why all the fuss about darwin and evolution?

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

www.ncse.com

www.ncse.com

Crisis center

www.NCSE.com

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