Paleyontology and "normal" Kuhnian science

Steve Clark (ssclark@facstaff.wisc.edu)
Fri, 11 Aug 1995 16:35:43 -0500

David Tyler writes:
> My own view is that homologies are consistent with both
>common ancestry theories and explanations involving creative
>design. "Normal science", in a Kuhnian sense, can take place
>using such data within both paradigms.

I have some difficulty understanding how "normal science" would be done
within special creationist paradigms that focus on supernatural explanations
(e.g., young earth and progressive creation models). What, if any,
experimental questions can one ask within such a creationist framework, or
are naturalistic mechanisms, such as natural selection or punctuated
equilibrium, automatically excluded from consideration? If one can ask
naturalistic questions from a creationist paradigm how would they differ
from questions asked from a naturalistic paradigm?

Steve
____________________________________________________________________________
Steven S. Clark, Ph.D. Phone: (608) 263-9137
Associate Professor FAX: (608) 263-4226
Dept. of Human Oncology and email: ssclark@facstaff.wisc.edu
UW Comprehensive Cancer Ctr
University of Wisconsin "To disdain philosophy is really to
Madison, WI 53792 be a philosopher." Blaise Pascal
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