August 14, 2005
Why teach intelligent design in science class
From a comment by Jeff of ProteinWisdom on VodkaPundit.
I must admit that I'm struck by how many smart people seem so stubbornly averse to introducing ID in a science class. From my perspective, acknowledging the field of ID while teaching evolution provides the teacher with a number of object lessons: 1) distinguish the "theory" of ID from a scientific theory by addressing falsifiability, scientific method, etc. 2) distinguish the science of evolution (as not concerned with first causes) from the metaphysical concerns of ID (which necessarily is -- despite what it's current proponents claim), and 3) show how, in theory, the science of evolution is unperturbed by the philosophy of ID, and vice versa.
I love this idea. I think that kids understanding the nature of scientific inquiry is wayy more important than the details and this subject is a good opportunity to do that.
Posted by Alex at 01:25 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
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I think the (maybe legit maybe not) concern that a lot of intelligent, well-meaning, science-minded types have with teaching ID in class is that they see it as a "trick" that the religious right and/or evangelical lobby is using to backdoor christianity into the classroom.
If you could somehow guarantee that both concepts were going to be presented as true to what they were as possible -- evolution, as a reality-based theory on how the living world developed; and religion as collection of myth, mysticism and illogical faith-based conclusions -- then the science crowd might be more comfortable with it.
But I don't think the desire of the ID folks is to be presented as a different KIND of thing from evolution altogether (which it is). They'd like it be presented as a similar yet alternate type of thing.
But yes - kids understanding the differences between reality-based and faith-based approaches is a level of importance higher than memorizing the details of EITHER of the concepts.
Posted by: jankowski at August 18, 2005 09:26 PM
i guess some high school biology teachers might also be good contemporary politics and sociology and religious studies teachers.
but some might be better off sticking with biology, i'm guessing...
Posted by: nicholas at August 19, 2005 12:48 AM
in other words, i think it's an interesting subject -- for another class.
Posted by: nicholas at August 19, 2005 12:49 AM
http://corner.nationalreview.com/05_08_14_corner-archive.asp#073709
Posted by: blorble at August 22, 2005 12:24 PM
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