Comments on: Teaching Evolution, the Battle for Florida http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/12/08/teaching-evolution-the-battle-for-florida/ Human Animals at the Crossroads of Culture, Science, Religion and Media Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:01:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Dan Klarmann http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/12/08/teaching-evolution-the-battle-for-florida/#comment-16209 Dan Klarmann Thu, 21 Feb 2008 04:41:27 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=1889#comment-16209 Florida Science Standard decided: Evolution is to be taught as a "Theory". To be fair, according to this <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/295/story/425473.html" target="_blank" title="Florida schools to teach evolution as 'scientific theory'" rel="nofollow">Miami Herald article</a>, they went though and labeled all scientific theories to be taught as "scientific theory". Like gravity, atoms, elements, etc. Both the science and the Bible camps are dissatisfied; a perfect compromise. Florida Science Standard decided: Evolution is to be taught as a “Theory”. To be fair, according to this Miami Herald article, they went though and labeled all scientific theories to be taught as “scientific theory”. Like gravity, atoms, elements, etc.

Both the science and the Bible camps are dissatisfied; a perfect compromise.

]]> By: Dan Klarmann http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/12/08/teaching-evolution-the-battle-for-florida/#comment-16141 Dan Klarmann Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:22:15 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=1889#comment-16141 22% of Floridians want Evolutionary biology taught, 50% want faith-based biology to be taught without any reference to evolution. The real question that comes to my mind after reading this <a href="http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/15/State/Public__Faith_trumps_.shtml" target="_blank" title="Public: Faith trumps science" rel="nofollow">St. Petersburg Times poll</a> is, should we allow popular demand to decide what is taught in science classes? It brings to mind the story of the Chinese Emperor's nose: People were demanding to know the length of the Emperor's nose. Since no one was allowed to see the emperor, or even to talk to those who had, a poll was taken, and the average was taken to be the true answer. In modern context, most scientists are qualified to decide what are valid theories in their own fields. This is an immeasurably small part of those whose opinions are being considered on this issue. 22% of Floridians want Evolutionary biology taught, 50% want faith-based biology to be taught without any reference to evolution.

The real question that comes to my mind after reading this St. Petersburg Times poll is, should we allow popular demand to decide what is taught in science classes?

It brings to mind the story of the Chinese Emperor’s nose: People were demanding to know the length of the Emperor’s nose. Since no one was allowed to see the emperor, or even to talk to those who had, a poll was taken, and the average was taken to be the true answer.

In modern context, most scientists are qualified to decide what are valid theories in their own fields. This is an immeasurably small part of those whose opinions are being considered on this issue.

]]> By: Dan Klarmann http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/12/08/teaching-evolution-the-battle-for-florida/#comment-15477 Dan Klarmann Sun, 30 Dec 2007 03:50:52 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=1889#comment-15477 Alison makes a good argument for why <a href="http://www.alisonblogs.com/wordpress/index.php/2007/12/12/evolution-should-be-taught/trackback/" target="_blank" title="Alison Blogs" rel="nofollow">"Evolution Should be taught!"</a> in response to this issue now in Florida. Alison makes a good argument for why “Evolution Should be taught!” in response to this issue now in Florida.

]]> By: Alison http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/12/08/teaching-evolution-the-battle-for-florida/#comment-15247 Alison Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:51:20 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=1889#comment-15247 It's pretty painful reading through the comments. To me, the fact that they're still arguing "it's only a theory", "if we came from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?" and insisting that "survival of the fittest" means the biggest, meanest, and strongest beat out everyone else only makes the argument for better science standards even stronger. It’s pretty painful reading through the comments. To me, the fact that they’re still arguing “it’s only a theory”, “if we came from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?” and insisting that “survival of the fittest” means the biggest, meanest, and strongest beat out everyone else only makes the argument for better science standards even stronger.

]]> By: grumpypilgrim http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/12/08/teaching-evolution-the-battle-for-florida/#comment-15224 grumpypilgrim Sat, 08 Dec 2007 22:09:06 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=1889#comment-15224 Life for everyone might be a whole lot easier if they simply learned to distinguish between the origin of *life* and the origin of *species*. Darwin never presumed to identify the origin of life, only a description of how a teaming variety of species might arise naturally once life, however it originated, began. Sadly for everyone, so few Christian Fundies have actually read Darwin that the vast majority of them are completely ignorant about the subject they are so passionate about. Life for everyone might be a whole lot easier if they simply learned to distinguish between the origin of *life* and the origin of *species*. Darwin never presumed to identify the origin of life, only a description of how a teaming variety of species might arise naturally once life, however it originated, began. Sadly for everyone, so few Christian Fundies have actually read Darwin that the vast majority of them are completely ignorant about the subject they are so passionate about.

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