A Superb, Quite Insightful, Primer on the so-called "Evolution vs. Intellligent Design Debate
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In "Why Darwin Matters: The Case Against Intelligent Design" Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine, reviews succinctly both the overwhelming evidence in support of contemporary evolutionary theory and the pseudoscientific religious nonsense known as Intelligent Design, and then, discusses "the real, unsolved problems in evolution". Shermer, for example, has ample space to describe briefly Ernst Mayr's theory of allopatric speciation, and its relationship to punctuated equilibrium, the evolutionary paleontological theory developed by American invertebrate paleontologists Niles Eldredge and Stephen Jay Gould. But he also devotes ample space to dissecting Intelligent Design concepts like William Dembski's "Law of Conservation of Information", noting its irrelevance to both current mathematical information theory and the transfer and accretion of information - via DNA - in living biological systems. He offers an elegant overview of the origins and history of the so-called "Evolution vs. Intelligent Design Debate", devoting ample time to the existence of the infamous "Wedge Document" and the trial proceedings of the Kitzmiller vs. Dover trial and, of course, the harsh verdict rendered by Federal Judge John E. Jones III against both Intelligent Design and the Dover Area School District board.
Shermer's terse tome is noteworthy for several reasons. First, he recognizes the necessity for engaging Intelligent Design advocates like Michael Behe and William Dembski, among others, in debates between themselves and knowledgeable critics on behalf of genuine science like Shermer, if only to educate public audiences on the nature of scientific inquiry, the ample facts obtained from genuine scientific research, and the disingenuous lies, half-truths, and omissions promoted zealously by Intelligent Design advocates. Second, he makes a most persuasive case explaining why evolution ought to be accepted by conservatives, as the agent ultimately responsible for the origins of morality in humans, and that "survival of the fittest" could be seen as a biological application of Adam Smith's concept of laissez faire free market economics. Last, but not least, Shermer contends that science should be viewed as being complementary towards spirituality, by engendering a "sense of awe" in viewing, for example, distant galaxies; therefore evolution can and should be seen in this very light. For these reasons, Shermer's terse tome deserves a place on the bookshelves of as wide a readership as possible.
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Aiming at a vacant target
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A new cottage industry has arisen in the US - writing books to counter the rise of Christian anti-science in that nation. Michael Shermer has an edge on many of his colleagues in dealing with the version of "creationism" known as "Intelligent Design" - he's been one of their number. This may give him the advantage of a wider outlook, but the question remains whether it makes him more effective in countering the movement. His proposal is conciliatory, but relies on creationists accepting facts, not fantasies or ideologies. It's a difficult task, but Shermer's long experience as a sceptic of fallacious notions supports his efforts. It also provides him with a polished writing style that should convince the most obscurantist holdout.
In his Prologue, Shermer clearly targets his audience - that segment of the US population who thinks the universe is less than ten thousand years old. He portrays the demographics that refine the numbers. So much so that you feel the publisher should have packed bookstores in the American South with extra copies. The author's own epiphany - "the scales fell from my eyes" - during his university days is his justification. If it can happen to him, it can happen with other evangelicals. He uses the history of thinking about natural selection and the various arguments against it to construct a dialogue. He lists the points creationists raise, then counters them effectively. That's not terribly challenging - his "case" after all, is one contending with an empty thesis entirely lacking any supporting evidence.
Evolution is a fact, he contends, and explains the nature of how research has verified Darwin's original concept. He notes the many challenges to detailed processes of natural selection, but insists these minutiae don't refute the theory. In Darwin's time, as now, the prevailing idea was that of William Paley, who argued that Nature's "perfection" indicated a supernatural force lay behind what we see today. Paley's notion became known as "Natural Theology" and retains many adherents because no science is needed to believe in it. It would be pleasant to let that idea exist, says Shermer, except that its proponents don't want the "equal time" typical of the society he lives in, they want all the time. Particularly in public school classrooms. Shermer's rejection of "Intelligent Design" is based partly on the science of natural selection, and his own escape from dogmatic ideology.
If there is a flaw in this book, it's Shermer's own experience in dealing with his target in personal debate. He has been on platforms with the vocal promoters of the various forms of creationism. He shares taxis, gossips in the pubs, and puts up articles. By his own admission, however, he has won over none of those pleasant drinking companions. Their mind-set is obviously impervious to logic, rejects the long stream of data still flowing from the field and laboratory and expresses itself with crusading zeal of its desire to dispense with science and establish a theocracy based on their own version of Christianity. Perhaps, of all the works recently published on the fallacies of creationism, this one is the most frightening in what it reveals of US society. Shermer's book is desperately needed, yet will not be read by those who need to understand they're living under false premises. [...]
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Essential reading for anyone interested in ID
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Some background. Michael Shermer writes a column in Scientific American called Skeptic. He edits a journal called The Skeptic. He used to be a believer. He once wrote a book called Why People Believe Weird Things. He knows what he is talking about.
So he rightly got annoyed when the intelligent design concept began to make ground and he decided to write this thoughtful, intelligent and well written book. It is essential reading as an introduction to the against side in the on-going debate. He is not technical, not deeply scientific or philosophical: he just outlines the salient facts.
Most people reading this book will see the passion of someone who cares deeply about the truth (his earlier book spent much time concentrating on Holocaust deniers) and why the truth matters. He does not waste time praising ID for its insights - he just shows it up for what it is: a vacuous and empty attempt at bring the Christian God back into the classroom in the USA by smuggling it in under the transparent fleece of pseudoscience. Read it for yourself and you too will see. Unless, of course, you are not a skeptic in the proper sense: your mind is made up.
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