution well -- it is sound science and it is
>one of the most important aspects of science today. But if people try to
>attach some philosophical meaning to evolution, be aware that they are going
>far beyond the areas that science can legitimately address.
>
>--------------------------------------------------------
>Dr. Allan H. Harvey, Boulder, Colorado
>SteamDoc@aol.com
>