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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin USA
Posts: 1,234
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Survey of BioSciences department heads on “The scientific controversy�
Here
158 queries were sent to various Deans/Chairs etc. of bio related programs at the top American research universities, institutions with over $20 million in federal research money... (those universities that devoted less than 5% of their research budget to the life sciences were not included)
...asking this question:
Quote:
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Q: Regarding the issue of “Intelligent Design theory� vs. current biological consensus on the mechanisms of evolution - is there a difference of professional opinion within your department that you feel could be accurately described as a scientific controversy?
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Of the 73 responses (46.2% of those asked): - 71 (97.3%) No, there is no scientific controversy
- 1 (1.4%) No scientific controversy, but…
- 1 (1.4%) Yes, there is a scientific controversy
The lone “Yes� response came from an unidentified "theological medical university" (my personal bet is a certain Texas school).
The response from the single Dean classified as “No, but…�:
Quote:
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There is one faculty member in my college who publicly ascribes to Intelligent Design. No others have done so publicly, and most who have shared an opinion are opposed to ID as a scientific principle. The vast majority, then, do not see a scientific controversy, but there is a visible minority of (at least) one who does.
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Assorted comments from those responding “No�:
Quote:
Tom Blumenthal
The entire biological sciences field from biochemistry to ecology is predicated on the fact of evolution. In 100 years of intensive research no facts inconsistent with evolutionary theory have ever been found. On the contrary, as we have obtained more and more detailed information, especially at the molecular and genomic levels, both the fact that evolution has occurred, creating the species currently existing on earth (including man), and the various mechanisms by which this occurs have become more and more clear. The question is not whether evolution has occurred, but which mechanisms have been most important. There is no need to invoke the supernatural or any higher power to explain life on earth. There is no controversy whatsoever among the many thousands of scientists in the field about the fact of evolution.
Dan Bush
This question has been discussed several times amongst my faculty and I can respond definitively that 100% of the faculty in my department (26 persons) support the theory of evolution and not a single person considers ID a legitimate scientific concept. Thus, there is no professional controversy. The claim by ID proponents that there is growing support for ID by trained scientists is simply not supported by the data. The lack of data, by the way, is the fundamental problem with ID as a scientific concept.
Daniel Carson
If any aspect of the concept of evolution turns out to be incorrect, then this will only be determined by scientific investigation. ID is a fairly untestable and unscientific hypothesis, therefore, impossible to prove or disprove. In light of this consideration, if we start teaching ID, it is hard to imagine how this can be done in the context of science. In fairness, if ID is taught in any context, then we also should include teaching of other views on the matter. In this event, would we include the views of the Raelians? This gets absurd pretty quickly.
Vincent M. Cassone
There is no controversy. Evolution is fundamental to the understanding of Biology, and the several theories by which evolution can be explained comprise a dynamic, honest discussion of scientific thought. However, of all of these, no one seriously considers "intelligent design" as an honest alternative. I will go further. Proponents of intelligent design have displayed an inordinate level of intellectual dishonesty.
Stuart Dryer
The faculty in my department variously regard the ID crowd as insane, ignorant, dangerous, or the butt of jokes. Among our group, ID is considered a not-so-subtle cover for Christian fundamentalist creationism. There are ongoing controversies within the field of evolutionary biology, as in ALL intellectually vibrant scientific disciplines. However, there is no controversy among our faculty about the broad ideas of modern evolutionary biology; that evolution has occurred through processes of natural selection, isolation with genetic drift, and sexual selection. In life sciences, evolution has the same status as a "theory" as the idea that genetic information is encoded by nucleic acids, or that cells are bounded by membranes. That is to say, the evidence is so strong and comes from so many directions, that to deny these fundamental concepts is, in the Year of Our Lord 2006, to be delusional.
Larry Forney
So far as 'teaching' the so-called controversy, I think that it should be discussed, but as a social science, political science, or philosophical issue because it is a 'current event' in our society. However, it would not be appropriate to include this as part of a science curriculum simply because there is no science behind ID, it is only an untested hypothesis. [It is incumbent on the proponents of ID to change this situation.]
Robert H. Jones
No controversy in our biological sciences department of 40 faculty. All faculty accept that mutation occurs, and that populations have changes in gene frequencies over time, some leading to changes in form and function. Many faculty hold religious beliefs, but none of the faculty challenge the validity of evolution and the general time frame that evolution has taken place on Earth (i.e., over billions of years). "Intelligent design" is viewed as a religious and social discussion, not a matter of science.
Joseph F. Koonce
Most of the issues raised in “teaching the controversy� are actually misconceptions about evolutionary biology or misrepresentations of current understanding. There are many unsettled questions in evolutionary biology, but these are no more controversial than any other unsettled questions in science more generally. Intelligent Design Theory is not really an explanatory theory in any sense.
Rob McClung
No, there is no difference of professional opinion within my department that could be accurately described as a scientific controversy regarding the issue of "Intelligent Design theory" vs. current biological consensus on the mechanisms of evolution. Unanimously, evolution is accepted as a valid scientific discipline and intelligent design is not. No one feels that intelligent design can be considered "scientific" or should be taught in the science classroom.
Frank Messina
Scientific controversies, of which there are many, arise and are settled in the peer-reviewed scientific literature – on the basis of available evidence. There is no controversy within science itself arising from the idea of intelligent design. I am not aware of anyone giving credence to intelligent design (or conversely, casting doubt on evolution) in the department. If they had such evidence, I would urge them to publish it and instantly become rich and famous!
Elliot Meyerowitz
There is no sense in which "Intelligent Design" is science - as logic, it is an example of the argumentum ad ignorantiam, a material fallacy, and there is no associated experimental program or testable hypothesis. Thus, there could be no scientific controversy.
What surprises me is that there is so little concern among the religious about what poor theology it is - surely people with genuine faith wouldn't require a scientific proof of their beliefs, and wouldn't accept a proof based on what we do not know, as what we do not know is diminishing with time.
Earl D. Mitchell Jr.
The answer is “No� . There is no scientific controversy because there is no scientific relationship between “Intelligent design (Formerly Creation Science) and Evolution. They are neither compatible nor incompatible. Members of my department are quite knowledgeable on the use of the scientific method in science while they are equally knowledgeable and tolerant of different religious beliefs. All see ID as religion and it does not meet the criteria of science. It is viewed as unintelligent to discuss the two together. Since they are based on different methodologies that are not compatible by any intellectual measure. ID is religion and should be discussed in that vein. We (biochemists) see Evolution and the phylogenetic origin of living systems at the molecular level. It is very real and determined with scientific methodology. This has no bearing on the religious belief of many scientist on their spirituality and deep personal beliefs of a superior being. Then there are those who refuse to accept the phylogenetic evolutionary organization of species as a matter of challenges to their Faith.
W. Geoffrey Owen
The bottom line is that there is no controversy about Intelligent Design. Science is what it is. It has nothing to say about God or religion. It has nothing to say about Intelligent Design other than that it is an untestable concept and therefore is not science. The flip side of that coin is that Intelligent Design has nothing to say about scientific theories, Darwin's or anyone else's. Any "controversy" that might be invoked is an artificial one designed, in my view, to serve another purpose.
Thomas D. Pollard
Absolutely no controversy regarding the reality of evolution in biology or its basic mechanisms. Evolution of life on earth from a common ancestor is the best supported and most important general principle in biology.
A.P. Wheeler
I have not heard one faculty member in my department speak in favor of ID as a scientific alternative to classic mechanisms of evolution. In fact we have had a number of faculty who have written editorials and been interviewed on the subject and who have tried to explain the position of most biologists. Our department offers a course for non-majors entitled Evolution and Creationism and sponsors a Darwin Day. In these venues and in other seminars and discussions, we try to present both sides in a rationale way. But the message is always the same--ID is not a scientific approach to the origin of species.
R. Thomas Zoeller
I can state unequivocally that there is no controversy in my department among the faculty on the concept of "Intelligent Design" as a scientific hypothesis that could account for the biological world as we see it. At the end of the day, the theory of "Intelligent Design" is not a scientific theory. We all know that for a theory to be "scientific," it must be refutable. The theory of evolution is refutable. However, after all the work focused on evolution over the past 100+ years, no study has refuted this theory. In contrast, no experiment can be designed to test the hypothesis of "Intelligent Design" that could possible refute the hypothesis.
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02-25-2006, 01:55 PM
