Guest Eugenie Scott, NCSE executive director, discusses the ID and creationist wars in science education. She highlights legal battles, challenges in academic freedom acts, and the intersection of science and religion. The chapter explores creation science vs. intelligent design movements and the controversy surrounding evolution education.
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Creationists and IDers use 'evidence against evolution' strategy, promoting academic freedom acts to critique evolution subtly in schools.
Legal challenges face obstacles due to critical thinking language, requiring specific cases for applied legal action against teaching creationism.
Deep dives
Evolution versus Intelligent Design Movement Post Kitzmiller v. Dover Trial
Following the Kitzmiller v. Dover trial, proponents of intelligent design have shifted focus to promoting the concept that evolution is flawed science, termed as the 'evidence against evolution' strategy. Despite the legal setbacks at Kitzmiller, the Discovery Institute continues by pushing academic freedom acts aimed at critiquing evolution subtly in schools without overtly religious language. Louisiana has passed such a law, cleverly disguised in terms of critical thinking and academic freedom, making legal challenges complex.
Challenging Academic Freedom Acts for Teaching Evolution
Legal challenges against academic freedom acts face obstacles due to subtle language focused on critical thinking rather than direct mention of teaching creationism. Challenging these acts hinges on finding teachers implementing them to question evolutionary theory in classrooms, requiring specific cases for applied legal challenges. The National Center for Science Education (NCSE) is cautious about legal action, preferring proactive problem-solving to prevent contentious lawsuits like in the Kitzmiller case.
Philosophical Discrepancies Between Science and Religion
Science grapples with empirical explanations within the natural world, excluding supernatural forces due to inability to test and constrain their influence adequately. The Institute for Creation Research (ICR) exemplifies the creation science movement's Christian-centric views, openly critiquing evolution. The distinction between testing natural and supernatural claims highlights the inherent limitations of science in validating religious beliefs or disproving their existence.
Combatting Pseudoscience and Encouraging Critical Thinking
Efforts against pseudoscience aim to promote critical thinking to challenge supernatural claims effectively. While progress is noted in skepticism towards pseudoscience like astrology, concerted efforts to foster analytical thinking and scrutinize claims are essential. Encouraging critical evaluation of unfounded assertions, whether supernatural or materialistic, remains a key focus in combatting pseudoscience and fostering scientific literacy.
Our special guest this episode is Eugenie Scott, executive director of the National Center for Science Education, the premiere organization fighting for sound scientific educational standards in this country, and a permanent thorn in the ass of creationists and IDers nationwide.
Genie updates us on the status of the ID and creationist wars, as well as other issues related to the intrusion of religion in science education. We also recount how, in what may be a very rare event, Genie made Massimo change his mind about something!
Genie is a physical anthropologist by training, and enjoyed an academic career at the University of Kentucky, University of Colorado and California State, before devoting her efforts full time to a constant front-line fight against irrationalism. For this she has been rewarded not just with six honorary degrees (at last count), but also with the first Stephen Jay Gould prize from the Society for the Study of Evolution, and most recently with the prestigious National Academy of Science Public Welfare Medal. She has also authored the excellent Evolution vs Creationism and co-edited (with Glenn Branch) Not in Our Classrooms: Why Intelligent Design Is Wrong for Our Schools.
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