Denyse O'Leary wrote:
>
> If Darwin's theory cannot be questioned, it is
> not science.
Have you looked at the proposed lesson plan?
Nobody is suggesting that "Darwin's theory" cannot be questioned. In the 1st
place, even the basic definition of an element of that theory, natural selection, is
flawed in that plan. More importantly, it isn't really a critical analysis of areas in
which evolutionary theory might be said to have some weaknesses, but is simply a rehash
of ad hoc creationist or ID ways of accounting for the same things that evolution
accounts for naturally. E.g., in response to arguments that homology suggests common
descent, the counter argument is that similar structures fulfill similar functions -
which, when pursued, means just "God made them that way." This is not a scientific
argument at all.
> If the supporters of Darwinism think the theory
> is viable, they should welcome critical inquiry
> instead of opposing it.
Critical inquiry is welcome. This lesson plan isn't critical inquiry. Again,
have you read it?
> The fact that supporters may well launch
> lawsuits to prevent critical thinking tells me
> that the theory is in deep trouble.
The only things that will show that the theory is deep trouble are observational
evidence &/or coherent scientific theory, neither of which has done so. The matter has
already been in the legal domain because it's been a political entity that has voted for
the lesson plan. All that is going to be done now to to continue to work in that area -
one chosen by people who can't get their ideas accepted by the scientific community so
are trying to get them approved by political entities.
Shalom,
George
George L. Murphy
gmurphy@raex.com
http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
Received on Wed Mar 10 08:37:12 2004
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.8 : Wed Mar 10 2004 - 08:37:12 EST