Intelligent Design

Elementary my dear Watson. Further updates on Watson’s apology are at TheBRITES.org .

In Kitzmiller et al vs Dover, the issue over whether or not Darwinian Evolution could be allowed critical evaluation by students, rather than be presented as established fact, was settled once and for all. Furthermore, any consideration of an alternate theory was off the table. All across the land, scientists cheered, since at least for now, science had been saved from an ‘assault by religion’. Just after the decision was handed down, Ohio’s State Board of Education in a 9 to 8 vote kept with their lesson plan, saying in effect, “go ahead and sue us” [Toledo Blade Op Ed 1/14/06]. Although many school districts had been considering broadening their standards to allow a more open discourse, many shelved their Read More ›

According to the Guardian, following the row that erupted over his characterization of people of African origin as less intelligent (whatever that means, given that no one has ever defined “intelligence” in an empirically meaningful way), DNA pioneer Watson has backed off: Prof Watson’s statement did not clarify what his views on the issue of race and intelligence are, but he hinted that he had been misquoted. I somehow doubt that.  According to the Independent, Watson’s own institute has apparently disowned his comments: “Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory does not engage in any research that could even form the basis of the statements attributed to Dr Watson,” the institute’s president, Bruce Stillman, said. Dr Watson’s comments were entirely his own and Read More ›

I’d been hoping Scott Adams, Dilbert’s alter ego, would incorporate his recent questions about Darwinian evolution into some of his work. Here is one example to enjoy. Also, go here for a link to Adams’ responses to the Prophet of the Pharyngula, who has denounced him as a sinner for having any questions about Darwinism. Oh and here is a link to Dilbert, the baby engineer.  Also: More from David Warren on the Darwinoids New cartoon on the ID-Darwinism controversy, and a link to more cartoons Can a conscious mind be built out of software? Why ordinary people do very bad things The course Denyse O’Leary will be teaching at St. Mikes at the University of Toronto, starting Tuesday, on Read More ›

Parallel universes exist – study “Parallel universes really do exist, according to a mathematical discovery by Oxford scientists described by one expert as “one of the most important developments in the history of science.” . . .” The Oxford team, led by Dr David Deutsch, showed mathematically that the bush-like branching structure created by the universe splitting into parallel versions of itself can explain the probabilistic nature of quantum outcomes.” © Copyright Press Association Ltd 2007, All Rights Reserved. The reporter authoritatively declares that possibility of quantum outcomes as interpreted by Deutsch is evidence that parallel universes “exist”. The Sci.Physics.Research blog about David Deutsch on parallel universes appears more restrained, (may I say “skeptical”?), unable to locate a published paper Read More ›

The American Consumer Union has declared the XD133 Slow Down Slide unsafe for children. The slide, designed by a genetic algorithm, has been recalled. Details are at TheBRITES.org.

Distinguished Professor Emeritus Botkin of the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, gives a balanced view of the enviromental impact of global warming titled “Global Warming Delusions” in today’s Wall Street Journal and a rather unflattering comment about scientists resorting to deceit to panic a public into supporting a political agenda. Global Warming Delusions By DANIEL B. BOTKIN October 17, 2007; Page A19 Global warming doesn’t matter except to the extent that it will affect life — ours and that of all living things on Earth. And contrary to the latest news, the evidence that global warming will have serious effects on life is thin. Most evidence suggests the contrary. Case in Read More ›

Dr. Dembski’s and Ms. O’Leary’s earlier posts today have produced some, shall we say, “intemperate” rhetoric from the commenters.  I suggest we calm down and look at this issue dispassionately, starting with the raw data.  The raw data is unambiguous.  There is in fact a difference between racial groups when it comes to standard measures of intelligence.  This report of a task force ofthe American Psychological Association (which certainly cannot be accused of conservative bias) makes this clear.  As the report says, Asians do best on IQ tests.  Whites are in the middle.  Blacks score somewhat lower.  The controversy is not over the raw data.  The heat comes when the cause of these differences is discussed.  It is the classic “nature or nurture” debate.  Are intelligence differences among races Read More ›

Some UK opinions for/against ID in The Herald: “It seems to me that the atheistic contributors to the debate on intelligent design ignore one essential point which none of them seems to want to confront. In an examination of the question of our genesis, one fact is ignored: all speculation, analysis and conjecture as to the nature and genesis of our universe is carried out by means of the mind and of the intelligence which mankind possesses. Any conclusion reached is an expression of belief. . . . ” See full Letter Whales provide illustration of the evidence for intelligent design

So … now, James Watson, who has declared that (Darwinian) evolution is both a law and a fact, has since proclaimed, … black people were less intelligent than white people and the idea that “equal powers of reason” were shared across racial groups was a delusion. And this hard on the heels of Richard Dawkins* spilling on about the “fantastic success” of the “Jewish lobby.” Some people wonder what is happening. Bill was wondering whether Darwinists would get back into the eugenics business big time. Having watched H.L. Mencken-style Social Darwinism morph into sociobiology and then get rebranded as evolutionary psychology, I have some idea what’s driving the trend: power Once people gain the right to simply ban opposing ideas, Read More ›

It’s one thing for the state to control the public school science curriculum. But here we see Sweden also controlling the science curriculum of private schools. How far is the U.S. from following Sweden’s lead?

Creationism to be banished from Swedish schools
Published: 15th October 2007 07:57 CET
Online: www.thelocal.se

The Swedish government is to crack down on the role religion plays in independent faith schools. The new rules will include a ban on biology teachers teaching creationism or ‘intelligent design’ alongside evolution.

“Pupils must be protected from all forms of fundamentalism,” said Education Minister Jan Björklund to Dagens Nyheter. Read More ›

In this column, George Will reveals that indoctrination and intellectual fascism has crept up on faculties other than science (Surprised? Why?): A study prepared by the National Association of Scholars, a group that combats political correctness on campuses, reviews social work education programs at 10 major public universities and comes to this conclusion: Such programs mandate an ideological orthodoxy to which students must subscribe concerning “social justice” and “oppression.” In other words, if you are a social worker and you have a different idea from the orthodoxy about how best to help your clients, you is da enemy of da people (in power, that is) … Meanwhile, today at the Mindful Hack So that’s why we don’t eat Grandma! A professor Read More ›

In a provocative article in the latest London Review of Books (18 October 2007), philosopher of science and cognitive scientist Jerry Fodor of Rutgers University argues that “the classical Darwinist account of evolution as primarily driven by natural selection is in trouble on both conceptual and empirical grounds.” As he elaborates, The high tide of adaptationism floated a motley navy, but it may now be on the ebb. If it does turn out that natural selection isn’t what drives evolution, a lot of loose speculations will be stranded high, dry and looking a little foolish. Induction over the history of science suggests that the best theories we have today will prove more or less untrue at the latest by tomorrow Read More ›

My tongue-in-cheek response to Denyse’s last post got me to thinking seriously about a practical way to demonstrate the lunacy of materialists’ invoking the “multiverse” to get around the statistical impossibility of life arising though blind unguided natural forces through pure random chance . See here for an example of this hand waving in action. I came up with a thought experiment. See below for more. Read More ›

In fact, a whole bunch of convenience stores can get too lucky. Carl Hallet, 49, won $100,000 in Atlantic TAG on Oct. 3. In 2005 he won $50,000 and in 2006 he won $5,000. “I’ve always said if you buy the right ticket at the right time, you’ll win, and I put my faith in God,” Hallet told CBC News. But new security rules introduced in Atlantic Canada mean his win must be investigated for at least 30 days, and so far Hallet has not received his prize. The rules were adopted in March after studies showed retailers in Atlantic Canada were winning 10 times more often than statistically probable over the last six years. Blame it on climate change. Also, Read More ›