Ken Miller a Lecture Guide to the Anti-Intelligent Design Claims by Dr
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Understanding the Intelligent Design Creationist Movement: Its True Nature and Goals
UNDERSTANDING THE INTELLIGENT DESIGN CREATIONIST MOVEMENT: ITS TRUE NATURE AND GOALS A POSITION PAPER FROM THE CENTER FOR INQUIRY OFFICE OF PUBLIC POLICY AUTHOR: BARBARA FORREST, Ph.D. Reviewing Committee: Paul Kurtz, Ph.D.; Austin Dacey, Ph.D.; Stuart D. Jordan, Ph.D.; Ronald A. Lindsay, J. D., Ph.D.; John Shook, Ph.D.; Toni Van Pelt DATED: MAY 2007 ( AMENDED JULY 2007) Copyright © 2007 Center for Inquiry, Inc. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for noncommercial, educational purposes, provided that this notice appears on the reproduced materials, the full authoritative version is retained, and copies are not altered. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the Center for Inquiry, Inc. Table of Contents Section I. Introduction: What is at stake in the dispute over intelligent design?.................. 1 Section II. What is the intelligent design creationist movement? ........................................ 2 Section III. The historical and legal background of intelligent design creationism ................ 6 Epperson v. Arkansas (1968) ............................................................................ 6 McLean v. Arkansas (1982) .............................................................................. 6 Edwards v. Aguillard (1987) ............................................................................. 7 Section IV. The ID movement’s aims and strategy .............................................................. 9 The “Wedge Strategy” ..................................................................................... -
Argumentation and Fallacies in Creationist Writings Against Evolutionary Theory Petteri Nieminen1,2* and Anne-Mari Mustonen1
Nieminen and Mustonen Evolution: Education and Outreach 2014, 7:11 http://www.evolution-outreach.com/content/7/1/11 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Argumentation and fallacies in creationist writings against evolutionary theory Petteri Nieminen1,2* and Anne-Mari Mustonen1 Abstract Background: The creationist–evolutionist conflict is perhaps the most significant example of a debate about a well-supported scientific theory not readily accepted by the public. Methods: We analyzed creationist texts according to type (young earth creationism, old earth creationism or intelligent design) and context (with or without discussion of “scientific” data). Results: The analysis revealed numerous fallacies including the direct ad hominem—portraying evolutionists as racists, unreliable or gullible—and the indirect ad hominem, where evolutionists are accused of breaking the rules of debate that they themselves have dictated. Poisoning the well fallacy stated that evolutionists would not consider supernatural explanations in any situation due to their pre-existing refusal of theism. Appeals to consequences and guilt by association linked evolutionary theory to atrocities, and slippery slopes to abortion, euthanasia and genocide. False dilemmas, hasty generalizations and straw man fallacies were also common. The prevalence of these fallacies was equal in young earth creationism and intelligent design/old earth creationism. The direct and indirect ad hominem were also prevalent in pro-evolutionary texts. Conclusions: While the fallacious arguments are irrelevant when discussing evolutionary theory from the scientific point of view, they can be effective for the reception of creationist claims, especially if the audience has biases. Thus, the recognition of these fallacies and their dismissal as irrelevant should be accompanied by attempts to avoid counter-fallacies and by the recognition of the context, in which the fallacies are presented. -
Answers to Practice Quiz #2
Philosophy 1104: Critical Thinking Answers to Practice Quiz #2 [Total: 50 marks] 1. In which of the following pairs of propositions does A provide conclusive evidence for B? Also say whether or not A provides at least some evidence, no matter how weak (i.e. say whether A is positively relevant to B). Write just „Yes‟ or „No‟ in each column provided. A B Conclusive Some evidence? evidence? (i) Fred just hit a hole-in-one Fred is a very good golfer No Yes (ii) I have between 4 and 6 eggs I have at least 3 eggs Yes (iii) I have at least 4 eggs I have 5 or more eggs No Yes (iv) It‟s not the case that every Every politician is honest No Yes politician is corrupt. (v) Janet likes listening to Jazz Vancouver is west of Calgary No No (vi) Simpson is a world-class skier Simpson is a non-smoker No Yes (vii) We‟re having fish for supper We‟re having trout for supper No Yes (viii) Qin‟s theory is rejected by all Qin‟s theory is false No Yes relevant scientific authorities (ix) Sally is a Catholic Sally has eight children No Yes (x) Ali stabbed a man in Vernon, Ali first entered Canada in No No B.C. in 1998. 2002. [1 mark each] In rows where you say ‘yes’ in the first column, you should of course say ‘yes’ in the second as well! Or just leave the second column blank, if you prefer. 2. Each of the following definitions is flawed in some way (each in just one way, I think, or at least one main one). -
1 Seeing and Believing the Never-Ending Attempt to Reconcile
1 Seeing and Believing The never-ending attempt to reconcile science and religion, and why it is doomed to fail. Jerry A. Coyne, The New Republic Published: Wednesday, February 04, 2009 Saving Darwin: How to be a Christian and Believe in Evolution By Karl W. Giberson (HarperOne, 248 pp., $24.95) Only A Theory: Evolution and the Battle for America's Soul By Kenneth R. Miller (Viking, 244 pp., $25.95) I. Charles Darwin was born on February 12, 1809--the same day as Abraham Lincoln--and published his magnum opus, On the Origin of Species, fifty years later. Every half century, then, a Darwin Year comes around: an occasion to honor his theory of evolution by natural selection, which is surely the most important concept in biology, and perhaps the most revolutionary scientific idea in history. 2009 is such a year, and we biologists are preparing to fan out across the land, giving talks and attending a multitude of DarwinFests. The melancholy part is that we will be speaking more to other scientists than to the American public. For in this country, Darwin is a man of low repute. The ideas that made Darwin's theory so revolutionary are precisely the ones that repel much of religious America, for they imply that, far from having a divinely scripted role in the drama of life, our species is the accidental and contingent result of a purely natural process. And so the culture wars continue between science and religion. On one side we have a scientific establishment and a court system determined to let children learn evolution rather than religious mythology, and on the other side the many Americans who passionately resist those efforts. -
Michael Behe and the “Limits” of Evolution (Bacterial Edition). James Downard - 18 July 2014
Michael Behe and the “Limits” of Evolution (bacterial edition). James Downard - 18 July 2014 During the Kitzmiller v. Dover Intelligent Design trial in 2005, the Expert Testimony of Michael Behe (2005a) came under fire. One of the lynchpin figures in the design movement, famed for Darwin’s Black Box, his crash-and-burn performance has been amply covered in many venues, including popular coverage by Matthew Chapman (2007) and Laurie Lebo (2008). Overlooked in the heat over irreducibly complex bacterial flagella mousetraps (and whether Behe and Ken Miller would duel with lab beakers at dawn) was a minor technical issue tossed off in Behe’s deposition and afterward, which warrants examination for the insights it gives to Behe’s use of technical citation and the degree to which he investigates the strength of the ammunition he slips into his ID shotgun. Venturing into the finer points of bacterial antibiotic resistance, Behe was bowled over by the import of Barry Hall (2004a): “In Vitro Evolution Predicts that the IMP-1 Metallo-β-Lactamase Does Not Have the Potential To Evolve Increased Activity against Imipenem.” To emphasize this “limit of Darwinian evolution” Behe included a full reprint of it for the Dover court, where one could see that he had drawn a big circle around the “Not” in the title. Arbitrarily deck-stacking his point further by asserting that evolutionists think “Darwinian processes can do everything,” Behe (2005a) summarized Hall’s findings thus: This is exemplified in some recent papers from the laboratory of Professor Barry G. Hall at the University of Rochester. -
Probability, Statistics, Evolution, and Intelligent Design
Probability, Statistics, Evolution, and Intelligent Design Peter Olofsson n the last decades, arguments against Darwinian evolution An ID Hypothesis Testing Challenge to Evolution have become increasingly sophisticated, replacing Cre- In his book The Design Inference, William Dembski introduces ationism by Intelligent Design (ID) and the book of Genesis I the “explanatory filter” as a device to rule out chance expla- by biochemistry and mathematics. As arguments claiming to nations and infer design of observed phenomena. The filter be based in probability and statistics are being used to justify also appears in his book No Free Lunch, where the description the anti-evolution stance, it may be of interest to readers of differs slightly. In essence, the filter is a variation on statistical CHANCE to investigate methods and claims of ID theorists. hypothesis testing with the main difference being that it aims at ruling out chance altogether, rather than just a specified Probability, Statistics, and Evolution null hypothesis. Once all chance explanations have been ruled The theory of evolution states in part that traits of organisms out, ‘design’ is inferred. Thus, in this context, design is merely are passed on to successive generations through genetic mate- viewed as the complement of chance. rial and that modifications in genetic material cause changes To illustrate the filter, Dembski uses the example of in appearance, ability, function, and survival of organisms. Nicholas Caputo, a New Jersey Democrat who was in charge Genetic changes that are advantageous to successful repro- of putting together the ballots in his county. Names were to be duction over time dominate and new species evolve. -
Darwins-Corrosive-Idea.Pdf
This report was prepared and published by Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture, a non-profit, non-partisan educational and research organization. The Center’s mission is to advance the understanding that human beings and nature are the result of intelligent design rather than a blind and undirected process. We seek long-term scientific and cultural change through cutting-edge scientific research and scholarship; education and training of young leaders; communication to the general public; and advocacy of academic freedom and free speech for scientists, teachers, and students. For more information about the Center, visit www.discovery.org/id. FOR FREE RESOURCES ABOUT SCIENCE AND FAITH, VISIT WWW.SCIENCEANDGOD.ORG/RESOURCES. PUBLISHED NOVEMBER, 2016. © 2016 BY DISCOVERY INSTITUTE. DARWIN’S CORROSIVE IDEA The Impact of Evolution on Attitudes about Faith, Ethics, and Human Uniqueness John G. West, PhD* EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In his influential book Darwin’s Dangerous Idea, have asked about the impact of science on a person’s philosopher Daniel Dennett praised Darwinian religious faith typically have not explored the evolution for being a “universal acid” that dissolves impact of specific scientific ideas such as Darwinian traditional religious and moral beliefs.1 Evolution- evolution.5 ary biologist Richard Dawkins has similarly praised In order to gain insights into the impact of Darwin for making “it possible to be an intellect- specific scientific ideas on popular beliefs about ually fulfilled atheist.”2 Although numerous studies God and ethics, Discovery Institute conducted a have documented the influence of Darwinian nationwide survey of a representative sample of theory and other scientific ideas on the views of 3,664 American adults. -
1. Name: Kenneth R
1. Name: Kenneth R. Miller Professor of Biology Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, & Biochemistry 2. Home address: 142 Martin Street Rehoboth, MA 02769 3. Education: Brown University Sc. B. Biology 1970 University of Colorado Ph. D. Biology 1974 Dissertation topic: Structure of the Photosynthetic Membrane 4. Professional Appointments: Lecturer Harvard Univ. 1974-1976 Assistant Professor Harvard Univ. 1976-1980 Assistant Professor Brown Univ. 1980-1982 Associate Professor Brown Univ. 1982-1986 Professor Brown Univ. 1986- 5. Completed Publications a. Books & Monographs Miller, K. R. (editor) Advances in Cell Biology, Volume I. JAI Press, Greenwich, Conn., London, England. 1987. pp. 1-190.g Miller, K. R. (editor) Advances in Cell Biology, Volume II. JAI Press, Greenwich, Conn., London, England. 1988. pp. 1-312. Miller, K. R. (1988) Energy and The Cell. (A Carolina Biology Reader, J. J. Head, editor) Carolina Biological, Burlington, North Carolina. 16 pp. Miller, K. R. (editor) Advances in Cell Biology, Volume III. JAI Press, Greenwich, Conn., London, England. 1989. pp. 1-273. Miller, K. R., & J. S. Levine (1990) Biology. (A high school biology text, generally known as the “Elephant” book). 1st Edition. Prentice Hall Co. 1077 p. (© 1991). CV: Kenneth R. Miller (Updated through 2016) Page 1 Levine, J. S., & K. R. Miller (1990) Biology: Discovering Life (A college biology text) 1st Edition. D. C. Heath & Co. 839 pp. (© 1991). Miller, K. R., & J. S. Levine (1992) Biology. (revision of the “Elephant” book). 2nd Edition. Prentice Hall Co. 1077 p. (© 1993). Levine, J. S., & K. R. Miller (1993) Biology: Discovering Life (A college biology text) 2nd Edition. -
CARL ZIMMER Author & Journalist
CARL ZIMMER Author & journalist carlzimmer.com @carlzimmer BIOGRAPHY The New York Times Book Review calls Carl Zimmer "as fine a science essayist as we have." He is the author of thirteen acclaimed books and a columnist for the New York Times. Zimmer first be- gan writing about science at Discover, where he served for five years as a senior editor, and has gone on to write hundreds of features for magazines including The Atlantic, The New York Times Magazine, Time, National Geographic, and Scientific American. He has also served as a scientific editor for television documentaries, consulted on museum exhibits, and contributed his writing to major science web sites. Zimmer has earned numerous honors for his work. In 2007 he won the National Academies Communication Award, and he has won the American Association for the Advancement of Sci- ences Science Journalism Award three times. In 2015, Zimmer won the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Biology Teachers, and in 2016, he won the Stephen Jay Gould Prize, awarded by the Society for the Study of Evolution. In 2018, Zimmer’s book She Has Her Mother’s Laugh was named by Publisher’s Weekly one of the ten best books of the year. The Guardian named it the best science book of 2018 and The New York Times Book Review chose it as a Notable Book of the Year. It was short-listed for the Baillie-Gifford Prize for Nonfiction and a fi- nalist for the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Prize. His articles have been antholo- gized in both The Best American Science and Nature Writing series and The Best American Science Writing series. -
Discovering ID.Indd
DISCOVERING INTELLIGENT DESIGN A JOURNEY INTO THE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE Gary Kemper Hallie Kemper Casey Luskin DISCOVERY INSTITUTE PRESS, SEATTLE, WA Description The Discovering Intelligent Design textbook is part of a comprehensive curriculum that presents both the biological and cosmological evidence in support of the scientific theory of intelligent design. Developed for middle-school-age students to adults, the curriculum also includes a workbook with learning activities and a DVD with video clips keyed to the content of the textbook. Produced by Discovery Institute in conjunction with Illustra Media, the curriculum is intended for use by homeschools and private schools. The curriculum is divided into six modules that explore topics such as the origin and development of the universe, the origin of biological complexity, the fossil record’s evidence (or lack thereof) for universal common descent, and the broader cultural debate over intelligent design. More information can be obtained by visiting the curriculum’s website, http://discoveringid.org. Copyright Notice Copyright © 2013 by Gary Kemper, Hallie Kemper, and Casey Luskin. All Rights Reserved. Library Cataloging Data Discovering Intelligent Design: A Journey into the Scientific Evidence by Gary Kemper, Hallie Kemper, and Casey Luskin 286 pages, 8.5 x 11x 0.6 inches or 280 x 216 x 15 mm, 1.5 lbs or 680 g. Library of Congress Control Number: 2013934288 BISAC: SCI015000 SCIENCE/Cosmology BISAC: SCI027000 SCIENCE/Life Sciences/Evolution BISAC: SCI034000 SCIENCE/History BISAC: SCI075000 SCIENCE/Philosophy & Social Aspects ISBN-13: 978-1-936599-08-0 ISBN-10: 1936599082 Publisher Information Discovery Institute Press, 208 Columbia Street, Seattle, WA 98104 http://www.discoveryinstitutepress.com Published in the United States of America on acid-free paper. -
2021 Nslivenorth Media Pack Update
Manchester Central 5 – 7 February 2021 Media Pack New Scientist Live North Adrian Newton Events Director ❝ February 2021 will see New Scientist Live take its multi-award-winning science festival to the north of England for the first time. New Scientist Live North will feature the same mix of thought- provoking talks, interactive exhibits and hands- on scientific experiences as our hugely successful London show. We are thrilled to be bringing science to life for a whole new audience curious about science and why it matters. Over three days from 5-7 February at Manchester Central, New Scientist Live North will feature three stages with 45 fascinating talks covering everything from the big bang to the future of artificial intelligence. With seating for over 2,000, visitors will be inspired by our line-up of world-class speakers presenting ideas that explain and shape our world s from gene editing to cosmic expansion. The heart of New Scientist Live North will be a bustling 1,800 sqm exhibition space, wowing visitors with dozens of engaging exhibits from major STEM institutions and corporations plus interactive activities and inspiring features curated by New Scientist Live. 9,000 highly engaged visitors from across the north of England and Scotland will be inspired by what they hear, see and touch and have their passions awaked by new experiences and ideas. MATT RIGBY/EYEEM/GETTY MATT We can't wait to see you there. New Scientist Live North Why Manchester? As a key transport hub and undisputed ‘Capital of the North’, Manchester is the perfect location to attract visitors from across the north of England and Scotland to experience New Scientist Live North. -
Women in Astronomy: an Introductory Resource Guide
Women in Astronomy: An Introductory Resource Guide by Andrew Fraknoi (Fromm Institute, University of San Francisco) [April 2019] © copyright 2019 by Andrew Fraknoi. All rights reserved. For permission to use, or to suggest additional materials, please contact the author at e-mail: fraknoi {at} fhda {dot} edu This guide to non-technical English-language materials is not meant to be a comprehensive or scholarly introduction to the complex topic of the role of women in astronomy. It is simply a resource for educators and students who wish to begin exploring the challenges and triumphs of women of the past and present. It’s also an opportunity to get to know the lives and work of some of the key women who have overcome prejudice and exclusion to make significant contributions to our field. We only include a representative selection of living women astronomers about whom non-technical material at the level of beginning astronomy students is easily available. Lack of inclusion in this introductory list is not meant to suggest any less importance. We also don’t include Wikipedia articles, although those are sometimes a good place for students to begin. Suggestions for additional non-technical listings are most welcome. Vera Rubin Annie Cannon & Henrietta Leavitt Maria Mitchell Cecilia Payne ______________________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents: 1. Written Resources on the History of Women in Astronomy 2. Written Resources on Issues Women Face 3. Web Resources on the History of Women in Astronomy 4. Web Resources on Issues Women Face 5. Material on Some Specific Women Astronomers of the Past: Annie Cannon Margaret Huggins Nancy Roman Agnes Clerke Henrietta Leavitt Vera Rubin Williamina Fleming Antonia Maury Charlotte Moore Sitterly Caroline Herschel Maria Mitchell Mary Somerville Dorrit Hoffleit Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin Beatrice Tinsley Helen Sawyer Hogg Dorothea Klumpke Roberts 6.