Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Valentine Pontifex · 02-10-2003, 07:11 PM

Kansas has a new anti-evolution bill though it appears that is unlikely to suceed. Still those in Kansas should express your displeasure.

Bill could allow teaching of creationism

Doubting Didymus · 02-10-2003, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Though the bill doesn't explicitly mention evolution or creation science, it does require schools to "encourage the presentation of scientific evidence supporting the origins of life and its diversity, objectively and without religious, naturalistic or philosophic bias or assumption." The bill also would prohibit schools from punishing teachers who deviated from curriculum requirements.

That is so tricksy. These things just keep getting subtler and subtler. If you didn't know what to look for this might seem like a mighty good idea, until you realise what it actually means.

Funnily enough, unlike other bills that specify something like intelligent desighn, this one seeks only to remove the safeguards that stop teachers from teaching all kinds of wacky stuff. This would allow the teaching of raelianism as much as it woud creationism.

RufusAtticus · 02-10-2003, 08:06 PM

How the hell can you teach science without a "naturalistic" bias? That's like teaching trig without a "mathematical" bias.

Doubting Didymus · 02-10-2003, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RufusAtticus
How the hell can you teach science without a "naturalistic" bias?

Wouldn't teaching with an emphasis on empirical observation and parsimony produce the exact same results, even without assuming naturalism? Or are empiricism and parsimony considered naturalistic assumtions themselves?

RufusAtticus · 02-10-2003, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Doubting Didymus
Or are empiricism and parsimony considered naturalistic assumtions themselves?

Yes.

Doubting Didymus · 02-10-2003, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RufusAtticus
Yes.

Really? Okay, screw that.

02-10-2003, 07:11 PM	#1
Valentine Pontifex Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Orion Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy Posts: 3,092	Kansas has an Anti-evolution bill Kansas has a new anti-evolution bill though it appears that is unlikely to suceed. Still those in Kansas should express your displeasure. Bill could allow teaching of creationism

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02-10-2003, 08:06 PM	#3
RufusAtticus Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NCSU Posts: 5,853	How the hell can you teach science without a "naturalistic" bias? That's like teaching trig without a "mathematical" bias.

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