Creationism Vs Evolution: Why the Controversy?

Charles Goodnight University of Vermont

The intellectual Arguments in Favor of Evolution

I don’t need to give these to you, as they are the subject of this course!

These include:

•Changes within species•Similarities between species•Phylogenetics and Paleontology•Geology

The Controversy Has Little To Do With Biology

The questions that need to be answered if creationism is to betaught in public schools are:

1) Does teaching Creationism violate the “Establishment” clause

If it does than it is illegal to teach it in public schools

2) Is Creationism science?

If not then it should not be taught in science classes.

The Establishment ClauseThe first amendment to the constitution states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

The phrase in red is the establishment clause. This has been interpreted to mean that no government agency (including schools) can give any one religion a higher standing than other religions.

Is Intelligent Design an Aspect of a Particular Religion?

1. A religion deals with issues of ultimate concern; with what makes life worth living; with basic attitudes toward fundamental problems of human existence.

2. A religion presents a comprehensive set of ideas--usually as "truth," not just theory.

3. A religion generally has surface signs (such as clergy, observed holidays, and ritual) that can be analogized to well-recognized religions.

Is Intelligent Design an Aspect of a Particular Religion?

Creationism: the belief that a literal interpretation of one's preferred religious scripture is more in line with the empiricalobservations of science than the Darwinian paradigm

http://www.kheper.net/evolution/creationism.htm

Scientific creation is the theory which proceeds from the claim that it is possible to employ the results of natural science to demonstrate that the universe and all life was created in a mature and fully functioning form; that the concept of intelligent design can be validated by the results of scientific investigation.

http://www.creationfaq.net

Is Intelligent Design Science?Defining science is not straight forward.

Many agree that the Scientific Method is defining.That is, a discipline that uses the scientific method is a science, those that don’t use it are not.

The Scientific Method

1. Observation2. Generation of FALSIFIABLE hypotheses3. Testing of hypotheses

Is Intelligent Design Science?

Also central to the study of science is the idea that only “naturalistic” explanations are accepted.

A naturalistic explanation is an explanation that relies on forces and features in the physical world that are subject toobservation and test.

A supernatural explanation would be an explanation that relies on forces that reside outside of the natural physical world.

Is Intelligent Design Science?Presumably

1) Some creation “scientists” are careful observers

However:

2) The concept of an intelligent designer is NOT testable.(or at least testable hypotheses are not generated)

3) Experimental testing of the hypotheses are not performed

4) The “intelligent designer” is a supernatural explanation.

Is Evolution Science?

Darwin, and many evolutionary biologists were and are careful observers of nature

Darwin specifically identified those observations that would invalidate his theory. Modern evolution continues to be driven by the concept of generating and testing hypotheses

Evolutionary biology is an experimental science. Rigorous experimental testing of hypotheses is the tradition and the current norm.

1)

2)

3)

Conclusion

Evolutionary Biology is a science because it uses the scientific method. Evolution is a falsifiable hypothesis

Creation science is not science because falsifiable hypotheses are not tested. Intelligent design is NOT a falsifiable hypothesis

Evolution, but not creation should be taught in science courses.

Is Evolution a “Controversial” theory?

The theory of evolution was posited in 1859, and at the time defended with a huge amount of data.

In the nearly 150 years since the publication of “On the Origin of Species” this theory has been continuously tested. Virtually every experiment ever done by a biologist indirectly tests the theory of evolution. The theory has never failed a test.

In science, theories can only be disproved, never proved. Evolution is as close to proven as any theory in all of science.

Kitzmiller VS. The Dover Area School District

The Dover Pennsylvania School District mandated that intelligent design be taught along side evolution. Theyclaimed that:

•This would provide “balance”.•That Evolution was a controversial theory•That it was important to “teach the controversy”

(I am summarizing what I have read, they may not agree)

Kitzmiller VS. The Dover Area School District

The Pennsylvania Academic Standards require students to learn about Darwin's theory of evolution and eventually to take a standardized test of which evolution is a part.

Because Darwin's Theory is a theory, it is still being tested as new evidence is discovered. The Theory is not a fact. Gaps in the Theory exist for which there is no evidence. A theory is defined as a well-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of observations.

Intelligent design is an explanation of the origin of life that differs from Darwin's view. The reference book, Of Pandas and People is available for students to see if they would like to explore this view in an effort to gain an understanding of what intelligent design actually involves.

As is true with any theory, students are encouraged to keep an open mind. The school leaves the discussion of the origins of life to individual students and their families. As a standards-driven district, class instruction focuses upon preparing students to achieve proficiency on standards-based assessments.

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The Courts ruled that “Intelligent Design” was religion.

The big issue: intelligent design was ruled to be identical to creation science, which had been ruled religion.

Draft version of “Of Pandas and People”Creation is the theory that various forms of life began abruptly, with their distinctive features already intact: Fish with fins and scales, birds with feathers and wings, mammals with fur and mammary glands.

Published version of “Of Pandas and People”

Intelligent design means that various forms of life began abruptly through an intelligent agency, with their distinctive features already intact: Fish with fins and scales, birds with feathers, beaks and wings, et cetera.

The Court’s RulingJudge Jones (in a 139 page decision):

"For the reasons that follow, we conclude that the religious nature of ID [intelligent design] would be readily apparent to an objective observer, adult or child"

"ID’s backers have sought to avoid the scientific scrutiny which we have now determined that it cannot withstand by advocating that the controversy, but not ID itself, should be taught in science class. This tactic is at best disingenuous, and at worst a canard. The goal of the IDM is not to encourage critical thought, but to foment a revolution which would supplant evolutionary theory with ID."

“Teaching the Controversy”Origin of the phrase: Gerald Graff, Professor of English, as an admonition to not teach knowledge as a settled matter.

The “Discovery Institute” (The primary Intelligent Design backers) adopted this phrase for the study of Evolution, and characterized evolution as “a theory in crisis”

Dr. Graff meant teach current controversies, there is no justification for teaching discredited or non-scientific theories.

Wedge Document

The attack on evolution is a larger attack on scientific materialism, and modern society in general.

http://wiki.cotch.net/index.php/Wedge_document

The Wedge document was an internal document of the Discovery Institute that outlined their five and twenty year plans.

The “governing goals”:

To defeat scientific materialism and its destructive moral, cultural and political legacies.

To replace materialistic explanations with the theistic understanding that nature and huan beings are created by God