Hi I wonder if discussion of the validity of evolution gets side-tracked when these issues are raised, and indeed that perhaps is the reason for critics making these associations.
Suppose that Darwin's theory was responsible for the holocaust, eugenics, and a host of societal ills. Would that say anything about the correctness (validity, accuracy, rightness in an epistemological, not moral, sense) of the theory? It would seem as irrelevant as the development of the atomic bomb and its use is to the accuracy of the relevant physics. If the implications/applications are indeed irrelevant to truth-value, then Stein's and other creationist's inclusion of these irrelevant considerations in any discussion of the correctness of evolution certainly demonstrates some intellectual and/or moral lapse on their part. The question of negative implications and consequences of evolution is certainly an important one, but completely independent from the validity of the theory. Rather than hinging on evolution being "wrong" (epistemologically), the connection between evolution and the holocaust, for example, would seem to require a debate about completely separate issues (e.g., that the father of what came to be called social darwinism, Herbert Spencer, actually published relevant ideas before Darwin published his major works on evolution). The Stein quote below actually appears to be an even more all-encompassing criticism, not just of evolution, but of science and scientists on mass. No matter how many warts science and scientists have, can anyone really say with a straight face that the net impact of science is negative, let alone an abomination as implied by Stein? Perhaps Stein was simply reprising his role as the dim-witted teacher in Ferris Bueller? Take care Jim James M. Clark Professor of Psychology 204-786-9757 204-774-4134 Fax [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> "Mike Palij" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 02-May-08 8:26:12 PM >>> Source: National Review Online http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NWRmOTU2YzZlN2RhMzhjNzEwNzQ3MzFiZDE2NjM3NWE= or http://tinyurl.com/5zpsaq |In an interview with the Trinity Broadcasting Network, Ben Stein |said the following amazing thing in an interview with Paul Crouch, Jr. | | Stein: When we just saw that man, I think it was Mr. Myers |[i.e. biologist P.Z. Myers], talking about how great scientists were, |I was thinking to myself the last time any of my relatives saw scientists |telling them what to do they were telling them to go to the showers |to get gassed . that was horrifying beyond words, and that's where |science - in my opinion, this is just an opinion - that's where |science leads you. | |Crouch: That's right. | |Stein: .Love of God and compassion and empathy leads you |to a very glorious place, and science leads you to killing people. | |Crouch: Good word, good word. Apparently the video of the interview is available online somewhere at: http://tbn.org/video_portal/ It appears that even some U.S. conservatives are tired of Ben Stein's "Darwin inspired the Haulocaust" (see: http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZGYwMzdjOWRmNGRhOWQ4MTQyZDMxNjNhYTU1YTE5Njk=&w=MA== or http://tinyurl.com/6es7k5 -Mike Palij New York University [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
