Re: [asa] What are the "strengths and weaknesses " of evolution?

Fascinating article. I've saved it to read at leisure.

Jenkin concludes by saying: "A plausible theory should not be accepted
while unproven; and if the arguments of this essay be admitted,
Darwin's theory of the origin of species is not only without
sufficient support from evidence, but is proved false by a cumulative
proof."

The article reminds me of Ken Miller's ONLY A THEORY, in which ID is
first assumed and then (possibly) falsified. I just read that last
month.

So, I assume that, as a teacher, I would use Jenkin's basic arguments
as evidences of evolutions "flaws?"

It does seem to me that, regardless of what the Texas gurus pass, I'd
be obligated to present these anyway.

On 2/4/09, Ted Davis <TDavis@messiah.edu> wrote:
>>>> "John Burgeson (ASA member)" <hossradbourne@gmail.com> 2/4/2009 10:03 AM
>>>> asks:
>
> What are the "strengths and weaknesses " of evolution? I'm not sure
> waht I, if I were a teacher, would do differently if the conservatives
> won here. Or how the textbooks would be changed.Why is this not a
> "tempest in a teapot?"
>
> Ted replies:
> Well, Burgy, obviously it depends on what one thinks of a type of reasoning
> that is essentially inductive, not deductive, and incapable of yielding
> absolute certainty. Furthermore, add the fact that we didn't witness the
> history of life on earth ourselves, and all sorts of questions are going to
> be raised: did this or that *actually* take place? how can we *know*? is
> natural selection really capable of doing all that is claimed?
>
> Let me suggest that, in order to see the kinds of objections that might be
> raised against Darwin's theory, it would be helpful to start by reading the
> lengthy but insightful review by the Scottish engineer Fleeming Jenkin
> (spelling is correct here on both parts of his name, which is often
> misspelled). Darwin felt the force of this particular review and made some
> changes to his theory b/c of it. Some of Jenkin's objections are still
> voiced today.
>
> http://www.victorianweb.org/science/science_texts/jenkins.html
>
> Happy reading.
>
> Ted
>

-- 
Burgy
www.burgy.50megs.com
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