why all the fuss about darwin and evolution?
DESCRIPTION
A public lecture on "Why all the fuss about Darwin and Evolution?" by Dr. Eugenie Scott, Executive Director of National Center for Science Education, on the campus of California State University, Fresno, presented on December 2, 2009. The event was sponsored by the campus Consortium for Evolutionary Studies.TRANSCRIPT
Why the fuss about Darwin and Evolution?
Dr. Eugenie C. ScottExecutive Director,
National Center for Science Education
December 2, 2009Satellite Student Union7:30 PM
Consortium for Evolutionary StudiesCalifornia State University, Fresno
Evolutionary Biology Lecture Series
Why All the Fuss About Darwin and Evolution?
December 2, 2009Fresno State University
Eugenie C. Scott, Ph.D.
Executive DirectorNational Center for
Science Education, Inc.WWW.NCSE.com
Descent with Modification
Grand Pa
Dad Uncle John
Genie Sue Cousin Liz
Descent with Modification
Mammals
Carnivora Primates
Caniformes Feliformes Ceboidea Hominoids
Bears Dogs Lions Hyenas Cebus Howlers Apes Humans
Darwin’s View:
African ApesHumansMonkeys
Many student’s view!
African Apes
Monkeys
Humans
YouYour brotherYour cousin
Accurate Familial Relationship
Father
Grandfather
Many student’s view!
Your brother
Your cousin
You!
African Apes
Monkeys
Humans
CORE
CORE
Frontier
CORE
Frontier
Fringe
Evolution, Pattern, Process
Evolution, Pattern, Process
Evolution:
Evolution, Pattern, Process
Evolution:Descent with
modification/ common ancestry
Evolution, Pattern, Process
Evolution:Descent with
modification/ common ancestry
Mechanisms or Factors Effecting Evolution:
-natural selection-non-selective (drift)- “evo-devo”
Evolution, Pattern, Process
Evolution:Descent with
modification/ common ancestry
Mechanisms or Factors Effecting Evolution:
-natural selection-non-selective (drift)- “evo-devo”
Patterns of Evolution:
Evolution, Pattern, Process
Evolution:Descent with
modification/ common ancestry
Mechanisms or Factors Effecting Evolution:
-natural selection-non-selective (drift)- “evo-devo”
Patterns of Evolution:Core
Evolution, Pattern, Process
Evolution:Descent with
modification/ common ancestry
Mechanisms or Factors Effecting Evolution:
-natural selection-non-selective (drift)- “evo-devo”
Patterns of Evolution:Core
Frontier
…the students had memorized everything, but they didn’t know what anything meant.
Richard Feynman, “Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman”, 1985
Nothing in biology makes sense except in
the light of evolution. Theodosius
Dobzhansky, ABT 25:125-129, 1973
Procaryote
Eucaryote
Procaryote
Eucaryote
Pew Foundation, 2009
2005 physicians poll
2005 physicians poll
2005 physicians poll
2005 physicians poll
2005 physicians poll
Total: 80% accept evolution
Miller, et al, Science, Aug 11, 2006
Miller, et al, Science, Aug 11, 2006
“Humans evolved from earlier forms of animals, true or false?”
Miller, et al, Science, Aug 11, 2006
“Humans evolved from earlier forms of animals, true or false?”
Miller, et al, Science, Aug 11, 2006
“Humans evolved from earlier forms of animals, true or false?”
“Pillars of Creationism”
Evolution is a “theory in crisis”
Evolution and religion are incompatible
It’s only “fair” to teach creationism with evolution
“Pillars of Creationism”
Evolution is a “theory in crisis”
Evolution and religion are incompatible
It’s only “fair” to teach creationism with evolution
“Pillars of Creationism”
Evolution is a “theory in crisis”
Evolution and religion are incompatible
It’s only “fair” to teach creationism with evolution
“Pillars of Creationism”
Evolution is a “theory in crisis”
Evolution and religion are incompatible
It’s only “fair” to teach creationism with evolution
“Pillars of Creationism”
Evolution is a “theory in crisis”
Evolution and religion are incompatible
It’s only “fair” to teach creationism with evolution
“Pillars of Creationism”
Evolution is a “theory in crisis”
Evolution and religion are incompatible
It’s only “fair” to teach creationism with evolution
“Pillars of Creationism”
Evolution is a “theory in crisis”
Evolution and religion are incompatible
It’s only “fair” to teach creationism with evolution
“Pillars of Creationism”
Evolution is a “theory in crisis”
Evolution and religion are incompatible
It’s only “fair” to teach creationism with evolution
www.talkorigins.orgwww.PandasThumb.org
Statements from Scientific Organizations;
(and religious, and educational organizations
Creation
Evolution
The Creation/Evolution Continuum
Creation
Evolution
Flat Earthers
The Creation/Evolution Continuum
Creation
Evolution
Flat EarthersGeocentrists
The Creation/Evolution Continuum
Geocentrism…you would find that all [church fathers] agree in explaining literally (ad litteram) that the sun is in the heavens and moves swiftly around the earth, and that the earth is far from the heavens and stands immobile in the center of the universe. Cardinal Robert Bellarmine, April 12, 1615, cited in Galileo, Science
and the Church by Jerome Langford, pp 60-62)
Gerardus Bouw
Gerardus Bouw
Geocentrism
If God cannot be taken literally when He writes of the rising of the sun, how can one insist that He be taken literally when writing of the rising of the Son?
Gerardus Bouw, 1984 With Every Wind of doctrine: Biblical, Historical and Scientific Perspectives on
Creation
Evolution
Flat EarthersGeocentrists
Young-earth Creationists
The Creation/Evolution Continuum
Henry M. Morris
Special Creationism
Graphic
Graphic
Colorado Plateau, Creationist Style
Early flood
Pre-flood
Late flood
Post flood
Grand Canyon, Monument to CatastropheSteve Austin
Grand Canyon, Monument to CatastropheSteve Austin
The Word of God must take first priority, and secondly, the observed facts of science. Morris, H. 1985. Scientific Creationism 2nd General Edition. El Cajon, CA:Creation Life Publishers, p 215
Creation
Evolution
Flat-Earthers
GeocentristsYoung-Earth Creationists
Old-Earth Creationists
The Creation/Evolution Continuum
Old Earth Creationism
Day-Age CreationismGap CreationismProgressive CreationismContinuous Creationism
Creation
Evolution
Flat-EarthersGeocentrists
Young-Earthers
Old-EarthersIntelligent Design
The Creation/Evolution Continuum
Creation
Evolution
Flat-EarthersGeocentrists
Young-Earthers
Old-EarthersIntelligent Design
The Creation/Evolution Continuum
Creation
Evolution
Flat-EarthersGeocentrists
Young-Earthers
Old-Earthers
Theistic Evolutionists
The Creation/Evolution Continuum
Creation
Evolution
Flat-EarthersGeocentrists
Young-Earthers
Old-Earthers
Theistic Evolutionists
Materialists
The Creation/Evolution Continuum
Science is limited to explaining the
natural world, using natural processes
2 Kinds of “Materialism” (Naturalism)
Methodological Materialism
Philosophical Materialism
Not the same!
Science
Science
Science
Science
Darwin’s “Big Ideas”
Darwin’s “Big Ideas”
Evolution (descent with modification/ common ancestry)
Darwin’s “Big Ideas”
Evolution (descent with modification/ common ancestry)
Darwin’s “Big Ideas”
Evolution (descent with modification/ common ancestry)
Natural Selection
Implications of Darwinism
Evolution Happened
Natural Selection Explains It
Implications of Darwinism
Evolution Happened
Natural Selection Explains It
Challenged literal view of Bible
Implications of Darwinism
Evolution Happened
Natural Selection Explains It
Challenged literal view of Bible
Challenged design argument God less personal
Reasons to Reject Evolution
Conservative Christians
Mainstream Christians
Reasons to Reject Evolution
Conservative Christians
Mainstream Christians
Special creationismLoss of personal GodTheodicy
Reasons to Reject Evolution
Conservative Christians
Mainstream Christians
Special creationismLoss of personal GodTheodicy
Loss of personal GodTheodicy
“Pillars of Creationism”
Evolution is a “theory in crisis”
Evolution and religion are incompatible
It’s only “fair” to teach creationism with evolution
“For every Ph.D., there is an equal and opposite Ph.D.”(anonymous lawyer)
“For every Ph.D., there is an equal and opposite Ph.D.”(anonymous lawyer)
“Academic Freedom” Legislation
Alabama 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009Florida 2008 New Mexico 2009Louisiana 2008 Maryland 2006Michigan 2008 Texas 2009S. Carolina 2008Missouri 2007, 2008, 2009Oklahoma 2006, 2009Iowa 2009 www.ncse.com
Euphemisms…
Euphemisms…
“critically analyze evidence for evolution”
Euphemisms…
“critically analyze evidence for evolution” “both evidence for and evidence against
evolution”
Euphemisms…
“critically analyze evidence for evolution” “both evidence for and evidence against
evolution” “both strengths and weaknesses of evolution”
Euphemisms…
“critically analyze evidence for evolution” “both evidence for and evidence against
evolution” “both strengths and weaknesses of evolution” “evolution as theory not fact”
Euphemisms…
“critically analyze evidence for evolution” “both evidence for and evidence against
evolution” “both strengths and weaknesses of evolution” “evolution as theory not fact” “teach the full range of views about origins”
Euphemisms…
“critically analyze evidence for evolution” “both evidence for and evidence against
evolution” “both strengths and weaknesses of evolution” “evolution as theory not fact” “teach the full range of views about origins” “teach the controversy”
Euphemisms…
“critically analyze evidence for evolution” “both evidence for and evidence against
evolution” “both strengths and weaknesses of evolution” “evolution as theory not fact” “teach the full range of views about origins” “teach the controversy”
Teach Bad Science in
the name of
Fairness!
CREAT.SCI.
ID
CREAT.SCI.
ID POST -EDWARDS
CREAT.SCI.
ID POST -EDWARDS
“ALT.THEORIES”
“EVIDENCE AGAINST”
CREAT.SCI.
ID POST -EDWARDS
“ALT.THEORIES”
“EVIDENCE AGAINST”
CREAT.SCI.
ID POST -EDWARDS
“ALT.THEORIES”
“EVIDENCE AGAINST”
www.ncse.com
www.ncse.com
www.ncse.com
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www.ncse.com
Crisis center
www.NCSE.com
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