Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Principia · 11-22-2002, 04:09 PM

<a href="http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/96687_design22.shtml" target="_blank">http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/96687_design22.shtml</a>

Quote:

But it's clear that the ID movement is quickly emerging as one of the more significant threats to U.S. science education, fueled by a sophisticated marketing campaign based on a three-pronged penetration of the scientific community, educators and the general public.
[...]
The ID argument that random mutations in nature and natural selection, for example, are too complex for scientific explanation is an interesting -- and for some, highly compelling -- philosophical or theological concept. Unfortunately, it's being put forth as a scientifically based alternative to the theory of biological evolution, and it isn't based on science. In sum, there's no data to back it up, and no way of scientifically testing the validity of the ideas proposed by ID advocates.

The quality of U.S. science education is at stake here. We live in an era when science and technology are central to every issue facing our society -- individual and national security, health care, economic prosperity, employment opportunities.

Children who lack an appropriate grounding in science and mathematics, and who can't discriminate what is and isn't evidence, are doomed to lag behind their well-educated counterparts. America's science classrooms are certainly no place to mix church and state.

Coragyps · 11-22-2002, 04:20 PM

AAAS's main journal, Science, isn't at all shy about raggin' on creationists and IDers in its news pages either. Of course, those parties appear to read Science only to quote-mine, and the general public reads it not at all, so it may be preaching to the choir.

Vorkosigan · 11-22-2002, 10:17 PM

No, I think it is useful. It gives us something to cite when we claim "but no serious scientist thinks ID is worth shit."

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11-22-2002, 04:20 PM	#2
Coragyps Veteran Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Snyder,Texas,USA Posts: 4,411	AAAS's main journal, Science, isn't at all shy about raggin' on creationists and IDers in its news pages either. Of course, those parties appear to read Science only to quote-mine, and the general public reads it not at all, so it may be preaching to the choir.

11-22-2002, 10:17 PM	#3
Vorkosigan Contributor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Barrayar Posts: 11,866	No, I think it is useful. It gives us something to cite when we claim "but no serious scientist thinks ID is worth shit."

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