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Defending science education against intelligent design: a call to action
American Society for Clinical Investigation ^ | 01 May 2006 | Alan D. Attie, Elliot Sober, Ronald L. Numbers, etc.

Posted on 05/03/2006 8:23:06 AM PDT by PatrickHenry

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To: puroresu
B) a very mild request that alternatives to materialistic evolution be given a hearing in science class.

When you get something that stands up under scrutiny as science, it can go into science class.

321 posted on 05/03/2006 6:11:16 PM PDT by VadeRetro (Faster than a speeding building; able to leap tall bullets at a single bound!)
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To: trashcanbred
Well thanks for telling all of us that ID is religious based. Hope you do not mind if I use your post to point that out to others.

Holy SH!T, brilliant deduction. Who'd you think IDers were talking about when they said someone intelligent designed it, Al Gore?

322 posted on 05/03/2006 6:12:47 PM PDT by SwankyC (1st Bn 11th Marines Semper Fi)
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To: Impeach the Boy
>>Yes, I do see a frame of mind akin to book burning. There are scientist who do not hold to the blank check evolution THEORIES as unchallengeable fact. They do attempt to destroy those who vary from their narrow path.<<

Is somebody keeping you from post or writing about religious theories? I've never had difficulty having religious beliefs but moving in scientific circles.

Not to mention that no real scientist would claim that any scientific theory is unchallengeable - they would just need to see convincing evidence. And sure scientists like any other human can be close minded but the resistance here is to the insistence that things be taught in science class without scientific evidence - you are free to teach them elsewhere.

This is nothing like book burning.
323 posted on 05/03/2006 6:13:41 PM PDT by gondramB (He who angers you, in part, controls you. But he may not enjoy what the rest of you does about it.)
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To: LibertarianSchmoe

"All you have to do is get yourself some evidence and you'll have a chair at the big boys table."

It is this arrogance, as displayed in your response that is at the core of my point. IT IS THEORY....and those who express ANY reservation, even SCIENTIST who vary from the narrow lock step orthodoxy are attacked and branded as "unscientific", rubes, relgious zealots..etc

I do not hold to the view that ID should be taught in schools...I hold to the view that THEORY should be labeled as such and not presented as unquestionable fact.

Now, juding by the ever declining vote totals for LIBERTAINS, I would think, (thank Intelligent Design), that this little arrogant species will soon be extinct.


324 posted on 05/03/2006 6:15:54 PM PDT by Moby Grape
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To: Impeach the Boy
IT IS THEORY....and those who express ANY reservation, even SCIENTIST who vary from the narrow lock step orthodoxy are attacked and branded as "unscientific", rubes, relgious zealots..etc

Perhaps you should demonstrate that your claim is accurate before using it as a premise in an argument.
325 posted on 05/03/2006 6:17:21 PM PDT by Dimensio (http://angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif <-- required reading before you use your next apostrophe!)
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To: freedumb2003

Gravity can be proven...


326 posted on 05/03/2006 6:18:41 PM PDT by Moby Grape
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To: Impeach the Boy
Thank you for you kind response.

A couple points:

They label, without any qualifications, as FACT all facets of evolotion theory, defending it as SCIENCE, and suggesting that ANYTHING (not just ID) that does not rubber stamp their views is NOT science....

I don't know of any scientist that has labeled as fact every facet of evolutionary theory. Specific points that are more controversial are modified as new data is gathered. ID has not met even a tiny fraction of the burden of predictive evidence that evolutionary theory has.

However, evolution is NOT a fully proven theory...compelling yes, but not 100% established...

No theory in science (outside of pure mathematics) is ever 100%, fully proven; not gravitational theory, not the chemical theory of periodicity; all you can say about any well-established theory, including these or evolution, is that enough evidence has been gathered to give us extreme confidence in the general form of the existing models.

Yet, the education establishment does not treat the subject as theory, but as fact, and they atack ANY descent...even from evolution scientist....

I assume you meant dissent - descent would help evolution, right?! (Kidding around - I'm sure I've made a few spelling errors today myself)

Look, I'd welcome any dissent, if it could actually make it through the same channels and burdens that any other supposed breakthrough in science has to undergo - so far there's just no demonstrated need for a paradigm shift in this area of science; at least not one that's scientifically motivated.

327 posted on 05/03/2006 6:20:23 PM PDT by Quark2005 (Confidence follows from consilience.)
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To: Impeach the Boy
"My point is to the fact that the Evolution Club lay claim to "proven" science and froth at the mouth at even the suggestion that they could, on some or many points, be wrong."

And your *point* is wonderfully wrong.

"There are scientist who do not hold to the full blank check evolution THEORIES."

And they are few and far between.

"The evolution theories have EVOLVED into fact, in their lock step ortohdoxy thinking of the education establishment, and they arrogantly attack as fools, rubes and religious extremist, those who even have a slight doubt showing on their HUMAN face."

You're not in creative writing class. Just thought you should know that. :)

"They label, without any qualifications, as FACT all facets of evolotion theory,"

No, they really don't.

"As for religion in the classroom, most of the Founding Fathers wanted it there..."

Except for the ones that wrote the 1st amendment.

"Einstien, must have been an ID type guy, since he once said that God does not play dice with the universe."

He was talking about the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, which he later grudgingly accepted. He would have found ID to be the crap science and crap theology it is.

"So, if they want ONLY science to be taught, will they not include what Einstein believed?..."

Sure they will, because his idea of God was the laws of nature. He never included God or the supernatural into his theories.

"They will shout down ANY desent from bowing down to their HOLY THEORY....afterall, THEORY is now SCIENCE."

Of course theory is science; it's the highest level a claim can become in science. There is no higher level in science. Boy, are you confused. :)

"My guitar did not evolve from a tree...."

Good to know.

"Intelligent design created it (except for a slight buzzing at the 13th fret)."

Make sure you store it at room temp and don't keep it at an angle for too long, it will warp.
328 posted on 05/03/2006 6:22:39 PM PDT by CarolinaGuitarman ("There is grandeur in this view of life....")
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To: Impeach the Boy
Gravity can be proven...

Please provide the proof of gravity.
329 posted on 05/03/2006 6:22:59 PM PDT by Dimensio (http://angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif <-- required reading before you use your next apostrophe!)
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To: Right Wing Professor
Some historical perspective here. ...

<thunderous appause!>

330 posted on 05/03/2006 6:23:29 PM PDT by jennyp (WHAT I'M READING NOW: "The Great Influenza" by Barry)
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Drunken Creo Post Placemarker
331 posted on 05/03/2006 6:26:12 PM PDT by CarolinaGuitarman ("There is grandeur in this view of life....")
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To: Impeach the Boy
Gravity can be proven...

No it can't. Not per se, else Einstein would have big BIG trouble. It has been revised many times. Observing something falling down is just an observation. Why it falls down continues ot be a theory.

Before you go further on this line, read: this

Once you understand what a theory (and isn't) is we will have the basis for discussion.

332 posted on 05/03/2006 6:34:49 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (Don't call them "undocumented workers." Use the correct term: CRIMINAL INVADERS!)
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To: stands2reason
Why can't we just say God created it all and he chose how he wanted to do it. As a Catholic, we leave that to the men of science.

I can still recall Father Conagher pounding his fist and saying everything can't be exactly literal in the Good Book. Then he'd read very rapidly in Latin as we tried to stay awake. Then he'd pound his fist again and wake us all up.

333 posted on 05/03/2006 6:36:01 PM PDT by gunsofaugust
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To: CarolinaGuitarman

Just come off of reading DUmmie FUnnies? p-j would be proud! ;)


334 posted on 05/03/2006 6:37:24 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (Don't call them "undocumented workers." Use the correct term: CRIMINAL INVADERS!)
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To: Quark2005
Look, I'd welcome any dissent, if it could actually make it through the same channels and burdens that any other supposed breakthrough in science has to undergo - so far there's just no demonstrated need for a paradigm shift in this area of science; at least not one that's scientifically motivated.

ID had its chance. They had a six-week trial, and every opportunity to put their best foot forward. This is the result:

[After a page of references to expert testimony] It is therefore readily apparent to the Court that ID fails to meet the essential ground rules that limit science to testable, natural explanations. (3:101-03 (Miller); 14:62 (Alters)). Science cannot be defined differently for Dover students than it is defined in the scientific community as an affirmative action program, as advocated by Professor Fuller, for a view that has been unable to gain a foothold within the scientific establishment. Although ID's fa ilure to meet the ground rules of science is sufficient for the Court to conclude that it is not science, out of an abundance of caution and in the exercise of completeness, we will analyze additional arguments advanced regarding the concepts of ID and science.

[snip]

The evidence presented in this case demonstrates that ID is not supported by any peer-reviewed research, data or publications. Both Drs. Padian and Forrest testified that recent literature reviews of scientific and medical-electronic databases disclosed no studies supporting a biological concept of ID. (17:42-43 (Padian); 11:32-33 (Forrest)). On cross-examination, Professor Behe admitted that: "There are no peer reviewed articles by anyone advocating for intelligent design supported by pertinent experiments or calculations which provide detailed rigorous accounts of how intelligent design of any biological system occurred." (22:22-23 (Behe)). Additionally, Professor Behe conceded that there are no peer-reviewed papers supporting his claims that complex molecular systems, like the bacterial flagellum, the blood-clotting cascade, and the immune system, were intelligently designed. (21:61-62 (complex molecular systems), 23:4-5 (immune system), and 22:124-25 (blood-clotting cascade) (Behe)). In that regard, there are no peer-reviewed articles supporting Professor Behe's argument that certain complex molecular structures are "irreducibly complex."17 (21:62, 22:124-25 (Behe)). In addition to failing to produce papers in peer-reviewed journals, ID also features no scientific research or testing. (28:114-15 (Fuller); 18:22-23, 105-06 (Behe)).

After this searching and careful review of ID as espoused by its proponents, as elaborated upon in submissions to the Court, and as scrutinized over a six week trial, we find that ID is not science and cannot be adjudged a valid, accepted scientific theory as it has failed to publish in peer-reviewed journals, engage in research and testing, and gain acceptance in the scientific community. ID, as noted, is grounded in theology, not science. Accepting for the sake of argument its proponents', as well as Defendants' argument that to introduce ID to students will encourage critical thinking, it still has utterly no place in a science curriculum. Moreover, ID's backers have sought to a void 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. To conclude and reiterate, we express no opinion on the ultimate veracity of ID as a supernatural explanation. However, we commend to the attention of those who are inclined to superficially consider ID to be a true "scientific" alternative to evolution without a true understanding of the concept the foregoing detailed analysis. It is our view that a reasonable, objective observer would, after reviewing both the voluminous record in this case, and our narrative, reach the inescapable conclusion that ID is an interesting theological argument, but that it is not science.

Source: Kitzmiller et al. v Dover Area School District et al.
335 posted on 05/03/2006 6:38:24 PM PDT by PatrickHenry (Unresponsive to trolls, lunatics, fanatics, retards, scolds, & incurable ignoramuses.)
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To: freedumb2003
"Just come off of reading DUmmie FUnnies? p-j would be proud! ;)"

Not so sure about that, but thanks. :)
336 posted on 05/03/2006 6:45:20 PM PDT by CarolinaGuitarman ("There is grandeur in this view of life....")
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To: PatrickHenry
Oh; you horrible man!

< /Luddite Mode>

337 posted on 05/03/2006 6:47:21 PM PDT by longshadow (FReeper #405, entering his ninth year of ignoring nitwits, nutcases, and recycled newbies)
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To: longshadow

Opinions vary. But not by much.


338 posted on 05/03/2006 6:55:43 PM PDT by PatrickHenry (Unresponsive to trolls, lunatics, fanatics, retards, scolds, & incurable ignoramuses.)
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To: apackof2
Gen.2: 7 ...the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Stating that He formed man from the dust of the ground precludes the idea that God formed man from an animal by mutation. There would be no reason to breathe the breath of life into man if man came from an already living creature.

339 posted on 05/03/2006 6:59:14 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: DaveLoneRanger

Thanks for the ping; and I agree. This kind of article is good news due to the associated implications.


340 posted on 05/03/2006 7:04:19 PM PDT by gobucks (Blissful Marriage: A result of a worldly husband's transformation into the Word's wife.)
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