Re: Stereotypes and reputations

Dr. Mahaffy was disappointed that some people jumped to conclusions about
Nancy Pearcey's writing based on his question about one historical aspect.
While I only recall one person's reaction that seemed unduly negative, I think
it might be instructive to think about why such negative reactions might be
expected.
 
I suggest that there is some history at work, in two respects:
 
1) Nancy Pearcey has at least once previously used dubious rhetoric to cast
aspersions on the theory of evolution. Recall a few years ago when some ID
people came to testify before Congress. Played up prominently in the press
was what Pearcey said at a press conference, where she quoted the chorus from a
then-popular song:
"You and me, baby, ain't nothing but mammals,
So let's do it like they do on the Discovery Channel."
Her clear implication was that a theory that said we were related to other
mammals (of course the theory does not say we are "nothing but" mammals, but
that is the sort of nuance the ID people seem to shirk) was responsible for
people behaving like animals in terms of sexual promiscuity. This is perhaps
the silliest statement I have ever heard from the ID movement (and probably
counterproductive when they were trying to promote their movement as being
about science). After that episode, I at least am probably predisposed to have a
low opinion of Ms. Pearcey's rhetoric.
 
2) Then there is the long history of Christians blaming the theory of
evolution for every evil under the sun, including many that predate Darwin. The
vast majority of arguments along these lines are vapid. So, on the occasion
that somebody might actually have a reasonable argument for a negative social
effect of the theory of evolution (not that such an effect has any bearing on
whether the theory is true, a consideration that seems to be often missed),
it will be hard to get a hearing. Of course this is based on a "stereotype"
of anti-evolutionists, but one with a lot of experience to back it up. It
might help if people who did have reasonable arguments along those lines
distanced themselves from the 99% that is bogus -- if Ms. Pearcey has done such
distancing in her book (which I have not read) then it would raise my opinion of
her.
 
Allan
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Dr. Allan H. Harvey, Boulder, Colorado | SteamDoc@aol.com
"Any opinions expressed here are mine, and should not be
attributed to my employer, my wife, or my cats"
Received on Thu Jul 28 22:12:30 2005